Faye Briggs once again opened her mansion to celebrate a charitable group Wednesday night. This time it was the patrons party for the Crystal Charity Ball Fashion Show and Luncheon. Luckily, Mother Nature was on her best behavior and allowed Faye to open the doors and put to full use the manicured grounds for the 250 guests.
Was the topic of the night the next day’s CCB show and luncheon? Hardly. It was “How I spent my summer vacation.”
Jill Smith, just back from Carmel, admitted that she had indeed lost weight but refuses to get on the scales to find out how much. . . Lynn McBee had been relaxing (“I got some rest!”) at Padre Island and brought home a healthy-looking tan that accentuated her diamond blue eyes. . . Lee Ann White was in the same state of relaxing after spending eight weeks in California. Regarding her strut on the CCB runway the next morning, no problem. “It’s just five minutes on the runway.”
Follicle master Ceron arrived with Houstonians Joan (Schnitzer) and Irwin Levy. Alas, poor Ceron was sporting the season’s hottest footwear — a black surgical boot. The black boot is really giving Louboutin a run for its money with the likes of Nancy Dedman and Don Conlon also sporting the look Wednesday night. Ah, but what had Ceron done to require the boot? Seems that his foot surgery in Houston hadn’t gone as planned and he was seeking medical assistance in Dallas.
Speaking of mishaps. . . no, not that shattered glass of white wine in the living room that had all the best-dressed types and their benefactors relieved that it wasn’t red wine on the marble floor. . . a fashion oop’s took place, but in the best of taste. Fashion show/luncheon chair Aileen Pratt, who is barely more than 5’1″, was in a striking black-and-white, one-shoulder Valentino. Across the room was 5’10” Betsy Sowell in the same Valentino design. When asked if a feeling of awkwardness had swept over her, Betsy laughed and said, “It just shows two ways how Valentino can fit different women differently.” Well said.
But that’s what separates the best-dressed-types from the rest of the herd. They always seem to handle any situation with panache and a twinkle in the eye. As one veteran male observer put it, “Crystal Charity is a good fashion show plus the women involved are the ‘crème de la crème. And you get better wine.”
Neiman Marcus Downtown VP Shelle Sills had a big-picture view of the show that has partnered with NM for 37 years. “It is the most important event for the entire store. We feel strongly about what Crystal Charity does for the community. The women are so philanthropic; they give and do so much for the community.”
Alas, for some of the 10 Best Dressed, it was an evening of mixed emotions. Since a woman can only be on the 10BD list three years, many this year like Lee Ann White were making their swan song appearance, much to the delight of their supportive husbands. Perhaps that’s why Lee Ann’s husband, Alan, outshone all the rest at Faye’s. But only a few witnessed his scene stealing. As he left the party and headed to his car, he told the surrounding guests and valet parkers, “This is my last Crystal Charity fashion show cocktail party! You’ll never see me again.”
Charlene says
Faye
It looks like everyone had a great time at this event I’m only sorry I missed it, since I myself had never been to one but I need to start somewhere.
Please keep me posted
Charlene