To call Carolina Herrera a fashion icon is an understatement. She’s been honored by everyone from Vanity Fair, which named her one of the Best-Dressed Women of All Time, to the King and Queen of Spain, who gave her a Gold Medal of Achievement in 2005. But the designer doesn’t pay attention to any of the accolades. “I don’t think about it,” Herrera says. “I have worked very hard to do what I do, and I love fashion, but I’m not doing this to be a star. I want to do my job because I love it.”

Clearbrook supporters were over the moon as they shattered previous fundrasing records for the Shining Star Ball April 26 at the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago (120 E. Delaware). More than 300 attendees turned out for the 25th annual fundraiser, which included a dinner, live and silent auction and heartfelt video presentation from a parent whose child benefited from Clearbrook’s autism day program.

It was an evening of clubbing for a cause as nighttime hot spot Studio Paris lifted its velvet ropes for the sixth annual Generation Rescue and Rescue our Angels fundraiser. Hosted by Splash columnist Jenny McCarthy and Rescue our Angels founders Michele and Pete Doyle, the party brought 375 guests together to help fund treatment grants for children and families dealing with autism.

The event included Chef Andrew Zimmerman, who welcomed an all-star culinary crew including Stephanie Izard of Girl and the Goat and Little Goat; Rob Levitt of The Butcher & Larder; Patrick and Michael Sheerin of Trenchermen; and Jason Vincent of Nightwood.

The Anixter Center Benefit for Ability on April 18 “soared to success.”

This year’s DePaul Theatre School Annual Awards for Excellence in the Arts honored S. Epatha Merkerson, Amy Morton and Alumni Stana Katic and Paul Miller.

The Women’s Board of the Joffrey Ballet raised the curtain at the Roosevelt University’s Auditorium Theatre (50 E. Congress) April 19 for its 15th annual spring gala. The evening began with a series of performance pieces by the company’s dancers and more than 100 Joffrey students from all over the world. Guests then moved to the Hilton Chicago (720 S. Michigan), where co-chairs Deborah and Cody Engle and Astrid McKinnon presided over cocktails, dinner and an auction of exotic items, such as trips to the British Virgin Islands and Honduras.

“Your 20th anniversary is a moment when you become introspective, or reflective,” says designer Viktor Horsting, who along with Rolf Snoeren makes up the Amsterdam-based line Viktor & Rolf, which celebrates two decades this year. “But we feel quite light, and not really in the mood to look back. We’re looking more to the future.”

Although more than 900 guests donned masks April 20 for the 9th annual Big Mac Under Glass ball at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers (301 E. North Water), the evening’s mission was no secret. The masquerade-themed bash benefited the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana, which supports four area Ronald McDonald houses that serve as a home away from home for families of hospitalized children.

Let’s hear it for the 200 friends of Splash and Rockit Ranch Productions, who donned their one-shouldered sweatshirts and neon accessories for the inaugural Splashdance, held April 20 at ¡Ay Chiwowa! (311 W. Chicago). Co-hosts Billy Dec and Splash editor/publisher Susanna Negovan got into the spirit of the 80s-inspired party with the help of guests such as Kerry and Sarah Wood and Chris and Christa Hibbs.