House Of DIFFA 2014 Masquerade Was DIFFA-nitely DIFFA-rent

Sometimes memories of past glories can create impossible expectations for future efforts. With the 2013 House of DIFFA extravaganza only growing in stature as the months passed, this year’s fundraiser benefiting HIV/AIDS services in North Texas had a mighty challenge.

While newbies and wishful optimists may have been awed by the Masquerade Gala at the Omni Dallas on Saturday, March 29, jaded vets grumbled that the 2013 P&C (pomp and circumstance) was MIA.

Reasons were handed out by Monday morning critics like samples at Sam’s on Saturdays. One longtime DIFFA guest sniffed, “If last year was a ten, this year was a four.” Another simply called the evening, “Pedestrian.” Why had last year’s home-run event only achieved a base hit this year? Perhaps

• Expectations were too great?
• It lacked the [Jan] Strimple touch of platinum at the helm?
• Too many changes, like the move from the Anatole to the Omni, which was suffering from traffic issues?
• There was no emcee to guide the 1,500 guests through the evening’s program?
• Printed programs were sparse? According to DIFFA reps, “They put a limited amount of programs on the tables (3-4) because in years past, so many get left behind so they wanted to conserve printing costs. This is also why they had people handing them out.”

Whatever the reason, the saving grace was the theme — “Masquerade” — and the guests’ response. Not only did the guests get the message, they delivered with everything from couture-quality creations to last-minute glue-gun lookies.

While some like Holly Reed, Brad Beaird and Larry Friedman opted for the painted-on masks, many of the gals like Holly Davis went for the fragile, lace versions that looked like eye bras designed by La Perla. At the other extreme were the chaps at Marcos Guevara’s table. To a man, each donned a menacing ram’s horn dragon mask. However, the sinister looks were dashed due to the gents’ smiles and laughter. . . DIFFA Board Member Debra Nelson proudly showed off her “homemade” mask of turquoise and white featuring butterflies, peacock feathers and ostrich plumes. . . Andrew Wong followed the Venetian look of the long-nose mask. . .In the half-covered face category, Mark Breidenbach went the “Phantom of the Opera” route, while Keith Carlisle opted for a raspberry pink with gold design that stretched over the left of his hairline. . .Honorary Chair Simona Beal accessorized her dramatic gold mask from Gallerie Noir with an equally eye-catching gold “snake” wrapped around her neck. . . Anne Stodghill resurrected her magnificent emerald-and-gold feathered mask that she had worn to the Carnival of Venice’s Doge Ball 10 years ago. Talked about a versatile mask! She could either wear it covering her face or, when it came time to dine, she simply slipped it to the top of her red-haired head and it transitioned into an elegant hat. . . Another guest whose mask proved to be convertible was Joseph Steffen. His white mask was covered with faux flowers and a draping of pink fringe. When Joseph slid the mask on top of his head, the curtain took on the appearance of bangs in need to a trim.

Some guests decided to extend their creativity to their entire look. Kyle Erwin plucked some poor peacock naked, incorporating the eyeful feathers to her mask, as well as to her gown’s tail-feathered back and train. According to Kyle, “I made everything but the dress. I think it’s Jovani.” . . . Veronika Nicholson in red corseted bustier and feathered skirt topped it off with a black-and-red mask and chapeau that her sister Franziska Nicholson designed.

Christopher Wright silently made his way through the crowd with few, if any, friends recognizing him. He had done his research of the Venetian masquerade and costumed himself in bauta mask, black tabarro and tricorne. . .  On the other hand, Steve Kemble didn’t even make it through the Omni lobby. His outrageously sassy pink-and-black-and-glittering mask and cloak proved to be a magnet for the Mary Kay gals staying at the hotel. They just had to have their photos taken with him. Steve had gotten the mask from Thailand and applied his own “subtle” touches to it. Only problem was it weighed more than a bloated contestant on the “Biggest Loser.” How did he hold it up? There was a rod strapped along Steve’s back to hold the headpiece in place. As for the future of his mask, Steve believes in recycling for nonprofits. The mask is headed to the auction bloc for the annual “Art From the Heart” fundraiser. . . Perhaps inspired by his muse, Cher, Shane Walker showed up with a black-and-jeweled mask that covered part of this face and a gargantuan black-feathered Indian headdress. Naturally, Shane’s black-and-jeweled bolero jacket and jewelry only added to the “Oomph!” factor. As Shane summed it up, “There’s not a feather or a stone left in Dallas after Steve and I went shopping!”. . Designer Michael Faircloth was all smiles. He had applied his fashions designing skills to the masks of friends, with spectacular results. Why, his tri-faced mask for Paul Divis had Paul mystifying longtime friends, who didn’t recognize him.

However, in this day and age of enhancements and embellishments, the problem of ultra-long eyelash extensions posed a problem for some. For those wearing snug masks, they had to place the masks on just so for the lashes to freely flutter through the eye holes. For those who opted for the handholding masks, they couldn’t hold them too close to their faces for fear of having a collision of masks and lashes. Oh, the woes of masked beauty.

The party could have stopped right there and then in the lobby, as guests checked each other out as well as the one-of-a-kind outfits featured in the silent auction.

But when the doors to the Dallas Ballroom opened, the festivities continued with a stage that appeared to have been lifted from St. Mark’s Square including a red gondola, two-dimensional columns, a two-story-tall faux-stone bridge where a DJ played and two runways extending from the stage into the audience. As guests slowly made their way to their tables, pairs of somber, pale-faced, hooded and cloaked couples appeared on the runways over a five minute period. They just stood there staring into space. Was this a sign that Eyes Wide Shut was about to commence?

Nope. With box fans blowing mist throughout the room, opera singer Adriana Lomysh and rapper Jordan Frescher took their places on stage and proved that classic and modern music can mix it up beautifully. Unfortunately, the first few seconds of Adriana’s performance were only heard by those close to the stage. Evidently her mic hadn’t been turned on, but that was quickly remedied. Just as Jordan was starting to ramp up his performance, the cloaked druids performed dance routines to the rapper’s beat.

It was then time for the DIFFA leadership to be introduced with DIFFA Executive Board Chair Brittanie Buchanan Oleniczak welcoming the guests to the sold-out event and thanking the sponsors. She was followed by Event Chair Jim DiMarino and Honorary Chair Simona and DIFFA Chair Emeritus Greg Haynes Johnson.  Before dinner was served, the parade of 2014 Style Council Ambassadors (Sami Abboud, David Biggar, Angela Choquette, Leslie Concors, Jennifer M. Kolstad, Lisa Lowery, John Pfifer Marrs, Matthew Minnick, Joseph Minton, Autumn Rich, Marcus Spears, Steve “Stodgie” Stodghill, Shannon Sturdivant and Clarice Tinsley) took place, with Batman-mask wearing Stodgie in white tie and tails not only earning a standing ovation from tables at the end of one of the runways, but also having KTVT’s Brendan Higgins stuff a $20 bill into Steve’s waistband.

Dinner was then served. With a lack of programs, it became a guessing game of what was on the plates. It was chicken with balsamic dressing and “a mystery something.” One person guessed a mashed potato cake. Another supposed a corn casserole. A third just said he didn’t want to know. Whatever it was, the something became a conversation piece bringing strangers together.

At 7:45 a violinist performed as two male dancers in white tank tops and black trousers with bowler hats danced on stage. They were immediately followed by a fashion show of the designer items up for bid in the silent auction. The timing of the show was just off enough that the music ended while the final model — a blond with braids in black lace gown — was still yards away from center stage.

Almost immediately afterwards a game of heads or tails took place, with the main participants being those seated at tables between the runways.

Then the live auction got underway. Unfortunately, because of the lack of an emcee or a program, some guests started heading for the door, not realizing there was going to be a Part Two fashion show. Some were just weary like Claire and Dwight Emanuelson, who had just flown in from Virginia. Others, who had been trapped in the two-block-long traffic jam arriving at the Omni, decided to bail before the masses hit the valet. Still others, who had taken a pass on the chicken and “mystery something,” were hungry and headed to the Mansion, Bob’s or Whataburger.

One person waiting for his car grumbled, “It just wasn’t the same without some drag queens on the runway.” Across the way, another muttered, “It was too gay.”

All of which goes to prove — you can’t please everybody, especially those with long memories.