On November 6th, Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA) presented STYLE LAB (formerly known as SUPER SATURDAY) hosted by Maggie Gyllenhaal and Kate Mara and a few hundred members of New York’s chicest nightlife crowd. Dancing and background tunes were spun by DJ Michele Pesce and the evening ended with a “greatest hits” musical performance by En Vogue!
It was truly a one-of-a-kind, unforgettable event and I confess that I came for the shopping. Being a longtime attendee of SUPER SATURDAY who went seven times, I was thrilled to peruse racks and tables of goodies from the likes of Cosabella, Shoshanna and Liverpool Jeans. I also loved customized STYLE LAB experiences done in conjunction with media partner, InStyle Magazine. These experiences included creating complimentary roll on fragrances and leather bracelets with customized metal charms.
There was also a “Shop My Closet” sale of celebrity garb including lots of red carpet premiere gowns. The champagne color beaded cocktail dress by Oprah Winfrey to the premiere of The Butler especially won my heart. If I could have afforded it, I would have bid in a heartbeat! The celeb garment donations were endless and stars included Julia Roberts, Gwyneth Paltrow, Oprah Winfrey, Jimmy Fallon, Eva Mendes, Drew Barrymore, Jimmy Kimmel, Trevor Noah, Ben Affleck, Amy Schumer, Meg Ryan, Kelly Clarkson, Dwayne Wade, Gabrielle Union, Kate Upton, John Stamos, Andy Cohen, Christina Hendricks, Regina King, Kristin Bell, Ryan Seacrest, Kris Jenner, and more!
There was silent auction featuring goods like trips, restaurant meals, show tickets and even instruments. Did I forget to say that there was a ton of competition among many male guests of different sports team ticket packages?! I think I saw a guy drop three dozen or so tickets in one of the clear plexiglas silent auction boxes placed in front of each prize!
Everyone went crazy not only for the scrumptious home cooked Mediterranean and Italian fare served but for the ultimate end of the night dance and singalong opportunity: seeing the sexy and talented ladies of En Vogue live. The ladies pointed out that New York was the first city to discover them and give the airplay and attention and launched into an hour set of classics like “Free Your Mind” and “You’re Never Gonna Get It.” It was incredible to me that none of them looked a day over 29! En Vogue left everyone with a lot of great memories and big smiles but there was still one more gift: a great swag bag full of lifestyle items from Dunkin’ Donuts, Diamonds International, Moroccan Oil hair products and Frank Body skincare and bath products.
I hope to do even more shopping next year at STYLE LAB (I heard that some of the jeans being offered were down to five bucks after I left) and am dying to see who next year’s musical guest is. Gotham Hall, a former bank in midtown, made for a stunning and spacious backdrop to this to-die-for evening of fun and charity. Guests like the ladies pictured above went crazy for the gorgeous OCRA photo op setups scattered about the extra large, high ceilinged venue. To keep an eye out for next year’s STYLE LAB event announcement and to check out the numerous charity events they have all over the country, go to www.ocrahope.org. Donations can be made on the OCRA site and they are proud to have raised over $85 million for ovarian cancer research since their inception in 1998.
