NEW YORK-JULY 31: Opening of the JOGO BY POONEH Boutique on Saturday, July 31, 2010 at JOGO BY POONEH Boutique, 2462 Main St. (Montauk Highway), Bridgehampton, NY Bridgehampton got a burst of exotic color and samba with the opening of the much anticipated JOGO BY POONEH boutique which is fast becoming the de rigueur stop-in for chic Hamptonites and visitors alike. From the white pickled floor to the airy ceilings and soothing but upbeat bossa nova and samba rhythms, lucky guests were transported to another kind of beach where beauty, imagination and playfulness reigned as lithe models in jewel toned bikinis adorned with gilt buckles and ornaments played "Jogo beachball" ("Jogo" means "play/game" in Portuguese). Hosted by Haley Binn, Kimberly Guilfoyle and Susan Shin, the opening celebration also was the kick-off for the Best Buddies Hamptons Gala that will be held August 21 at the home of Anne Hearst and Jay McInerney. A generous portion of proceeds from the evening was donated to the organization, whose mission is to establish a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. "JOGO BY POONEH is a celebration of passion for life, color, opportunity and for giving back," explained owner Pooneh Mohazzabi. Guests, including Jason Binn, Gigi Stone, Countess Luann de Lesseps (who showed up in a tennis dress straight from the courts and started shopping for a dress), Alex McCord (who broke the dancing record), Simon van Kempen, Emma Snowdon Jones, Melody Weir and Soraya Whelton sipped açaí-infused cocktails and admired the flirty cotton shifts, sheer beach cover-ups, colorful lace-up sandals and silky caftans tied with gold cord adorned with dangling charms and stones. The festivities spilled out into the streets as guests took samba lessons with the Grupo Irek band whose cool white linen guayaberas hearkened to Cuban breezes and Brazilian dancers in emerald and ruby headdresses welcomed arrivals. From the music to the costumes to the elaborate hair and colorful make-up by Kosia Asiamah, all was authentic, reflecting the artisanship of the merchandise. ABOUT: JOGO BY POONEH is an evolving beach lifestyle collection of items made and found only in Bali, Brazil and other exotic places around the world. The collection consists of swimsuits (mommy and/or baby), cover-ups, sarongs, caftans, resses, sandals, beach bags, clutches, hats, beach pillows, jewelry, candles, beauty products, gift sets, CDs and more, all in vibrant colors and crafted with the keenest attention to detail. High quality craftsmanship combined with innovative and chic design means aesthetic appeal, ease and comfort for women of all shapes and sizes. The boutique carries Pooneh's own designs as well as unusual items from all over the world previously unavailable in the US. Artfully curated, the boutique reflects the founder's multi-cultural leanings and diverse life experiences which have taken her to all corners of the world and have contributed to JOGO BY POONEH’s international appeal and eclectic style. The collection's colors, textures and styles are reminiscent of the breathtaking beaches of Puket and Kosa Mui in Thailand, the Lankawy Island of Malaysia and renowned resorts in St. Tropez, Rio and Cannes, as well as the arresting vistas of Sardinia, Capri and other dreamlike destinations. Underlying this international sensibility is a clean simplicity reflecting the aesthetic of US enclaves like the Hamptons, Nantucket, Malibu and Miami. Founded by Pooneh Mohazzabi, with creative and operational input from her sisters, JOGO BY POONEH launched last year in New York City to much acclaim. The opening of the flagship store on Bridgehampton furthers their vision of expanding the brand globally, in line with their other businesses throughout the world. The Mohazzabi team plans to open more JOGO BY POONEH stores and expand into other dynamic cities such as Buenos Aires, Munich, Paris, St. Tropez, Sydney and more. Today, JOGO BY POONEH is available not only at the Bridgehampton store but also at select stores across the US (NY, LA, Miami, etc.), internationally (Dubai, Lebanon, London, etc.) and online at http://www.jogobeach.com SEE ALSO: I SAW HER STANDING THERE (at Jogo by Pooneh in Bridgehampton) PHOTO CREDIT:Copyright ©Manhattan Society.com 2010 by Christopher D.M. London | tel: Private |e-mail: ChrisLondon@manhattansociety.com****PLEASE NOTE:Many more photos, notes and id's to follow later this evening.