Vive La DIFFA-rence And House Of DIFFA Collection

Let’s face it. DIFFA Dallas is diffa-rent. In addition to the silent and live auctions, cocktail party reception, dinner and fashion show extravaganza, it has a shock-and-awe factor that gets harder and harder to top each year.

Founded in the days when denim was the fabric du jour and celebrity denim jackets were the mainstay in everyone’s closet, it has gotten downright la-di-da. Yes, there is an occasional denim jacket purchased long ago that is seen on a guest at the black-tie soiree. But the duds up for bid nowadays could hold their own nicely in a couture boutique.

Just to ramp up the upgraded feel, DIFFA Collection Chair Britannie Buchanan Oleniczak went into overdrive for the March 23^rd House of DIFFA Collection 2013 at the Hilton Anatole. The one-of-a-kind jackets and gowns were old hands at being showcased, after making the rounds at the Candleroom and Art of Old India during the weeks preceding the gala. One that was making its debut was a Watters wedding dress with a veil by Toni Federici, 108-inch train, and cuffs and crown highlighted by Swarovski crystals. It had been finished just in time for the gala.

As glamorous and dazzling as the merchandise was, the names associated with each of the pieces was pretty WOW, too. Of course, you want names to be dropped, so here goes: Edo Popken, Billy Reid, Benito Samora, Nicolas Villalba, Edward Wilkerson Lafayette, Joan Rivers, Diane Von Furstensberg, Rob Bradford, Joe Pacetti, Nicole Miller, Tory Burch, Geoffrey Henning, Allie-Coosh, Prashe, Abi Ferrin and Kenneth Cole, to name just a few.

And while the outfits were displayed in a fourth of the massive Trinity Ballroom, the fav activity in the “Trinity Pre-Function area” (aka lobby) was guests checking out other guests. Shabby just doesn’t fit this crowd. Everyone seemed to be an eye catcher.

Of course, there were the gents who wear tuxedoes better than Cary Grant, like John Bobbitt, Lonnie Jordan and Corky Cunningham. They added that elegance factor to the nth degree. Others who took their fashion in a different direction included Tyler Kerbyson in a Catherine Regehr. Tyler’s backless dress allowed his sizable tattoo art to be on full display . . . Richard du Pont wore a 1930s-era uniform from Virginia Military Institute. . . Joe Pacetti wore one of the 18 jackets that he’d purchased at the auction over the years. . . Jordan Roberts highlighted her Roberto Cavalli with a stole. . . Fathay Smith was in a perfect-fitting Vera Wang tuxedo. . . Rob Bradford’s designing touch could be seen on Brad Pritchett’s and Shane Allen’s twinkle-twinkle-all-those stars bowties. He also dazzled up the collar of Steve Kemble’s Prada waistcoast with blunted spikes and gold and brown beading. Steve warned, “You try to outbid me on an auction item and I’ll be walking like this.” Rob’s talent even extended to footwear as he beaded Christopher Wright’s shoes. . .  Cynthia Sash dressed up her black Bebe with a chubby made of Mongolian fur. As if it needed dressing up!. . . Deanna Dipizio-Johnson was in a true-blue Michael Faircloth. She had wanted Michael to do it in white, but Michael wasn’t budging. Blue it was to be and it was. . . Jef Tingley was wearing a white brocade silk dinner jacket that he “borrowed” from his

theater class at Sandia High School in Albuquerque a few years back. . . Mary and John Gill arrived from the annual Reagan Day Dinner at the Omni Dallas Hotel, where conservative types like Congressmen Pete Sessions and Sam Johnson and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker were in attendance. According to Mary, “They looked at me like I was from Mars.” Why? She

was wearing Wolford “snake” hose. . . Terry Mitchell was in a “wild red vest with string” he bought last year at the auction and having his photo taken with Jeannette Breen. . . Holly Davis looked different. So different that she wasn’t recognized by some friends. The difference was due to her “clip-on” bangs. . . Fort Worth’s Pam White dressed up her Richard Tyler jacket with epaulets to go with her Yohji slacks.

By 7:45 the 1,500 guests started taking their seats with DIFFA Board Chair Clint Bradley introducing the board of trustees. With lights zooming and flashing around the mammoth room like a 1908’s disco, the show was underway. WFAA’s Ron Corning handled the emcee duties for a second year in a row — “In the TV world, that’s the equivalent of being the CEO of JC Penney for five years. . . Some asked me if Steve Kemble dressed me. . . He’s tried to undress me a few times … somewhat unsuccessfully.” Regarding his pants from Traffic Los Angeles, which just opened at the Joule Hotel: “. . . these pants are so tight I couldn’t bend over to tie my shoes. Someone asked where I’m sitting, and I said I’m not sitting.”

After the presentation of the 2013 Style Council Ambassadors (Simona Beal, John Bobbitt, Marty Collins, Peter Dauterman, Tommy DeAlano, Deanna Dipizio-Johnson, Malcolm Gage, Stephen Giles, Kandis Hutchinson, Daniel Lewis, LeeAnne Locken, Vivian Lombardi, Tom Mason, Lance Avery Morgan, James Shackelford, Troy Schiermeyer and  Paige Westhoff), videos were shown about Title Sponsor The Joule hotel and WFAA, stressing the importance of supporting AIDS services.

Next up was Greg Haynes Johnson presenting the following awards: Design Excellence Award to David Cadwallader, Legend in the Fight Against AIDS to Keith Carlisle, Legacy of Love Award to Gary Tigges, Donna Fishel Community Hero Award to Railene Nobles and Outstanding Collection Newcomer Award to Stephen MacMillan Moser. Spotlight standout was Austin fashion blogger Moser, who worked the audience like a cross between Bill Nighy and Mick Jagger.

Going in an entirely opposite direction was the introduction of Honorary Chair Linda Gray, who had been seated with Debra Nelson. Ron escorted her on stage like she was a prom queen. The woman still looks great and her gams are still picture-perfect. She had been asked last October to participate in the gala and passionately told about going to Malawi in Africa, where she was especially touched by children and grandparents affected by AIDs.

Then auctioneer Mike Jones joined her on stage and they got down to raising $$. The Edo Popken package went for $10K.

Oops, then the auction’s no-no took place — the auctioning of X-Factor, an Arabian show horse.  As one guest noted, it was strange that the animal was up for bid with little deets about its sex or age. But then the whole discussion was moot, since the deal was illegal. Guess organizers didn’t get the memo that the auctioning of any live animal in the city of Dallas is illegal. Has been since 2008. The $25,000 piece of horseflesh went for about a fourth of its value.

On the other hand, the Marcus Spears package was such a hit that Marcus, who was table hopping with Clint Bradley, threw in a $1,000 airline gift card. His reason: “Oh, yes. I was thinking about the hard work all the people put in on this [event]. This [package] will give ‘em a chance to take a break.”  Regarding his next two years of playing with the Baltimore Ravens, the Frisco resident is optimistic because of the Ravens coming off of a Super Bowl victory. “The opportunity to win a Super Bowl was part of my thinking” in signing the two-year contract, he said.

As soon as that part of the auction ended, the Jan Strimple-produced Las Vegas meets Fashion Week was underway. A scorecard would not have helped. Segments consisted of auction garb and Traffic outfits, when not being upstaged by the likes of entertainers.

Alas, one poor female model in a black silk shift and red sunglasses made it halfway down the runway before realizing that one of her “girls” was on full display. By the time she made the return walk back home, she had figured things out and tucked the errant breast under cover.

In between the fashions, glorious drag queens strutted along the runway in a manner that made Mae West seem demure.

Then there were the bare-chested Kazaky dancers in stiletto heels and skintight black leather low riders. Those who had heard of the Ukranian troupe were thrilled. Those in the audience who didn’t have a clue were OMG-ing at the performance.

But the grand finale of the show borrowed a page. . . no, make that a chapter … from the ultimate couture era — Marie Antoinette’s court.

With all the pomp and decadence of that period, the parade of characters made the drag queens seem tame.

Painted faces, breasts with crystal pasties draped together with beading, see-through leggings and the final miss who wore a grand golden ball gown topped off by a five-foot tall wig that looked like a mountain of meringue. Within this coiffure were lit candles.

While the model looked a little uneasy about her headdress, it wasn’t the weight factor that was the problem. It was as light as a feather. It seems the follicle skyscraper required some major engineering including a rod extending from the wig down the back to a corset-like brace around the young lady’s torso.

Monk White nudged a diner table companion, saying, “This is my first fashion show. Are they all like this?”

But despite the perfect timing and flourishes, there was still a near-oops that earned both gasps and cheers. As one waif-like model with big hair passed a mega hunk with flowing black and gold train, her high heel got tangled in his robe, causing her to momentarily lose her balance. As she appeared to dive off the catwalk, the fellows at Drew Ginsburg’s table prepared to catch her. Luckily, she regained her footing with the crowd breathing a sigh of relief and applauding. Still, her wig wasn’t as lucky. It required her holding it in place for the rest of her walk.

After the last model left the runway, some guests headed to the Matisse After Party and the final minutes of the silent auction. However, others were mesmerized by a dishy brunette who appeared in the flesh and on the big screens writhing around in a giant martini glass supposedly au natural.

Yup, after all these years, DIFF is still DIFFA-rent. But the goal remains the same: raising funds for  organizations supporting front-line services to those affected with and by HIV/AIDS.