Denver’s terrific-looking bunch of philanthropists made their way to the Mile High Station Friday night for the premier fashion show of 2013. Max Martinez of MAX Fashions in Cherry Creek is the leader of this ambitious and well-intended event.
It was Max’s dream to host a fashion show to rival Paris and Milan right here in the city of sports fiends. His vision for the last three years has proven that Denver indeed loves fashion, style, and circumstance.
Five years ago Max’s mission was delivered. Brooke Ballenger, his niece, was born with a defective heart. Within hours she was in surgery. Today, Martinez combines his passion for fashion with his bigger than life compassion for children with serious health problems.
With the help of local fashionistas each year, the show has become known as THE fashion non-profit event of the year. It has successfully raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for Research at Children’s Hospital Colorado. Max Martinez is a hero among children, the hopelessly style-conscious femmes, and Denver’s tremendously generous people with big healthy hearts and open pockets. 2013’s hippest style.
Max Martinez wooed his audience with an exclusive runway parade highlighting 2013 Resort and Holiday Collections by top designers: Alexander McQueen, Ann Demeulemeester, Celine, Chloe, Lanvin, Missoni, Narciso Rodriguez, Nina Ricci, Rask Jewelry, Rick Owens, Saint Laurent, Victoria Beckham.
Mystery gift bags ranging from $100 – $1,000 included items from Adrienne Stewart, Blondies’, Bonano Restaurants, Cache Cache, Devils’ Thumb Ranch, Frasca, Hotel Jerome, Limelight Hotel, Matsuhisa Aspen, Matsuhisa Vail, MAX Clothing Stores, Pure Barre, SOL Lingerie, Carol and George Solich, UBER. All proceeds went to support Children’s Hospital Colorado.
A very special guest was Ayla Charness. At age three she was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder. Her family relocated to Denver in order for her to receive treatment at Children’s Hospital. Today, Ayla is still watched closely at Children’s but she is a beautiful young girl who loves school, swimming, dancing and fashion. She delighted the fashion goddesses with shared empathy, felt by women everywhere, when she explained her dilemma of the evening. With poise she revealed, “The hardest part of the evening was trying to decide what to wear.”
For more information and to support research at Children’s Hospital please go to: www.childrenscoloradofoundation.org. 720-777-1759
-
- L to R: Susan Drumm, Carol McDermott, Kathy Coors, Lisa Pinto
-
- L to R: Sandy Schiel, Karen Wilson, Carol Solich
-
- L to R: Julie Bock, Jane Buckley, Anita Mosher Solich
-
- L to R: Bridget Grier, Scott Seale, Max Martinez, Virginia Reiman, Carol Solich
-
- L to R: Rachel Lubeck, Erica Lewis Mansfield, Stefanie Clarke
-
- L to R: Rick Jacobs, Kathleen Beatty, Karen Jacobs, Nahida Jones
-
- Linda Bunnell, Angela Howman
-
- Terri Hanifin, Lara Merriken
-
- L to R: Celia Dietrich, Karen Cerroni, Julie Headley
-
- L to R: Rhonda Boswell, Gregg Westwood, Bob Boswell, Jacqui Lord
-
- Kathy Martinez, Joselyn Benabe
-
- Jen Heinz-Rames, Blanca Leos
-
- Dawn Frider, Joanna Culbertson
-
- L to R: David Martinez, Joselyn Benabe, Gus Sanchez
-
- L to R: Lisa Schreiber, Scott Marquardt, Kristina Sterling, Jim Schreiber
-
- Mackenzie & Jackie Clarke
-
- Anna Spalding
-
- Randy Carter, Angela Brocksmith
-
- Holly & Corinne Toenjes
-
- L to R: Cyndi & Chrissy Clark, Emma & Karen Walker
-
- L to R: Blanca Leos, Jen Heinz, Brooke Gordon
-
- L to R: Wendy Lee, Carol Solich, Bridget Kornder, Terri Barnes
-
- L to R: Marylou Houston, Julie Bock, Laura Wright
-
- L to R: Kendall Scheffey, Heather Klutznick, Kelly McCarley
-
- Kim & Steve Winesett
-
- Deirdre Wildman, Everett Clark
-
- Krystal & Jon Hickman
-
- L to R: Ron Lopez, Nicole Matta, Steven Trujillo
-
- Kathleen & Mike Beatty
-
- L to R: Danny Ballenger, Michael & Kristin McCollum, Nina Ballenger, front, Brooke Ballenger
-
- L to R: Tracie Keesee, Suzanne Brown, Stefanie Clarke
-
- L to R: Maura Aldrich, Amy Millisor, Kara Foley
-
- Carmelo Paglialunga, Catherine Dolan
-
- L to R: Kevin & Laura Morningstar, Brad Burch, Candy Clevenger, Heidi Ralyea
-
- Elizabeth Amariles, Sarah Scott
-
- L to R: Audrey Charness, Lesia Payton, Shea Rosen
-
- Noelle Nicholson, Iris Llewellyn
-
- Tommy Collier, Scottie Iverson
-
- Ayla Charness, left, speaking of her operations and future in the fashion industry.
-
- Scott Seale, Max Martinez and his niece, Brooke Ballenger
-
- Max thanking volunteers for making this affair possible.
