Sparkling jewelry, sleek fashion lines and lots of applause were the order of the day for 125 of Alexandria's most fashionable ladies last week at the Belle Haven Country Club. The Belle Haven Women's Club, founded in 1936, vaulted itself into the sassiest summer fashion trends of 2006 as it hosted its annual Spring Luncheon and Fashion Show for the first time since the club underwent a massive facelift last year. Club members enjoyed a lunch of tomato soup, chicken salad and cupcakes while previewing some of the season's top fashion designs. The event raised money for the United Christian Ministries, Hope Housing, the West Potomac Prom and Fort Hunt Youth Athletics.

For the past two years, the Fashion Show has been held at the Mount Vernon Country Club, said Michele Cole, the president of the Belle Haven Women's Club. We're thrilled to be back in our own ballroom, she said, although we're grateful for the Mount Vernon Country Club's hospitality.

We don't always make money, but we try, said Cole, of the $40-a-plate, members-only event. The mission of our women's club is to build and foster community in Belle Haven, and reach outside of our neighborhood to help the community at large, she said.

The 45-minute fashion show featured designs from two of Old Town's top fashion boutiques, Periwinkle (www.periwinkleshop.com), and Mystique Jewelers (www.mystiquejewlers.com).
This marked the first fashion show for Periwinkle, but not the first major event for owner Elizabeth Mason.

When I worked in politics, those events were stressful, but making women look their most beautiful is great fun, Mason said. Our 10 volunteer models are members of the Belle Haven Women's Club and they were all so relaxed and easy to work with. It was as if they had worked the catwalk before.

Elizabeth Miller, the owner of Mystique Jewelers, concurred. We were so pleased to be included, she said. I recognized many faithful clients in the audience.

Miller's models, dressed in black to showcase the large-scale baubles, bangles and beads they were featuring, wore designs from Judith Ripka's sterling silver and 18 karat gold collection, and Slane & Slane, a sister team who has taken the jewelry world and Hollywood by storm.

An extravagant showcase of design and baubles
Slane & Slane are hot, Miller enthused. Every month they're featured in the glossy magazines as the sexiest Hollywood starlets wear their jewelry. Their designs are literally flying off the shelves at retailers around the country.

The sterling silver is matted and very casual. The current look is diamonds pave set and large swirl designs.

Oohs and ahhs
Mason focused on tailoring the 14 Periwinkle looks to the lives of the women sitting in the audience, looks that would be suitable for all occasions. She dressed her models for a summer baseball game, a neighborhood cookout, lunch and drinks with the girls, as a hostess for a dinner party, a casual family dinner, a concert at Wolf Trap, a baby shower, lunch with the in-laws, a fundraiser, a business meeting, an office barbeque, as a wedding guest, and for a black tie event.

She also incorporated beaded necklaces and bracelets from Alexandria-based Bella Designs. No outfit is complete without one of these fresh and easy-to-wear pieces, Mason said. The most notable trends for spring and summer are white eyelet, fun tunic style tops, charismatic separates, and wedge shoes from Beverly Feldman and Olivia Rose Tal.

There were two Periwinkle outfits that got the most oohs and ahhhs from the lighthearted, champagne-sipping crowd.

The first was a coral grail silk print dress by designer TIBI worn by model and women's club member Betsy Stephenson of Belle Haven. No necklace is required with the elegant cream stone halter neckline and striking satin bow down the back. Stephenson wore Beverly Feldman's Sassy Meadow Sandals in cream, and the Cream Beads bracelet by Bella Designs.

The second most outstanding outfit was worn by the sleek model and women's club member Denise Constandy, a former model for Tiffany & Co.

This one is for a black tie event and is a long silk grail print halter dress also by TIBI. The black and cream grail print was accentuated with black faceted stones at the neckline and a black satin bow down the back. Constandy wore Magnolia Chloe shoes in black to create the perfect touch along with the double strand black faceted bracelet and drop earrings by Bella Designs.

Aaahh. If Versace were still around, he would have been proud.