Wine, Women & Shoes

We want to thank Teresa D’Aurizio of Napa Valley’s ZD Wines for her very funny blog entry.

“Hello. My name is Teresa, and I have Shoe Insecurities.” That should’ve been my opening line at this weekend’s Wine, Women & Shoes Auction held in Sarasota, FL. The weekend consisted of almost 500 women attending wine and shoe pairings, wine tastings, a fashion show, and wine dinners in beautiful homes along the coast. All the festivities benefited a wonderful local charity, Forty Carrots.

At the wine and shoe pairing seminar, I watched women attendees make their way to their seats adorned in amazing shoes, and it was all I could do to steady myself on my well-travelled dusty, but sensible Nine West pumps. Okay, right, focus. I was asked to discuss what type of shoe pairs with Chardonnay. Quick, think! As various brand names – Manolo Blahnik, Fendi, Jimmy Choo, Chanel, Emilio Pucci- danced around my head and whizzed past me- all I could do was pray that no one was looking at my feet! My shoe insecurities quickly turned into shoe envy as the giddiness in the room came to an all time high as women complimented each other on their shoes. Then, I remembered I was really here to talk about the wine. Ah, yes, my comfort zone. Exhale. Maybe I could distract this crowd from looking at my feet by dazzling them with our wines. I launched into the history of ZD Wines, talked about the 2007 Chardonnay, recommended wearing lovely sandals (pointing at someone else’s feet) all while sipping this flagship wine! I heard a few –ohs and ahs, and was getting caught in the moment,and exclaimed triumphantly- “I would like to donate my shoes to the cause!” Hmmm, no takers…..

Darn. I would need to think fast. The next day was the fashion show, and you guessed it, I only had the shoes on my feet. Darn again.

Teresa D’Aurizio

Vice President, Sales

ZD Winery

I have to tell you about the most amazing place on earth. Well really in Oklahoma City, but practically on earth. This place is the Chesapeake Boathouse, and it was the location for WW&S Oklahoma City’s Wednesday night Wine 101.

I have to admit that I was expecting The Boathouse to be a boathouse themed restaurant with life rings, sailing pictures, wooden floors and fried fish. I wasn’t expecting a genuine boathouse (that’s an architectural masterpiece, by the way) on a river with real boats and rowing.

When I was growing up in Oklahoma City, we never went to or saw the river. Until I looked it up on line tonight, I didn’t know its name (it’s the Oklahoma River). I think I was about 14 the first time I laid eyes on it, and it was from an overpass on the freeway. I remember seeing what looked like a trickle, far below the highway. At the time, it was polluted, muddy, and full of beer cans. I thought it was also full of fish with 3 eyes.

Thanks to clean up efforts and a revitalization of the downtown and river front, today the river is healthy and loaded with recreational opportunities like biking, hiking, rowing crew and dragon boating. Dragon boating? Yes, dragon boating. Here’s the descriptor from Chesapeake Boathouse’s website:

Dragon boating is the world’s fastest growing water sport – and the Chesapeake Boathouse is bringing it to Oklahoma! Originating from Chinese fishing vessels, these festive boats are decorated with fierce dragon heads, colorful bodies and elaborate tails. The longest boats measure 18 meters long, are almost the length of a large metro bus and carry a team of 20 paddlers plus a drummer!

Drumming and boating? In my old home town? I love it!

On top of introducing dragon boating to Oklahoma City, Chesapeake commissioned local architect Rand Elliott to build an incredibly beautiful building. I was blown away. Check out the pictures.

Here’s the design philosophy:

“Its unique design reflects the spirit of rowing – and especially rowing in Oklahoma. It is a rowing shell on the prairie, exquisite in its simplicity.”

Rowing on the prairie, on the beautiful Oklahoma River, on dragon boat, with a beating drum. I want to move back.

In the next few days, I’ll tell you all about WW&S Oklahoma City. The chairs and committee put together a really sophisticated series of events, starting with at the boathouse and ending with champagne, a fashion show and shopping at Balliets. Did I already say that I want to move back?

Most people have pictures of their children loaded on to their computers. Family vacations, relatives, special trips. I have all those, but I also have pictures of shoes. Lots of shoes. Shoes I never wear.

The pictures came from a photo shoot we did when we created the Wine Women & Shoes web site. I wanted to bring the same level of fun and excitement that we have at the live events to the web, and I decided to lend my shoe collection to the task. A friend of mine and professional photographer, Dan Mills, shot a few dozen shoes, and we wound up picking the best half-dozen for the site. Project completed. That was months ago.

Since I got married last year I find I have fewer dressy occasions to wear my gorgeous shoes. As a result, my beautiful shoes sit in their perfect boxes in the closet, out of site. I recently came across the photo shoot folder on my laptop and decided they were way too pretty to keep hidden, and they all have a story.

Manolo Blahniks Beaded Orange & Pink Sandals

I only have 2 pairs of Manolos, and I adore them. This particular pair was supposed to go with everything. But I wear them with nothing. Because I can’t figure out what they go with.

Giuseppe Zanotti Beaded MuleÂ

I bought these to wear with a gorgeous floor-length cashmere dress that fits like a glove. They are so stunning that I didn’t care that my toes started bleeding after an hour of wearing them. 

Tiger-Stripe Casadei Stiletto

This was the most creative and sexy Valentine’s Day present I ever received. It was early in a relationship and I was euphoric. They were so high, I could only walk uphill. I valiantly wore them…. twice. It’s the thought that counts. The following Christmas, he gave me a coffee mug with my picture on it. Needless to say, it didn’t work out.

Pucci Stilettos

These Puccis look amazing with a pair of white jeans. I wore them when I was single and dating. Now that I’m married, I wear my $8 white moccasins from Target. How the mighty have fallen.

Comme Il Faut Tango Shoes

Someday I’ll tell you the story of the tango shoe store I visited on my honeymoon in Buenos Aires. Let me just say my husband was an incredibly good sport. I bought 4 pairs of shoes, including these. I LOVE them. I loved the experience of buying them. I don’t wear a lick of green. I don’t dance tango. But I’m still glad I have them because they make me smile. I think it’s the polka dots.

I think I’ll blow the pictures up and hang them in my office. I wish I could artfully arrange the shoes on the shelves in my bedroom so I could look at them every day, but I couldn’t do that to my husband.

Backstage at the fashion show, it was a whirl of activity. We couldn’t have done it without Emily Barouch, who navigated her way through clouds of hairspray, bringing order to the chaos. Billa Donaldson pulled it all together in a pinch, and with a mere hour of rehearsal created a show worthy of New York’s Fashion Week.

Karen and Maura Strut Their Stuff

The team of stylists from David Magna’s Napa Valley salon were teasing hair into elaborate up dos and Farrah Fawcett manes. During her coiffure, Maura Wilson was doing her best to hold still while chatting with Karen Caldwell. Having tried on the 4″ heels she was assigned to wear down the runway, she was laughing about the possibility of face planting on the catwalk a la Carrie Bradshaw in Sex in the City.

What a Line-up!

Strewn all over the tables were enough cosmetics to make the selection at Sephora look downright anemic. As Jakki Leonardini and Kristin Martin caught glimpses of themselves in the mirrors, they giggled with a mixture of embarrassment and delight. They were being transformed into super models, and it was so much fun to watch. It reminded me that no matter how grown up women are, we haven’t out grown playing dress up with our girlfriends.

Shannon and Laurie -Lookin’ Good!

A thumping bass beat signaled the start of the fashion show. As Emily Miner, the first model, courageously stepped onto the stage, the audience erupted into enthusiastic applause. Emily is undergoing cancer treatment and looked beautiful in her head scarf. She is a graceful reminder that although we can surround ourselves with beautiful shoes and gorgeous clothes, true beauty always comes from within.

We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day for Wine, Women & Shoes Napa Valley. 82 degree weather, a cloudless sky, the beautiful lawn at St. Supery so perfectly shaded by a massive 150 year old oak tree. Of course, there were fine wines, delectable nibbles, high fashion shoes and artisan-produced accessories to peruse and purchase. It was a magical afternoon brought together by a hard working committee of 20 and no fewer than 100 volunteers.

Veteran Shoe Guy Judd Finkelstein Flirts with Rita Moreno

This year we tried out the idea of “Buy a Shoe Guy” (it was totally clean -  just wine service at the Patron Tables), and these wonderful gentlemen made it a smashing success! Imagine 26 of them dressed in fitted black T-shirts and black pants, carrying shoes on silver trays, chatting about mules and peep toes (Oh be still my beating heart. Do they really know what a d’orsay pump is?!) and generally catering to the women.

To promote them, we placed their printed bios on their trays and listed them in the program, and I just have to share a particularly noteworthy one with you:

An original Shoe Guy, Mark is one of the few Americans to be named a Master of Ensabotage, the art of eliciting sighs by sliding a woman’s foot into a slipper. A private pilot, gourmand, one-case litigator, golfer, sailor, and all around adventurer, he is a dilettante of farcical proportions. As much at home in a tuxedo as a toga, he seeks all experiences, while categorically believing that the detergent carried in bathing suits is damaging to hot tubs.

Hello Prince Charming! In addition to Mark’s bio, his charm, good looks and, let’s admit it, shameless day-of self promotion, helped catapult him into the position of most sought after Shoe Guy of the afternoon. The other Shoe Guys were equally handsome and charming, creating fierce competition between them for most popular and highest revenue generating. By the end of the event, they and the women who so generously contributed raised an extra $7,000 for Planned Parenthood’s important reproductive health programs.

Â

Dressed in Black!

There is so much to write about, that I’ve decided to break it into several entries over the next few weeks. Next up: the fashion show and the models. Thanks for taking the time to check in.

To purchase copies of these photos or to view the entire album of event photos, go to:

www.shutterfly.com/pro/caroltroyphotography/parties

As we write this, Julie and I are sitting on a plane, returning from our first trip together as professional Shommeliers, having just spent three glorious days at Women’s Wonderful Weekend at the Greenbrier in West Virginia. What an appropriate way to start our first blog.This annual weekend brings together a group of savvy, smart women from around the country, many of whom are struggling with the common challenge of balancing work and family, while trying to carve out “mini moments” for themselves in the chaotic scheme of life. Betsy Conte, the Greenbrier’s Director of Social Activities, pulled together the perfect remedy for the modern woman - a few days of informative and inspirational presentations, sisterly connection and playful camaraderie. Under Betsy’s expert guidance, topics included nutrition, golf, women’s rights, humanitarian efforts, cooking, NIA, and the all important subject of wine and shoe pairing.

We started making friends from the moment we arrived. Ann Spice, who’s a real estate agent and a darn good fashion consultant, confirmed that Julie looks great in brown and that I can continue to wear my favorite pearl earrings on a daily basis. We had a few small world moments: Judy Miller, Vice President of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, and I had met on a mother-daughter cruise 10 years ago; Hattie Hill, another presenter, was a model at WW&S Dallas; and Ann Guill, who we bumped into in, where else, the hotel shoe salon, knew Julie’s family from their Liparita days.Judy’s presentation was a tear jerker. Each year, her foundation www.hiltonfoundation.org awards the largest humanitarian prize in the world (1.5 million) to organizations which have made extraordinary contributions toward alleviating human suffering. She has worked with organizations around the globe such as Doctors Without Borders, International Rescue Committee, Women for Women International, and Operation Smile. She’s been to leprosy colonies, TB hospitals and refugee camps and witnessed the injustices of war, poverty and disease. A staggering statistic is that 80% of these victims are women and children. Thankfully, these organizations are making a difference, one person at a time.

Over the course of the weekend, we met many other extraordinary women. Wanda Lankewich, Donna Dennis, and Nancy Novak all work together in DC on large scale construction projects, including a major remodel of the Pentagon. Nancy’s twin sister, Pat Dziak, also works in construction, but in San Deigo, building green housing. Leslie Ware, Jennifer, Vicki Whalen, and Karen Koos came all the way from Maine for their annual mother daughter trip. We had fun discussions with Mindy Gaertner about why her husband should get over his disdain for synthetic corks and screw caps. Suzanne Silverstein, a WWW regular, regaled us with stories about previous weekends at the Greenbrier.

WW&S Headquarters

And then there was the ever present topic of male circumcision - don’t ask, you had to have been there. We can’t mention everyone, but suffice it to say, that by the end of the weekend, we felt close to each and every woman there. To complete the theme of strong women, we have to mention our new favorite interior designer, Dorothy Draper, affectionately called DD by Julie and me. Not only was she the first female to own her own interiors company, she was the first to take on the entire look of the hotel. Her signature style appears everywhere: furniture, fabrics, carpets, china, uniforms, menus, matchbooks. You name it, she did it.From daffodil yellow to mint green to flamingo pink, every inch of the Greenbrier exuberantly shouts her famous creed, “Color is magic”. She was right. It’s fabulous, all 700 rooms, 30 miles of hallway and one million square feet of it. As we wandered through the corridors, grand ballrooms and cozy sitting rooms, we were blown away at how so much 1940’s cabbage rose wall paper could still look so, well.. terrific! Redecorated by DD shortly after World War II, each room has its own distinct personality.

Here Comes Bing!

We were fortunate enough to share the Presidential Suites with Beth Klau, professional golfer Beth Daniels, NIA dance teacher Ann Wolf, nutritionist and author Terry Graedon, cookbook author and journalist Pam Anderson. We half expected to catch a glimpse of Bing Crosby sauntering down the sweeping staircase or of President Dwight Eisenhower hosting diplomats in the opulent parlor.DD loved her valances. Yard after yard of fabric is gathered at each window and shaped into GIANT bows, billowing swags and other elaborate forms. We’ll never look at windows in the same way again. Every window will forever be an opportunity for self expression and channeling our inner DD.

The bow is bigger than Elaine!

Speaking of channeling, WWW was all about channeling our inner DD and sharing it with our fellow sisters. In addition to being moved to action, we were reminded of the strength and power of women in numbers and how much we are doing to change the world. Oh, let’s not forget our final moments together, holding hands in a circle, singing to Carole King’s You Got a Friend. The only thing missing was the group hug. How’s that for a kum ba yah moment?