Taravision: A Style Diary by Tara Solomon

This week, she snaps the cultural and philanthropic.

Pink Power Night at Nader Museum

While March may have officially been Women’s History Month, it jumpstarted a slew of worthy female-centric causes in Miami that will continue throughout the year, including “Pink Power Night” to benefit Goleadoras, held at Nader Museum in Wynwood.

 

Chaired by charismatic ginger-tressed multihyphenate Eglantina Zingg — model-actress-philanthropist and former MTV Latin American VJ, the pink-themed cocktail party raised awareness and funds for Goleadoras, the charity Zingg founded in 2018 that challenges gender disparity and unites girls and young women through the power of soccer, teaching them teamwork, discipline, and strategy, among other valuable skillsets.For the event, the Caracas-born Zingg, who recently moved from New York to Miami fulltime (YAY), wore a silver sequined pantsuit by Nichole Lynel that screamed “showtime!” – with streaks of magenta throughout her strawberry blonde ponytail. Zingg’s glam guest list included Lourdes Fernández-Velasco, Managing & Creative Director of Miami Fashion Week, which co-hosted the evening; legendary Venezuelan singer and actor El Puma, aka Jose’ Luis Rodriguez; suave Miami TV presenter Rodner Figuero; and model Nadia Ferreira, who was Miss Paraguay 2021, in the cutest peach shorts-and-trapeze-jacket look – all Fendi, and something I would wear in a heartbeat if I weren’t so zaftig.

Author and CNN personality Maria Celeste Arraras, who was attending the Bass Museum’s ball afterwards, made her entrance in a floor-length, white floral lace Badgley Mischka gown that was pure princess.

DJ La Negra Fabulosa (best name ever, right?) kept the energy high — with her groovy playlist as well her hip-chick look, complete with a gorgeously supersized afro. Nader Museum’s namesake visionary Gary Nader held court in the main gallery, answering questions about the massive sculptures by legendary artist Fernando Botero – Nader has the largest collection of original Boteros in the world – who turns 90 this month.

The museum, in honor of the night’s pink theme, debuted two new installations by female visual artist Soraya Abu Naba’a — a trio of pink painted-aluminum flower sculptures, and a mixed-media tableau featuring hundreds, if not thousands, of yards of rainbow-hued fabric transformed into a fashion forest of ruffled garlands and tri-toned braids that would look great wrapped around a Grecian toga dress. The exhibition — a must-see, especially the fashion forest — is up through the end of May.

Fabian’s Birthday at Shiloh

We love a good family birthday gathering, especially at home by the pool, with a big buffet of great Chinese food and friends who have flown in for the celebration. When we use the term “family” we include our non-blood inner circle that we would do anything for and visa versa, and at the top of that list are The Basabes, dear friends for 24 years.

The occasion was Fabian Basabe’s birthday, which means an even more extra party where no one leaves early except for the kids with their nannies. Fashion-wise, we always love talking shop with designer Rene Ruiz, a good friend of Fabi’s, and longtime GF Brandi Reddick, who’s in charge of Art in Public Places for the City of Miami Beach and always — repeat always — looks sensational. I reminded Brandi, who was wearing a silky floral caftan with an oversized violet print, that my favorite item in her closet is a vintage lavender caftan in the most perfect pinky-purple hue that she wears so well and that I truly do covet.

Martina Borgomanero Basabe — Fabian’s wife and mother of their adorable son Brando Basabe (named after Marlon Brando, of course; how fabulous is that?) — organized the party, which included three super-cute animal-themed ice cream cakes. The soiree for our favorite Aries had a second purpose: To congratulate Fabian on his newly announced candidacy for Florida State House Representative for district 106 for the Republican Party. His campaign T-shirt, which he thoughtfully had made in fashion-minded size small for us ladies, features a fun red, white, and blue theme that I can’t wait to turn into a Gucci-inspired #ootd for my Insta.

 

Women of Tomorrow x Goodwill South Florida Mentee “Power Shop”

One of my favorite things to do is mentor, and once a month during the school year I get to spend time with the 30 Women of Tomorrow mentees at Miami Norland Senior High in Miami Gardens. Along with my co-mentor, celeb stylist Elysze Held, we counsel the mentees on important things such as goalsetting, working with intention, and making every moment count.

And when it comes to a timed “power shop,” such as our recent field trip to Goodwill’s Biscayne Avenue store, making every moment count could not be more essential. A valuable lesson in sustainable fashion, creative wardrobing, saving money, and female empowerment, our shopping session began with a talk by Lourdes de la Mata-Little, VP at Goodwill South Florida, which donated a $25 credit for each mentee to shop. After, Elysze took the mic to share her expert shopping tips.

I showed the mentees my Yves St. Laurent late 70s/1980s-inspo ensemble — purchased from Goodwill earlier that week! — a modified puff-sleeved top and three-tiered ruffled skirt of two different polka-dots (white on black, paired with black on kelly green) that, in my opinion, looked great together. Pulled together with a wide black patent belt and black/cream espadrilles — both basic items that are easy to source thrifting.

And then we were off, not unlike the thrift shop version of TV’s Supermarket Sweep, with all of us racing to different racks. After an hour, we had collected shopping bags full of treasures, from cute sundresses and chic caftans to professional dresses and pant looks suitable for interviews, graduation or meeting the boyfriend’s parents. Plus, stuffed animals, of course. (Housewife hack to sanitize: Place thrifted stuffed animal in a large plastic one-zip bag and put in the freezer for 24 hours.)

Thanks to some fast text action the night before the power shop, my caring husband Nick D’Annunzio increased the mentee’s shopping budget to $100 each, enabling them to get entire mini wardrobes. Our heartfelt thanks go to our friends who donated shopping money: Dana Shear, Fabian Basabe and Martina Borgomanero Basabe, Bertil Espegren, Marcella Novela, Katie Nicholas, and Melissa Katz Crane-Baker.

After shopping, Stacey Shabati generously treated the mentees to a yummy Italian lunch at Serafina in Aventura Mall, where we had so much fun, chatting about our finds over a four-course meal. With us emotionally was our alpha-femme fearless leader Jennifer Valoppi, co-founder of Women of Tomorrow, which mentors approximately 3,000 students annually in South Florida in 115 schools with 250 mentors who are professional business women.