Los Angeles Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week started on Tuesday night with a $#147;Rock The Runway$#148; party, hosted by the beautiful Cindy Crawford and meant to benefit the City of Hope. The actress delivered a speech about the importance of a leading medical research and treatment center.

 Looking striking in her spangled white top and slim jeans, the Vogue cover girl  revealed to the chatting and drinking public that she actually lost her 4-year-old brother, who has died at such tiny age because of leukemia.

"Thank you for coming out tonight, even for people who talked during my  speech," she said, obviously exasperated, Fashion Wire Daily reports.

Shortly after gossiping with IMG Vice President Fern Mallis, dressed in a showy flowing tunic, the stunning actress told television reporters: "I think fashion week reflects the lifestyle out here, which is more casual. L.A. fashion is finally not like a West Coast stepsister. It's now its own thing."