THE CROWD:

The invitation arrived designed as a ladies’ handbag, complete with silver chain strap and matching buckle over a shimmering silver and pink floral print fabric. The Sound of Music Chapter of the Guilds of the Orange County Performing Artscenter cordially invited the crowd to its big early summer luncheon, “It’s In The Bag.”

The handsome Newport Coast couple Annamarie and Jim McGee opened their grand Pelican Hill home for 200 women and a few lucky gents who came to help raise money for the Performing Artscenter, bidding on new and vintage designer bags. It is one of the latest trends in charitable fundraising that has over the last few years taken the ladies’ luncheon circuit by storm in New York, Palm Beach, Fla., Dallas and Beverly Hills.

Recently, the big bag event in Beverly Hills attracted a bevy of movie stars led by actress Sharon Stone on behalf of Lupus LA. In Beverly Hills, the bag event was a live auction that got the crowd so excited that some of the stars were offering the personal clothes off their backs in addition to their handbags in order to raise the bar for lupus research.

Kathy Hilton, the mother of the infamous Paris, even auctioned off the necklace she was wearing, bringing in a substantial donation.

The Newport Coast event was equally as sophisticated but less chaotic, as the handbags were all offered in silent auction format. The large and well-dressed luncheon crowd, led by event Chairwomen Linda Lamitie and Grace Thelen along with Sound of Music Chapter Chairwoman Laura Barata, enjoyed a gourmet boxed lunch prepared by Crème de la Crème. The ladies and gents then wandered the McGee home, checking out the featured designer handbags from the world’s most recognized designers.

Among the handbags up for bid were purses from Louis Vuitton, Valentino, Donna Karan, Marc Jacobs, Dior, Cartier, Michael Kors, Tory Burch, Roberto Cavalli, Dolce & Gabbana, Nancy Gonzalez, Bvglari, Celine and Tara Holley.

This amazing little get-together raised more than $50,000.

The impressive proceeds will be donated to the Orange County Performing Artscenter to underwrite a host of educational and community programs.

The glamorous Sound of Music gals supporting the event and the Guild were Danni Good, Sally Kenyon, Patty Lance, Sonia Kessler, Marsha Orlin, Sandy Van Shoonenberg, Beth Hart, Julianne Grad, Diane Cruzen-Monroe, Judy Pederson, Denice Tsujioka, Donna Phelps, Pamela Lowrey, Harriet Sandhu and Carol Dalton. Also supporting Sound of Music were Patsy Marshall, Karen Gregor, Caroline Jones, Eve Kornyei, Diane Palumbo, Kathie Porter, Kelly Hague, Tracy Martin and local dynamo Sally Crockett.

THE CROWD runs Thursdays and Saturdays.