Giving Goes Glam 2016 (Re-Cap)

Chairing a charity event is like a mother planning a wedding for her daughter.  You start planning a year in advance, there’s excitement, some struggles, lack of sleep, butterflies the morning of, and then just like that it’s over in a blink of an eye.  Luckily, I had the pleasure of co-chairing this amazing event, Giving Goes Glam, with two beautiful girlfriends:  Pam Bryan and Jen Lowrance. 

My amazing Co-Chairs Pam and Jen

In March 2015, it was announced that the three of us would be the next co-chairs and we took off running with our ideas and planning!  With the help of an amazing team of women, we were able to pull together an event for 762 attendees.  We shared a goal of raising funds for two charities:  Interfaith of The Woodlands and Junior League of The Woodlands, each providing programs and services to people in need.  I am amazed with the talent each of these beautiful women gave and the time they sacrificed; without them the 5th annual Giving Goes Glam would not have been possible.  It was a team effort and I am so blessed and proud to be a part of it.  

Giving Goes Glam is a fashion event, and this year Nordstrom put on a fabulous runway show.  Wonderful dresses, everyday wear, shoes and style were showcased on the runway.  It was eye-opening to be a part of the backstage scene and witness the moving parts behind the curtain.  Before the luncheon and runway show, we had pop-up shops of retailers generously giving back 15% of sales, a raffle for a Mercedes, silent auction and our cute LA DJ, Don Vaughn, who kept the energy in the room going before and especially after the show.  Did I mention he’s cute?

With our LA based DJ, Don Vaughn with myself and Jon Halbur of J&D Entertainment

While the Giving Goes Glam pictures look perfect, amazing and flawless…. the day did not exactly go that way.  Hello, my name is Elvira Cauthen, and I prone to mishaps.  Yes, that is me.

1. I started the day with my alarm going off at 5:45 am in my hotel room, it is then that I realize I had left my garment bag containing my outfit at home.  
2.  As I am descending the escalator during the Fashion Rowe photo shoot, I realize my heels are wedged into the grooves on the escalator (take a closer look at the picture, as I try to act like nothing is wrong) and I am unable to set them free.  Before I know it, my brand new, beautiful shoes are being chewed up by the teeth of the escalator where it meets the bottom.  My sweet photographer is turning her face away with her hand over her eyes saying, “Oh, I can’t look, I can’t look!”. Unable to free them, but determined as ever to not let the escalator win, I am bent over pulling, yanking, and talking to my shoes telling them how sorry I am…, until finally they are finally freed.  If you have ever wondered what is under the patent leather of a heel, I will tell you.  It is metal.  And if your heel is chewed up by the teeth of an escalator, it will smoke, and when you free it, it will be very, very hot.  So, do not attempt to touch it.  
3.  I look at my sad, sad looking shoes and wonder if they are wearable.  I put them back on my feet and “yes!” they are usable.  Luckily you can still balance quite nicely on the plain metal heel, and I have a pant suit so it covers the sadness nicely.  Still shaking from the event I walk into the ballroom, try to compose myself, and share with a few ladies the terrible news about my shoes.  One comes up to me and gently places her hand on my arm and calmly says, “Your day is about to get worse”, then proceeds to point out that I have SPLIT MY PANTS in the buttocks area.  First thought:  I split them while fighting with the escalator to free my shoes.  Second thought:  but this pantsuit has stretch in it - really???!!!  25 minutes until showtime.  Ok, luckily it is a runway event, so I find a seamstress backstage who kindly stitches my butt up.  
4. As I am up on the stage waiting to speak, I step back and my heels are off the stage.  My arms start to flail as I’m trying to regain my balance, and all I can think of is “do not grab the curtains, Elvira, do not grab the curtains”.  Luckily my pilates trained co-chair grabs me and is able to pull me back up.  Laughter, shocked faces, and I heard an “Oh s*%$” in the audience.  
5. (I know…FIVE???)  Towards the end of the luncheon I stand back up and yup, I split my pants again.

Moments after almost falling off stage, breathe Elvira, breathe.

My sweet friend Janine, as one of our gorgeous models

Hmmm, that looks like Stripes, it was all over the runway.

And there you go - real life, behind the scenes action from yours truly.  Nevertheless, the event was a hit, raising money for some wonderful programs and services! Despite my mishaps some Giving was done Glamorously!

Our 2016 Giving Goes Glam Committee (Thank you to Mindy Harmon for this Group Photo)