May 25th, 2012 
More than 300 women celebrated Mental Health Month by putting their best foot forward, donning their cutest kicks at the Four Seasons hotel for Seattle Children’s Home’s second annual Wine, Women and Shoes event. On Thursday, May 3, the fundraiser generated $65,000 to support the Seattle Children’s Home, the oldest children’s charity in Washington state.
Women pose at the Wine Women and Shoes event in Seattle. (Photo Credit: Team Photogenic)
Napa Valley Vintner Elaine Honig created Wine, Women and Shoes after discussing the continuously growing popularity of wine and food pairing events with a friend. Jokingly, the two said the combination of shoes and wine would be more fun. Wine, Women and Shoes events have caught on in 27 cities across the country, including Las Vegas, Houston, Chicago, San Diego, San Francisco, Boston and Atlanta.
“What started out as a fun conversation is now a fundraising event, a wine event, an empowerment event… shoe event,” read a quote on the Wine, Women and Shoes website.
Guests sampled wine from nine top regional wineries and across the country while they learned about shoe and wine pairings. Wine vendors featured many Woodinville wineries, such as DeLille Cellars, The Woodhouse Wine Estates and O Wines.
Women were able to shop the latest trends from local boutiques, including Sway and Cake, The Finerie and David Lawrence. Seattle Shoe Designer Lina Zeineddine alongside Barney’s, Footcandy, Lindsay Phillips, Monique ban Blitter, Stella and Dot, Nihsima and Lisa Mackey Design were among participating retailers. NBC’S Today Show Style Editor Bobbie Thomas spoke about what it meant to have true beauty and the spring fashion trends at the VIP reception.
Style Expert Bobbie Thomas, Team Photogenic Owner Duell Fisher, and WWS Business and Development Director Kimberly Miller pose for the camera Thursday, May 3 at the Four Seasons hotel in Seattle. (Photo Credit: Team Photogenic)
In addition to the wide selections of wine and fashion, the Wine, Women and Shoes Shoe Guys were also irresistible. As part of the event’s highlights, these model-like, yet boy-next-door men from the community not only braved through the crowds of women, but also dished out the most recent must-have shoes on silver platters.
Attendees who dressed their best from head to their peep-toes were ready for their close-ups as they walked the pink carpet while Team Photogenic, a local full-service photography company, captured their good sides. Broadcasting live from the pink carpet with interviews were Fashion First Seattle Founder Joan Kelly, SpotLight Seattle Founder Connie Blumenthal, and O Wines Co-founder Stacy Lill.
With more than 15,000 people in attendance each year, the Wine, Women and Shoes events have raised more than $9 million for causes for women and children across the United States. In May 5, 2011, Seattle’s first Wine, Women and Shoes event also benefited Seattle Children’s Home. The private, not-for-profit organization began in 1884 as a home for orphaned children. Seattle Children’s Home has become the only mental health facility of its kind in King County by helping children and their families with comprehensive mental health and developmental services.
For future Wine, Women and Shoes events, visit the website’s event calendar.
