Entertainment

Hollywood's Kodak Theater will be filled with bright stars tonight for the Oscars, but the red-carpet action at DIFFA's "Cinema de la vie" event Saturday night truly rivaled.

SAM GRANADO/Special Contributor

Penney's Geoffrey Henning designed this couture gown.

The city's best, brightest and flashiest came out to the Wyndham Anatole for the 2008 DIFFA (Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS) Jacket Collection auction, dinner and runway show. DIFFA's Dallas chapter raises millions of dollars for local AIDS charities, including the Children's Medical Center, Resource Center of Dallas, AIDS Outreach Center of Tarrant County and more.

Producer Rhonda Sargent Chambers was in high-power mode backstage managing armies of hair and makeup artists, volunteers and models for the show.

"This year is different because we have a large roundup of the most and best talent involved," she said.

Hair director Ryan Chambers added, "There's more hair this year, too. It's an extreme mix of period and modern looks."

Judging by the mounds of colorful hair extensions and hairpieces backstage, it's a true testament to how far this event pushes the boundaries of creativity. This just ain't any regular ole fashion show.

After guests mingled and marveled at more than 100 jackets in the silent auction, they entered the main ballroom and took their seats for dinner and high-energy live auction. Ten extravagant packages included everything from New York Fashion Week show tickets to a registered Arabian horse complete with documented bloodline that came with J.C. Penney designer Geoffrey Henning's gown.

"My dress really was couture-inspired, not denim-inspired," said Mr. Henning.

The highlight of the evening was the runway show, which incorporated models sporting reworked Arizona Jeans denim jackets donated by J.C. Penney that were up for auction. Think tons of feathers, barrages of color, tons of sparkle and a whole lot of creativity.

The show's various flashy scenes referenced everything from bohemian Sonny and Cher-inspired looks to old-school Hollywood glam to flashy Studio 54 ready looks. As the show concluded, models marched out to Scissor Sisters' liberating club anthem "I Don't Feel Like Dancing."

We knew that wasn't true because attendees, volunteers and models promptly marched down to the Coronado Ballroom at the Anatole for the huge after-party to dance the night away.