The Italian Touch

(LOS ANGELES) It was a fashionable family affair at the Tod's boutique in Beverly Hills on Tuesday afternoon as several tastemakers including Debra Messing, Angie Harmon, Camila Alves, Mandy Moore, Brooke Davenport, Nicky Hilton, Kathy Hilton, Lisa Love, Marlien Rentmeester, Lawren Howell, Jeanne Yang and Elizabeth Stewart came out to celebrate the West Coast launch of Italian Touch, a limited-edition book celebrating the Italian lifestyle.

A sprawling picnic table complete with chic spades and seeds was set up for children to harvest their own herb gardens to take home. Adults made sure to fit in camera time with renowned fashion photographer Roxanne Lowit, who was on-site taking intimate family portraits as a souvenir.

Nodding at her two daughters, Harmon beamed with motherly affection. "This is so fun. Look at them both. They were asleep before we got here, but Tod's really thought of fun things for the kids to do. I picked them up from school and said, 'We're going to go plant some vegetables!'" the actress laughed, while eyeing several luxe handbags on display. "What I love most about coming here is that I already own most of their line. I've been so ready for fall...the fact that it's below 85 degrees today means I can break out a little fur, a knit dress, a boot...anything I can get my hands on!"

Messing showed off a newly-cropped hairstyle compliments of Chris McMillan before posing for a portrait with gal pal Harmon "There's this great white coat that just rocked my world!" she gushed. "Anything with a high neck that makes you feel like a queen just speaks my language."

Making the rounds, Jamie Tisch clutched her family portraits in hand. "It's always nice to come to Tod's but especially right now before the holidays because they've made the whole event so special this year," she said. "I'm just a little afraid everyone might have the same Christmas card!"
JENNIFER CHAN