The 10th annual “Tickled Pink” afternoon tea party benefiting the Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Mid-Atlantic took place right before Mother’s Day this year, featuring the latest in mother/daughter spring and summer fashions. The Fairmont Georgetown Hotel once again partnered with Pink Palm at Bethesda Row, a Lilly Pulitzer® Signature Store, to host this extravagant event. I’ve never seen so much pink!

The swankiest (and pinkest) kids tea party in town. Butlers served kids refreshments in champagne flutes at the Fairmont Hotel in Georgetown. (Liz Parker/DC on Heels)

Fashion building mother and daughter bonds

First, if you’ve never been to the Fairmont in Georgetown, it’s as classy as D.C. hotels come. Walking into the lobby from the normal bustle of the street, you’re surrounded by the serene, quiet beauty of marbled floors, natural light and smiling staff. Ah, luxury! It dawned on me that I was in for quite the tea party.

Walking to the Tickled Pink event, I was first struck by all the pink. I was not prepared for this. Pink lights, pink mimosas, pink ribbons, pink cheeks of excited, smiling young girls and the pink lips of their beaming mothers. Pink everywhere. Butlers walked around with silver trays, serving the young girls champagne flutes of bubbly fruit juice, and champagne and mimosas for the adults. Meanwhile, the Pink Palm sold Lilly Pulitzer goods and tables of silent auction items benefiting the Make-a-Wish Foundation surrounded the room.

Most remarkable, though, were the dozens of mothers and daughters in matching colorful Lilly Pulitzer outfits. I usually cringe when my mother brings out old photos of myself wearing an exact replica of her outfit, but seeing the mother/daughter pairs proudly strutting their Pulitzer patterned dresses was actually cute. It made me think about how important fashion can be to mother/daughter relationships, even at a young age. For mothers, it’s a way for them to treasure a bond with their young ones. For daughters, it’s a way of emulating their biggest role model. And shopping is an activity that will forever bring mothers and daughters closer together over their lifetimes.

Local celebrity moms and their daughters showcased the latest Lilly looks. (Liz Parker/DC on Heels)

Local celebrity moms and Lilly’s legacy

This was the 10th year of the Tickled Pink event, and it had the biggest attendance yet. The turnout was impressive, and I had a feeling I was in a room filled with D.C.’s most successful women. And rightly so. After a few remarks by Bob Maidgan from WTOP Radio, Laura Caldwell of the Mid-Atlantic Make-A-Wish Foundation and a Lilly Pultizer tribute from Lizanne Jeveret of the Pink Palm, the long-awaited fashion show began. Local celebrity moms calmly strolled down the catwalk, hand-in-hand with their daughters and big toothy smiles.

As pictured above, local entrepreneurial moms included: Allison Priebe, owner of Queen Bee Designs and her 9-year-old, Cynthia; Lesli Foster, an Emmy, AP and Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist at WUSA-TV, and her 7-year-old, Jordan; Angie Goff, anchor and reporter for NBC4, and her 2-year-old, Adora, among other locally influential women.

Young girls and their mothers lining up and showing off their Lilly Pulitzer wears. (Liz Parker/DC on Heels)

In terms of fashion, the Lilly Pulitzer designs reminded me of Vera Bradley designs — cute, but sometimes veering on the tacky. Then again, I am also someone who sticks to basics, loves black and has a fondness for neutrals. Color is definitely out of my comfort zone. So I was moved by Jeveret’s tribute to Pulitzer.

Jeveret commented that Pulitzer always said style was not what you wear, but how you live. She was loved by all, celebrated for how she loved life, her gusto, her generosity and her never-ending sense of fun. In terms with the reason we were actually all there — to benefit Make-A-Wish Foundation — this all made sense. Fashion doesn’t have have to be something taken too seriously. It can be something fun that we delight in and share with our loved ones.

A mother whose daughter benefited from Make-A-Wish testified to how important the power of a smile is for a child and was for hers. They were both beaming when they were presented with a special gift trip to Disneyland. I actually teared up when the little girl became all smiles and giggles. Something about Mother’s Day, the proud little girls and just the happiness radiating the room was making me sentimental. I was, unexpectedly, tickled pink.

Click here to get more information about the event, purchase tickets or to pre-order Tia Mowry’s new book!

*See you on the Runway*

Night at the “Newseum” 555 Pennsylvania Ave, Washington DC.

Capitol File Magazine’s 7th Annual White House Correspondent’s Association Dinner Party was filled with glitz, glam, cocktails and fashion fabulousness!  Golden Globe winner Claire Danes hosted the extravagant event at The Newseum with President and Editor-in-Chief Sarah Schaffer. Special guests included host Claire Danes, Jon Bernthal, Ginnifer Goodwin, Jon Josh Dallas, Tim Daly, Omar Epps, David Arquette, Richard Kind, Gloria Reuben, Ryan Kwanten, Eun Yang, Debra Lee and Johnny Galecki, among others.  The guests were dressed in outfits from designers Dolce & Gabanna, Ralph Lauren, Betsy Garcete, Donna Karen and even H & M.  The hors d’oeuvres ranged from sushi to chicken bbq pizza and cocktails from Grey Goose® were to die for!

Stay tuned for Video Coverage!

Ginnifer Goodwin

Miss Olivia Allen in H & M and Vanessa Camozzi wearing Zophia by Betsy Garcete www.zophiaonline.com

Anna Castillo and Jon Bernthal.

Olivia Allen: Q. What is your favorite fashion trend this season?

Jon Bernthal: A. “I’ve been in GA the last few summers, I just like taking clothes off…I like shedding things.  I am not big on fashion I get clothes from work.”

(We love that Jon!  Keep doing you!)

Jon Bernthal and Omar Epps

John Mark Galecki, Anna Castillo and David Arquette

Grey Goose® Crew

Anna Castillo and Tim Daly

Anna Castillo and Caroline Manzo who is loving www.inkcosmetics.com 

Caroline expressed her excitement for her daughter’s upcoming plans to own/operate her very own Beauty Bar.  We are looking foreword to hearing more details about her adventure. Caroline was a complete pleasure and genuinely seemed to enjoy every minute on the blue carpet!

Anna Castillo and Angie Goff

 Anna Castillo and Colton Dixon

Colton Dixon is currently working on his upcoming album and hooked us up with the hair low down or should we say “stand up?”  Simple how-to = flat iron and gel.  Too easy!

Carl Ray – First Lady Michelle Obama’s Make-up Artist and Anna Castillo

It was such a pleasure seeing Carl Ray this evening.  He is an absolute doll and might I say amazingly talented make-up artist.  I have seen Carl at work and admire his flawless talent!  I am so honored to be surrounded by such talented people.

The night ended with a little mingling, chatting and laughing with Celebrity guests along with the privilege of catching up with old friends and many of our fashion associates.

XOXO Besos,

ANNA CASTILLO

Celebrity Make-up Artist/Owner of www.shopinkcosmetics.com

Recognize any of these ladies? DC's official "Newsbabes" gather for a group photo at the 2010 event.

The charitable event honors Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker, who is the founder & CEO of the Susan G. Komen Foundation and breast cancer survivor Jennifer Griffin of FOX News.

Nancy G. Brinker receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Obama. It is the highest civilian honor awarded to United States citizens.

Newsbabes honoree Jennifer Griffin, a breast cancer survivor, is the national security correspondent for FOX.

The Newsbabes Bash for Breast Cancer is a kick-off event to the annual Susan G.Komen Race for the Cure on the National Mall. It began in 2009 when a group of friends who work in the TV news industry decided to get together for one cause.

Click here to see photos from the last Newsbabes Bash.

See photos from last year’s event here >>

In addition to the honorees mentioned above, special guests of Newsbabes include:

• Kathleen Sebelius, Sec. of Health & Human Services
• Georgetown Cupcake owners Sophie Lamontagne & Katherine Kallinis, TLC “DC Cupcakes”
• Grammy Award-winning Artist, Mya
• Komen Global Ambassador, Hadassah Lieberman, wife of Sen. Joe Lieberman
• Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), newly elected DNC Chairwoman
• Jonice Gray Tucker, daughter of Washington, DC’s Mayor Vincent Gray

This year’s pink cocktail affair takes place at The Fairmont on M Street NW from 6:30 to 8:30pm (ticket info here).

xoxo,

Markette

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