6th Annual Splendor in the Garden
Fashion and Philanthropy in Style at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
Honorary co-chairs Frances Sevilla Sacasa and Swanee DiMare introduces event co-chairs Barbara Hevia and Lydia Touzet
More than 300 fashion-forward guests attended the 6th Annual Splendor in the Garden held at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. The event was presented by Neiman Marcus Coral Gables, Mercedes-Benz of Coral Gables and Mercedes-Benz of Cutler Bay with sponsorship from Eighty Seven Park/Terra Group. This year’s Fairchild Philanthropy Honorees were Susan Abraham, Silvia Fortun, Felicia Knaul, Marile Lopez, Daysi Johansson, Marisa Toccin Lucas, Brittany Lopez Slater and Ana VeigaMilton.
The day began with an outdoor cocktail reception sponsored by Dall’Armellina Vineyards and Sunset Corners. Guests then walked to the lakeside marquee, where emcee Beatriz Canals of ABC welcomed everyone and introduced Fairchild Board of Trustees President Bruce Greer. Honorary Co-Chairs Swanee DiMare and Frances Sevilla Sacasa along with event Chairs Barbara Hevia and Lydia Touzet thanked the sponsors, former honorees, and audience for supporting Fairchild. Fairchild’s Director, Dr. Carl Lewis, spoke about the many science and education initiatives at the Garden that fundraisers such as Splendor in the Garden help to sustain.
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Splendor 2017 Philanthropy Honorees
Barbara Hevia, Criselda Breene and Ravneet Chowdhury
Model in bold stripes and tassel earrings
Kim Wood and Laura Buccellati
Kristin Ducote, Oscar Carvallo and Erin Newberg
Neiman Marcus Fashion Director Ken Downing
Raphael Bastian, Bunny Bastian and Kateri Boink
Frances Sevilla Sacasa and Swanee DiMare
Models walk in runway finale
Bronwyn Miller, Susannah Shubin and Brittany Slater
Elysze Held and Susannah Shubin
Daysi Johanson, Colleen Schiff, Jacclyn Woodworth, Laurence Aquilina Stott, Lydia Touzet and Silvia Boschell
Felicia Knaul and Julio Frenk
First look
Guests arrive at Splendor
Iliana Masor and Daisy Casuso
Irene Korge, Maria Rogers and Mayra Joly
Jennifer Kennedy, Catherine Anne Markert and Amanda Church
Kristy Martin and Kristin Ducote
Ken Downing and models backstage
Laurence Aquilina Stott, Silvia Cubina, Yolanda Berkowitz and Jennifer Kennedy
Male Model
Model in bold stripes
Model in sequin dress and hat
Model struts down the runway
Models in prints
Splendor centerpieces
Stephen Brunelle, Swanee DiMare, Ken Downing, Lydia Touzet, Barbara Hevia
Swanee DiMare and Stephanie Sayfie Aagaard
Trish Bell and Leslie Miller Saiontz
Zayda Hernandez, Lourdes Almagro and Lourdes Tudela
Bronwyn Miller and Lesli Brown
Stephen Brunelle, VP and General Manager of Neiman Marcus Coral Gables, introduced Ken Downing, Senior VP and Fashion Director of Neiman Marcus, who took the stage to much applause and mentioned how he loved returning to Fairchild every year because the Miami ladies were among the most enthusiastic
Ken then presented a first look at the Spring 2017 collections, which featured ruffles and flounces, stripes and a focus on neutral with a splash of olive. The finale highlighted peekaboo shoulder and leg trends, head-turning earrings and a bold, pink lip.
After the event, Neiman Marcus then opened a Backstage Boutique where guests shopped for the hottest Spring 2017 styles fresh off the runway.