Forget Johnny Depp. The real Mad Hatter was Shane Walker (pictured) Thursday at the Dallas Arboretum’s annual Mad Hatters Tea Party. While he topped himself in a gray top hat, it really should have been a gold, since Dee Simmons and Ana Pettus took home prizes for wearing his creations. Talk about a wide range.
All in white, Dee’s chapeau (pictured) was bigger than ostrich and just perfect for the royal enclosure at Ascot. Cecil Beaton, eat your heart out! But pity the poor folks who sat behind her at the fashion show.
On the other hand, Ana (pictured) wanted something a little more “edgy” and she got her wish. Look at it this way — she’s all set for Halloween.
But don’t go thinking that Shane was free and clear of competition. No, siree. The ladies who annually attend the tea take this event seriously. Susan Scullin (pictured) had worked for months with Atlanta designer Nicholas Kniel to created a showstopper. All that work paid off with Susan’s pink peacock headpiece taking the top award of the day. If you spent any time with Susan, you had to be careful not to get a feather in the eye. We understand that Nicholas is already plotting next year’s entry for Susan.
But when it came to size, Carmaleta Whiteley (pictured) had the rest of them beat with her gianormous pink and red top hat made of dahlias with a matching broach. Needless to say, she arrived in her limo with the headpiece on its block. Once she stepped out of the limo, the hat was placed carefully on her head.
But size wasn’t necessary to make it in the 2010 Mad Hatters’s memory book. For instance, Suzanne Palmlund‘s little red cocktail hat (pictured) stopped traffic thanks to Suzanne’s accessorizing her look with red cell phone, red purse and last-forever red lipstick that she got at Stanley Korshak.
And, of course, a little creativity was very helpful in the eye-catching department. Connie Carreker (pictured) with direction from husband Denny, jerry rigged a birdcage as her hat with the piece de resistance being a live finch inside. No, Connie didn’t set a trap for her birdie friend. She has nine of the little fellows at home and this one evidently volunteered for the occasion.
And everyone knows that ditzy duo of Yvonne Crum and Jill Rowlett weren’t going to let this occasion pass without upstaging everyone. They managed to get Project Runway’s Shirin Askari create complete burlap ensembles reminiscent of Lucy Goes to Paris. Jill was a little skittish at the idea of wearing burlap, but never fear. . . Shirin had both outfits lined in silk. She even accessorized the gals with purses and feedbag hats.
Wouldn’t you know that Steve Kemble couldn’t let the ladies carry the weight of Mad Hatting it. Looking like a Bill Lively‘s idea of the perfect helmet, the sassy guru wore a prototype of Super Bowl XLV ala Cowboys Stadium. While he swore it was as light as a feather, guests found themselves giving Steve plenty of room as he moved through the crowd.
Yes, we know, we know. You want a better look at Steve’s handiwork, so here you go (pictured). Satisfied?
And while the clothes from Highland Park Village (Carolina Herrera, Ralph Lauren, St. John and Jimmy Choo) were fabulous on the runway and under the direction of Jan Strimple, the most memorable gown of the day was trashed within hours. Displayed during the champagne reception in the Ginsburg Family Plaza, it was a fabulous gown of carnations, dahlias and orchids designed and made by the folks at Botanical Art. Taking five people 15 hours to create, its cost was more than $6,000.
yvonne crum says
Well, this article is so right on.. the hats get better and better each year and the more creative side of everyone comes out… don’t miss it next year.. you never know who will wear what.. no one would have guessed a Cowboys stadium on Steve’shead… amazing…and as a judge he couldn’t even win… good time was had by all.
susan scullin says
My designer would have my head if I didn’t post this correction…..Nicholas Kniel is from Atlanta, not NY. He is already musing over what he will make for me next year!!!!