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Albert Kriemler of Akris to be Featured Designer for Ten Best Dressed Luncheon

Neiman’s Downtown President/GM Shelle Sills revealed that Swiss fashion wunderkind Albert Kriemler of Akris will be the featured designer for Crystal Charity Ball‘s 2010 Ten Best Dressed Women of Dallas Luncheon/Fashion Show on September 10 at Neiman Marcus Downtown.

Albert’s 2010 collection showed his appreciation for fabrics and amazing ability to blend classic looks with modern clean lines.

If you’re wondering which ladies will be designated as Dallas’ 10 top fashion leaders, you’ll have to wait until March 21 when it’s announced. Don’t try bribing Luncheon Chair Alison Farrow. She’s sworn to secrecy.

Don’t rush out and order your tickets to the luncheon quite yet. They don’t go on sale until early May.

BTW, if you hadn’t heard the 2010 Crystal Charity Ball beneficiaries include Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas, Children’s Medical Center, Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center, The Family Place, Texas Home Access Fund Inc., and Parkland Foundation.

Mad Hatters Tea Party Judges Announced

It’s official. The judges for this year’s Mad Hatters Tea Party on Thursday, April 22, at the Dallas Arboretum have just been announced. While Johnny Depp won’t be among them, they’re still a pretty nifty trio — Project Runway designer Shirin Askari (pictured), “America’s Sassiest Lifestyle Guru” (and one of the “Dallas Dozen“) Steve Kemble (pictured), and D‘s very own sweetheart Sarah Eveans (pictured)

Sounds easy, doesn’t it? Pick the winning hats and sipping tea. Hardly. (more…)

Faye C. Briggs Art in Bloom Floral Symposium and Lunch Will Blossom

When you think of the incredible art of floral design, you probably have visions of Dallas Blooms. You’re so smart. The Arboretum is an incredible showcase of flowers in their natural settings.

But the beauty of flowers is not limited to the lush beddings of the Arboretum. Think the Dallas Museum of Art.

That’s right  — the DMA. It’s all a part of the Dallas Museum of Art League’s Faye C. Briggs Art in Bloom Floral Symposium and Luncheon on March 29 at the DMA.  With the theme “East Meets West,” Japanese designer Mami Ogata and Dallas’ own Howard Eckhart will provide presentations of floral design representative of Asian and western cultures.

With DMA Board of Trustee President John Eagle and his wife Jennifer serving as honorary chairs, Lunchen Chair Barbara Bigham says, “We are thrilled to have two designers who will bring such diverse backgrounds and talents to the event. Every aspect of the day offers an enticement for all tastes.”

In addition to the flora design demonstrations, other activities during the will include:

• A seated luncheon featuring a fashion presentation by upscale retailer Betty Reiter with Jan Strimple producing the show.
• New York’s Billy Pry of BBJ linens, discussing not only  table top trends but also providing linens for the luncheon pro bono.
• A specially-created boutique offering floral containers for purchase.
• Travel guru Jim Strong donating copies of his newest book, Craving for Travel: Celebrating Life’s Moments for luncheon favors.

“Barbara has done an excellent job of creating a fresh and exciting event that captures the entertaining and educational components of a successful event,” said DMA League President Marilyn Willems.

If you can’t make the Monday event, you might be interested in the two half-day workshop on March 24 at Magic Moments Parties and Events. Debbie Jordan is opening her Magic Moments for a morning workshop conducted by Howard, and Mami will present an afternoon workshop following a formal Japanese tea ceremony.

Crystal Charity Celebrates New Members, Beneficiaries at Escada

Those wonderful gals at Crystal Charity are already gearing up for this year’s December 4th gala at the Hilton Anatole. And Escada’s Melinda Moore helped the ladies celebrate their new members by hosting a brunch Wednesday with a fashion show, of course.

What did you expect? A vintage car collection? Silly.

Besides the drop-dead gorgeous spring and summer fashions, ball chair Cynthia Mitchell welcomed the newest members of CCB including Angie Kadesky, Kay Beecherl, and Suzy Giekere (pictured) and

Janie Cooke, Leslie Diers, Rozalyn Colombo, and Alicia Wood (pictured)

The six hardworking and very fortunate beneficiaries for this year’s ball were also revealed including

1. Boys & Girls Clubs,
2. Children’s Medical Center,
3. Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center,
4. Parkland Foundation,
5. Texas Home Access Fund and
6. The Family Place

(Photos by Dana Driensky)

Faith Hill Concert Creates a Fashion Quandary for Dallas Gents

There are some Dallasites who are more familiar with NYC than Fort Worth. Whoa! Thanks to Super Bowl XLV, that situation took a major step forward with the Kick-Off Concert Series at Bass Hall with Faith Hill.

Since it was a private event with series tickets going for a whopping $1500, it had all the frills and spit-and-polish that a high-spending crowd deserves. Starting with a VIP party at McDavid Studio across the street from the Bass, it became apparent that not all Dallasites agreed on the Fort Worth  dress code for special events.

Usually it’s the ladies who are all in a tizzy about what to wear. Not on this night! The gents were really in a quandary about what is appropriate at the Bass for a Faith Hill concert. Some came in their best bib-and-tucker dark suits like Troy Aikman (pictured, he had an excuse since he was co-hosting the reception); Drew Pearson in a bold-striped suit with brown/black striped shirt and goldfinger metallic tie and handkerchief; George Riba (pictured) in a very sportscaster flash-and-dash orange tie, blue shirt, and camel-colored suit; and Bill Lively (pictured) in CEO-styled uniform with a natty orange tie and his ever-present dazzling smile.

On the other hand, those who have probably frequented Joe T’s knew that dress-down is thumbs up in FW and opted for the open shirt with the windowpane sports jacket look. The fashion question of this group was, “Do you unbutton the top one or two buttons on your shirt?” (more…)

Matthew Trent Donates One-of-a-Kind to Texas Discovery Gardens Fundraiser

Graphic provided by Texas Discovery Gardens

Is sterling silver organic? Well, tonight it doesn’t matter at the Texas Discovery Gardens’ Organic in the City Fashion Show + Auction thanks to Dallas jewelry designer Matthew Trent. He’s has “fashioned a sterling silver pin modeling it after the ‘Butterfly Maiden’ logo (pictured).”

According to Texas Discovery Gardens’ Sarah Gardner, “These pins, generously created for Texas Discovery Gardens, have been donated to be released at the close of the fashion show for a special price.”

Don’t you always love the phrase “special price”?

“Organic in the City” Brings Green to the Runway for Discovery Gardens

Ah, spring is flirting with temperatures and that means only one thing –spring fashion shows. No, make that two things — spring fashion shows and gardens coming alive!

You don’t have to wait any longer. Both will be at The Discovery Garden Wednesday for the “Organic in the City Fashion Show + Auction” produced by Rhonda Sargent Chambers and with ABC-Channel 8′s Gloria Campos handling the MC duties.

One of the designers whose clothes (pictured) will be on the runway is Dallas’ own Lindsay Weatherread, who has been making a name for herself with her “Origami for Your Body” and her organic and non-organic line for women and babies.

Other featured designers will include Ross Bennett with a new collection of green fashion and “fashion stars with show pieces from El Centro College’s Fashion Design students.

What’s organic fashion?

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Lee Park Junior Conservancy is off to the Races at Hotel ZaZa with Hat-a-Tudes

The folks at the Lee Park Junior Conservancy have learned their lesson. Last year’s “Day at the Races” was such a success that they’re ramping up their plans for this year’s May 1st Dallas-watching of the  135th running of the Kentucky Derby.

To kick off the buildup for the event, organizers (and a v-e-r-y good looking group, it is) held a party at Hotel ZaZa with cigar rollers, big brimmed hats, lots of liquid refreshments, and some excellent news — Park Place Volvo will be the presenting sponsor of the festivities.

To get the attention of guests arriving via four-wheeled vehicles, the organizers had Tracy Moore and his Chance (a pretty palomino quarter horse pictured with Tracy) next to the entrance. No, Chance ain’t gonna being running in the Derby. He’ll probably just watch the flat screen in his stall.

The party was held in the tented patio with the pool safely covered. Hotel Manager Noel Rodriquez (pictured) looked quite pleased about the turnout and he also was sporting a very nice tan that was purchased down the street. Much healthier than baking in the sun, you know?

In the crowd were some familiar faces from Saturday’s Dallas Museum of Arts’ Junior Associates wow-evening. Hmm, wasn’t that David Dees (pictured) the other night in the ascot? Yup, sure was! For this evening, he wore a more casual red ascot admitting that ascots are “just more comfortable than a tie.”

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Junior Associates Left the Greatest Impression Saturday Night

Question of Saturday night: What award goes to Yana Landman Greenstein (pictured right with Chrissy Tebbe)?

Answer: After the jump.

But first let’s review the Junior Associates Circle’s “An Affair of the Art 2010″ last Saturday night in which the Dallas Museum of Art’s Atrium Cafe had its own Cinderella transformation. Usually a “casual fare menu, quick service, and a family-friend atmosphere,” it’s the little stepsister of the DMA’s Seventeen Seventeen, that “boasts a global menu experience that can only be defined as culinary artistry.”

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$125,000 Check Presented to Equest

Remember that Equest Auxiliary Luncheon and Fashion Show? You know the one at Brook Hollow with all those wonderful clothes from Highland Park Village? Yes, we thought you’d recall. Well, original fund-raising estimates were projected at $110,000.

But then at the last minute a donation from Diane Brierley and an increase in raffle ticket purchases kicked the grand total up to a whopping $125,000, which luncheon chair Lynn McBee presented to Equest Therapeutic Riding for its programs.

“I am honored to present a check to Equest from the luncheon proceeds,” said Lynn.  “The difficult economy makes it even more meaningful as we help sustain these important therapeutic riding programs for children and adults.”

2010 luncheon chair Nancy Carter is already planning the fall luncheon.