Fabiola Beracasa

“I have zero investments, for better or for worse,” said 26-year-old Ben Zoltowski, a senior print project manager at the advertising agency McCann Erickson. “I feel like New York is already difficult enough to live in financially! I’m used to living paycheck to paycheck and living frugally, because we sort of have to. Most of us have to!”

Mr. Zoltowski, who lives in Williamsburg, went to Ithaca College and graduated in 2003; he moved to New York in July 2006. Like most of his peers, he seems to think that things can’t really get any worse, because he’s already living hand-to-mouth! But it probably hasn’t dawned on him that he might not even be able to afford last call at Greenpoint Tavern when all this shakes out.  read more »

Sep. 17, 2008

The Best-Dressed at
the New Yorkers
for Children Benefit

On Tuesday, Sept. 16, the post-work crowd on 42nd Street was treated to a procession of coquettish cocktail dresses and floor-sweeping evening gowns worn by Manhattan's uptown set as they exited their chauffeured cars--or pedicabs as we saw in the case of one unfortunate couple--into Cipriani's for the annual New Yorkers for Children gala. While some opted for the eye-catching tiered gowns like Julie Macklowe, portfolio manager for Sigma Capital Management and wife of William Macklowe, president Macklowe Properties, who arrived in a voluminous blue dress. Others, like Julia Restoin-Roitfeld, went for the simple sparkly black mini, T-shirt and blazer.

We've selected our 10 favorite looks from the gala; click the slideshow above to take a look.

Wednesday night's party on the Mini Rooftop in Chelsea thrown by V magazine in honor of its new issue was a downsized version of last week's Interview magazine bash—same crowd, different venue. The only difference was that everyone appeared a little more worn down by the elaborate Fashion Week festivities that have taken place since.

The roof—a new addition to New York's hip party venues—has a grassy knoll in the center with globular seating cavities resembling bathroom sinks where fashionable guests reclined with fruity cocktails, waiting for the Swedish indie artist Lykke Li to perform. (Ms. Li was also the special guest at a small gathering in Soho last Sunday which attracted Kirsten Dunst and Adrian Grenier.)   read more »

On Sunday afternoon, Sept. 7, at Herve Leger's Spring '09 show, the Daily Transom was—shivers of excitement!—seated across from a front row filled with uptown gals.

From left to right, in exact order, were: Genevieve Jones, Derek Blasberg, Fabiola Beracasa, Lauren Remington Platt, Zani Gugelmann, and Maggie Betts. (One of the chairs was labeled "Arden Wohl," but alas she never showed.)

Ms. Platt, clad in a binding (and blinding) white Herve dress with black detail, had arrived by herself and unfashionably early. There she was standing in line up for nearly twenty minutes like everyone else waiting to be let into the Promenade, looking around and checking the time periodically.  read more »

Even though the Bridgehampton Polo match on Saturday, Aug. 2, was canceled due to rain, Hamptons socials still tottered onto the muddy fields in flowing white summer dresses and 3-inch heels. The Transom spotted the beautiful Argentine polo player and the face of Polo Ralph Lauren, Nacho Figueras, posing for photos with bevies of giddy ladies.

“It’s a shame because we have people here, but there’s not much for them to watch,” said Mr. Figueras. He wore jeans, flip-flops, a blue button-up shirt and a baseball cap, which covered his lustrous shaggy hair. “One of my goals is to make polo a more well-known sport.  read more »

On Friday, March 14, the socialites Lauren Santo Domingo and Derek Blasberg took knitwear heiress Margherita Maccapanni Missoni out for  read more »

When did journalism become THE hip hobby for New York socialites?  read more »

Who knew socialite Fabiola Beracasa was such a stellar broadcast journalist? In addition to her tireless circuit of charity events, Ms. Beracasa took time out to host a sneak peek at the Met’s “blog.mode: addressing fashion” exhibit, which runs through April 13.

In this clip, Ms. Beracasa has a conversation with Andrew Bolton, curator of the Costume Institute for the past five years. And there are some very compelling featured pieces in the show: Vivienne Westwood’s bubblegum-pink gown, which was fashioned from a single piece of fabric; an interesting item designed by John Galliano for Dior; a “very controversial” item called the Incubus Necklace, which was made from five vials of human semen; and a backless, very revealing dress worn on the runway by model Sophie Dahl.

Throwing a blowout, V.I.P.-laden wedding less than a month after Harvey Weinstein’s outrageous nuptials is a gutsy feat. For Vogue editor Lauren Davis, though, it’s as easy as one, two, three…million dollars. Her January 8 ceremony is going to be held in Cartagena, Colombia, the home country of her fiancé, Andrés Santo Domingo, an heir and music industrialist.

Ms. Davis’ nine bridesmaids will each be dressed by a different designer, Fashion Week Daily reports. Venezuelan-born New York socialite Fabiola Beracasa, for one, will be clad in a Vera Wang number. Tinsley Mortimer? Giambattista Valli, but of course. Coco Brandolini will wear Alberta Ferretti; Tatiana Santo can look forward to donning Derek Lam; and Amy Greenspon is to sport Proenza Schouler.

All the bridesmaids know what they’re wearing, but the design of the bride-to-be’s dress is totes hush-hush. Like the climax in some straight-to-DVD princess movie, Ms. Davis’ “dream fantasy” Nina Ricci gown, designed by Olivier Theyskens, is to remain hidden until its unveiling before the couple’s 400 guests at an evening ceremony.

Flower arrangements are being handled by Raul Avila, who oversees the Costume Institute gala at the Met. Instead of having the food flown in from Per Se or Cipriani, Ms. Davis and Mr. Santo Domingo have decided to go native with the comestibles. After the affair comes to a close, the couple will reportedly kick off their Far East-themed honeymoon in the Philippines. Fireworks and veal in Westport is très passé!

Michael Kors knows a thing or two about self-promotion. His personal publicity from Project Runway may have created someone new for you to hate--but it created someone new! And last night he used his star-power to attract not just small-screen celebrities but bona fide New York socialites to toast his new SoHo boutique on Prince Street.

The 48-year-old father of the neon metallic sandal has decided to bill the joint “our first Lifestyle store,” but inhabiting the old Jerry’s restaurant as it does, the place really only has room enough for a few clunky bags, a rack of frocks and a gaggle of skinny socials.  read more »

Last week, the socialite-heavy charity New Yorkers for Children hosted its annual “Wrap 2 Rap” afternoon benefit. We weren't there but, reliably, Park Avenue Peerage was and they just posted their pictures.

It was perhaps most notable because the "what is she wearing?" line does not apply: to get down and dirty with the present-wrapping (for underprivileged kids), the young ladies who are known as fashion plates donned oversized gray athletic T-shirts with the words "Wrap 2 Rap" scrawled over the surface.

Joining celebrity host LeAnn Rimes were Arden Wohl, Zani Gugelmann, Fabiola Beracasa, Dayssi Olarte de Kanavos, Lydia Fenet and Margherita Missoni. Providing the event’s soundtrack, a D.J. played rap hits in the space while, according to the Upper-East-Side-centric blog, “the women got to see, first hand, who exactly benefits from their seasonal luncheons and balls.”

For your Halloween pleasure, we offer socialites in ridiculous outfits, via Park Avenue Peerage. Allison Sarofim’s famed annual Halloween party last weekend brought droves of familiar names to her West Village townhouse. The hostess, who strutted her stuff around her velvet-draped first-floor in a peacock costume, was joined by guests like Fabiola Beracasa (dressed as autumn), Alexis Bryan (a bumblebee) and Jennifer Creel (an angel). Apparently not one to pinch pennies when it comes to entertaining, Ms. Sarofim had actress Ayesha Adamo welcome guests dressed as an elaborate, crystal-laden chandelier.

Pictures of a few of the costumed partygoers can be viewed by clicking on the link below.

Samhain [Park Ave. Peerage]

Fabiola Beracasa just returned from a trip to Beijing, where the socialite was a special guest at a Karl Lagerfeld for that Fendi fashion show atop the Great Wall.

Last night she was wearing suede boots, short pantaloons and a corseted top—all black and all Fendi—to a ball to benefit RXArt, a charity that puts art in hospitals, that was held on the third floor of a brick building on the corner of West 15th St. and Tenth Ave..

“You felt the oppression there," she told The Daily Transom. "I had a video camera and, you know, I was told by several of the media people from Fendi to be careful, that I may be questioned about it, and just like, the way the city is—these giant roads, these giant buildings—you feel the oppression!”  read more »

The seemingly ubiquitous Manhattan socialite Fabiola Beracasa stepped out of the elevator at the third floor of Burberry's 57th Street flagship store about 7:30 last night wearing a knit top under a zig-zag print dress and elbow-length black patent-leather gloves.

She was a co-host of a party taking place at the store after hours, benefiting New Yorkers For Children, a charity that raises money for children in foster care. These kinds of parties--ones that pair upscale brand names with charities for the down-at-heel, are nearly as ubiquitous as Ms. Bercasa.  read more »