The California State Society's sold-out tribute to the first Presidential Inaugural of the new millenium

Fashion and politics were all in the mix at a recent presidential power lunch!

To usher in the first Presidential Inaugural of the new millennium in style, the California State Society held a Fashion & Entertainment Luncheon at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C. FIDM's renowned Debut Fashion Show was the highlight of the gala event! The California State Society is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, volunteer organization that promotes California in our Nation's Capital.

A bipartisan audience of 600 guests was treated to an extravaganza of cutting-edge creations by recent Advanced Fashion Design graduates Jenny Lee, Mariana Barutti, Eun Woo Lee, Jasmine Kay Koo, Valentino Mitsui, Camilla Toft, Dena Burton, and Arnel San Diego.

Johnny Grant, the honorary mayor of Hollywood, served as Master of Ceremonies and introduced members of Congress, administration officials, and celebrities. The distinguished guests included actors Robert Conrad and Connie Stevens; Australian Ambassador Michael Thawley; and California congress members Ellen Tausher, Buck McKeon, Ken Calvert, David Dreier, John Doolittle, Jerry Lewis, and Gary Miller.

The show also paid tribute to Hollywood and Broadway with costumes that highlighted some of the most memorable characters from The King & I, Show Boat, The Phantom of the Opera, Sunset Boulevard, Evita, Hello Dolly, and the new smash hit, Aida.

The runway glittered with gowns in star-spangled colors designed by FIDM graduates who have gone on to brilliant careers in the fashion world. Randolph Duke, David Cardona, Estevan Ramos, Alan Del Rosario, David Rodriguez, and Sonia Kim all designed gowns for this year's Golden Globes and offered to premiere the red, white, and blue of these designs at the Luncheon. The grand FIDM finale brought the crowd of 600 to its feet!