If the much-vaunted Crystal Charity Ball Fashion Show had a little sister, it would be the Equest Women’s Auxiliary Luncheon and Style Show.
Returning to Brook Hollow like a magnet on steroids, this year’s event was a hit out of the ballpark.
Event Planning Director Charles Redin admitted the event was special to him. After all his niece was enrolled in similar program in another state.
Only thing missing was a real, live, hay-eating horse. Not even Equest mini-ambassadors Sugar and Tex were seen grazing, because one of them was feeling under the weather.
As Fashion General Jan Strimple took her place on the production platform, guests scrambled to find their places. One gal who arrived a wee bit late unfortunately wore heavy-duty heels resulting in her footsteps being heard near the back of the room as the speakers congratulated the group’s turnout.
While banker Key Coker leaned against the back wall, he was there for two of the ladies in his life. Wife/Equest Women’s Auxiliary President Katherine Coker was at the podium and daughter Olivia was to be one of the models.
In a surprise announcement, Luncheon Chair Angie Kadesky announced that after the program had gone to press Nancy C. and Richard Rogers had kicked in for the Full Gallop sponsorship. She also revealed that Leggiadro’s Ann Ross had created a gorgeous scarf available for purchase ($595) to benefit Equest.
Following Highland Park Village’s Elisa Summers providing the invocation, Angie was Santa gifting Tiffany blue boxes to Honorary Co-Chairs Fredye Factor and Sarah Losinger.
Auxiliary founder Louise Griffeth announced the presentation of 2014 Equest Award for Community Service to Debbie Oates, who received another blue box from Tiffany NorthPark Manager Heather Pujats.
Equest CEO Patrick Bricker introduced a video showing how Equest had such a profound impact on clients.
Then she revealed that the auxiliary was dedicating a portion of the day’s proceeds to the creation of the Brandy Moore Ratchford Scholarship for riders who might not be able to “take advantage of the hippotherapy program.” The announcement hit some of the guests hard with tears appearing. A former auxiliary member and part of the 2014 luncheon committee, Brandy died this past February at the age of 42.
But the moment of loss was lifted when the fashion show lit up the SRO ballroom featuring clothes from Ralph Lauren, Lela Rose, Bruno Cucinelli, Leggiadro, Hadleigh’s Baby, Hadleigh’s and Carolina Herrera.
Sure, the professional models and fabulous outfits would have been enough, but the showstoppers were the kid models in Hadleigh’s Baby. Even the production crew was delighted by the youngsters with Jan slapping as Hadleigh and GG Shaikh closed the segment.
After the fashion show and the raffle drawing, the guests adjourned to the Terrace, Oak Room and practically every room except the locker rooms for a menu “created by Brook Hollow Executive Chef Dave Sokol and inspired by the riders of Equest in the Year of the Horse.” It included Asian grilled chicken salad of mixed greens, grilled chicken, Napa cabbage, carrots, tomatoes, edamame, sesame seeds, friend wontons and ginger sesame dressing. For dessert it was Year of the Horse Trio made up of a chocolate mousse quenelle with chocolate dipped, a hand-made fortune cookie and a Hong Kong tart with yuzu sauce and pineapple lychee relish.