Melissa Gorga's Fashion Show—Inside The 'RHONJ' Filmed Party
April 1 2016, Updated 1:41 p.m. ET
The Real Housewives of New Jersey is known for it's epic fashion shows—and this year, Melissa Gorga decided to host her own to celebrate the opening of her new store. Gorga opened up to RadarOnline.com exclusively about her new venture, hosting the show's biggest party of the year, and the drama going on amongst the cast.
Envy By Melissa Gorga Fashion Show
Gorga opened her boutique, Envy by Melissa Gorga, 37, recently. "I have a jewelry line on HSN, I started getting into that world of jewelry and fashion, and it just kind of worked for me," she told RadarOnline.com of her new business. "I was pretty good at picking the designs, styling and making the designs of the jewelry, and I am selling out all the time, so I figured I would go to the next level and start looking for a store."
Envy By Melissa Gorga Fashion Show
Her husband Joe Gorga, 36, then got involved. "I found this great spot that was an old hair salon and had Joe rebuild it for me and turn it into a boutique that looked identical to my closet," she said. "It just works and it's just working."
Envy By Melissa Gorga Fashion Show
After completing the store, Gorga decided to host The Envy by Melissa Gorga Spring Fashion Show on March 30. "We are a new boutique—we've only been open for about three months—so a fashion show is a way to get the word out there and let people start to come," she said. "It's a good thing to throw a party once a year and show what you have and just have a good time."
Envy By Melissa Gorga Fashion Show
Gorga chose to host her event at Macaluso's in Hawthorne, New Jersey—the same place where she married Joe years before. "It's come so full circle for me just being in that room," she noted. "Who would have thought that almost 12 years ago now, walking down the aisle in that room, that my life would now be that I'm on a hit reality TV show and I am throwing huge events for Envy, my store, in the same space with my daughter sitting there watching me. It was a very special night for me."
Envy By Melissa Gorga Fashion Show
During Melissa's show, DJ Jason Jani of SCE Event Group, played a slew of great soundtracks. "He is so awesome," Gorga said. "He does every kind of event from runway events to weddings. He played the perfect music all night."
Envy By Melissa Gorga Fashion Show
And Belle Fiore, LLC did a fantastic job lighting up the runway. "I think the lighting by the stage and everything, it was the icing on the cake," Gorga said. "It looked so good."
Envy By Melissa Gorga Fashion Show
Making the evening even better, Treat Me Sweet created a candy buffet with custom black and white treats for guests. "She went all out on that," Gorga said. "It was great. It was super cute. People loved it."
Envy By Melissa Gorga Fashion Show
Gorga is sharing he proceeds from the event with the Deborah Hospital Foundation. "Deborah Heart and Lung Center is a non-for-profit hospital in New Jersey," she said. "I had an operation when I was 7 years old. At the time, we didn't have health insurance, and they did the full surgery for me. So that's why we choose to give back to them."
Envy By Melissa Gorga Fashion Show
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And as RadarOnline.com previously reported, Gorga has reconnected with her sister-in-law Teresa Giudice, 43, At the fashion show, Giudice was front and center supporting her family member. "It's been really nice to have her and have her support," Gorga said. "I think we just have such a different outlook on life right now. This whole family has a big different outlook on life and what's important. It's just so real and raw and I do think it's hard for people to grasp and really believe. They've seen us butt heads for so long, but I think you have to see it to believe it because it's very real."
Envy By Melissa Gorga Fashion Show
Unfortunately, Jacqueline Laurita, 45, made the decision not to attend Gorga's show. "I think that was Jacquline's decision not to show up," Gorga said. "Everyone does there own thing. I always show up to everything no matter what anyone does because I have nothing to hide. To each their own."
Envy By Melissa Gorga Fashion Show
But despite her absentee costar, Gorga loved the outcome of her event. "I can really tell everyone had a good time," she concluded. "People were partying and that was one of my goals. When I throw a party, I want people to have fun. You can definitely tell that everybody was happy to be there and really enjoyed it."
