THE ANNUAL GENTLEMEN’S Haberdashery Fashion Show features dozens of notable Orange County men from a variety of sectors, all modeling the latest styles of menswear for a worthy cause.
The philanthropic event, themed “Connecting Generations of Hope,” took place for the 43rd time Oct. 2 at the Balboa Bay Resort in Newport Beach, and raised funds for the Heart of Jesus Retreat Center in Santa Ana, which is operated by the Sisters of the Society Devoted to the Sacred Heart.
Over the years, the fashion show has starred entrepreneurs, school administrators, civic leaders and philanthropists, all striding down the runway modeling the newest men’s fashions.
ANTONIO CAGNOLO HAS A COLLECTION OF APPROXIMATELY 100 BIBLES. PHOTO COURTESY OF ANTONIO CAGNOLO
However, there is one man who has modeled the latest styles every single year.
That man is restaurateur Antonio Cagnolo, 74, owner of Antonello Ristorante in Santa Ana and Quattro Caffé at South Coast Plaza.
The Orange County Business Journal wrote that Antonello’s is “likely the longest-running upscale restaurant still overseen by its original owner.”
Prior to the inaugural Gentlemen’s Haberdashery Fashion Show in 1978, Cagnolo was invited by a close friend to participate as a model.
“I asked, ‘what’s the Haberdashery?’ And he explained it to me,” said Cagnolo, who opened Antonello’s in 1979. “I asked, ‘what do I have to do?’ He said, ‘you’re going to be wearing some stuff from one of the stores.’ I said, ‘yeah, okay I can do that.’ Then he said I have to walk on stage.”
And when he learned that the event was to be a fundraiser for the retreat center, which was operated by sisters, Cagnolo was thrilled to participate.
In addition to modeling for the fashion show, Cagnolo also hosted children from the retreat center at his restaurants.
“That personal touch and desire to give his time speaks volumes about his kindness and commitment,” said Sr. Paula Sawhill of the Sisters of the Society Devoted to the Heart of Jesus. “We are deeply grateful for the joy and opportunities he continues to bring to our children and our community.”
Cagnolo’s roots in Catholicism trace back to Bistagno, a small town in the Piedmont region of northwest Italy. He attended Catholic schools, where he was taught by sisters and priests, and lived in dorms.
Cagnolo was in high school when he began taking courses in hotel and restaurant management. He continued his studies in the hospitality industry in Germany and went on to work for high-end hotels and restaurants throughout Europe, including the Royal Garden Hotel in London and Hotel de Paris in Monte Carlo. While working on a cruise ship, Cagnolo sailed to Los Angeles and ultimately immigrated to the U.S. permanently in 1975 at age 25.
He settled in Orange County and worked in restaurants before opening Antonello’s.
He formed partnerships and opened several more restaurants. Cagnolo, incidentally, began collecting Bibles after moving to the U.S. and today has an extensive collection of Bibles that he has acquired on his travels around the world, many from small bookstores in remote areas.
“Wherever I go, I go to old stores or antique stores,” he said, “Sometimes I just go to my study, and I find a prayer from the 15th century, a prayer book. I love the way it was written.”
He estimates his collection at 100 Bibles.
“I never really counted,” Cagnolo said. “Maybe less, maybe a little bit more, but I can stack them up.”
He added, “I’ve always been fascinated with the Bible, God, the history of the religion and how it came about. It’s something that you’re never finished. So, I have all the Bibles and it’s important to me.”