While many of the 2016 Dallas Symphony Orchestra League debs were tending to other obligations (i.e. college graduations, catching planes for summer vacations, etc.), the rest of the 2016 class was well-represented on Friday, May 29, at Neiman Marcus Downtown.
And, boy, were they represented! Adorable short skirts that would have tested the fingertip test, long hair with nary a split end in sight, loads of parents and grandest parents and red-tipped white roses were filling the ground level of the flagship store.
DSOL Ball Chair Nancy Labadie was thrilled over the presentation of debs for the 30th anniversary as well as her surprise — 2016 honorary Co-Chairs Lisa and George Longino. While Lisa and George were in Georgia attending her college reunion, they are definitely slated to be at the Dallas Symphony Orchestra fundraiser on Saturday, February 20, at the Meyerson.
Nancy also is arranging for a float in the Park Cities 4th of July parade abounding with debs, as well as gown shows for the moms at places like St. John Boutique in Highland Park Village and Tootsies.
And while the young beauties were the center of attention, 79-year-old Cindrette McDaniel could hold her own with the crop of debs. When asked the secret to her porcelain skin, she said she’s used a cream for ages that elder Joe Lambert recommended years ago. He “hobbled across Mockingbird with ice cream for me and told me about Elta. You buy it at CVS or Walgreens in a red plastic tube. It melts on contact.”
(Editor’s note: Actually after much research and thanks to Cindrette’s daughter Paige McDaniel, it was discovered that Elta wasn’t at CVS or Walgreen’s. But it can be found at Dougherty’s, Preston Road Pharmacy, online and at other North Texas locations.)
And regarding her unusual first name, she explained it was a take-off on Cinderella. When her dad first saw her mother, she was scrubbing the floor. He said, “Get up, Cinderella. I’m your prince.”
After photos of the debs with their parents were taken, the parents took their seats and the gals were “corralled” in the Chanel boutique. Not shabby surroundings, huh?
After welcomes by Nancy and DSOL President Melissa Lewis and Presentation Ball Co-Founder Tincy Miller’s explaining the history of the program, emcee Stan “He of the Silver Tongue” Gardner introduced the DSOL Assembly officers (Elizabeth Dorsey, Sarah Frazee, Marielle LeMasters, Claire McCormick and Elizabeth Metzger), the Honor Guard officers (Austin Franks, Joseph Lafferty, Billy Langhenry, Michael Machak, Andrew Perry and Houstoun Warring) and then the debs (Lauren Beal, Tasha Beal, Sarah Blazejewski, Ashley Clark, Ciara Cooley, Katherine Cullins, Loring Dalton, Mary Catherine Davis, Audrey Dike, Lindsey Elliott, Gail Ewing, Elena Frattaroli, Lizzy Gates, Ashton Gillespie, Linda Gilmore, Lily Guevel, Margaret Hamm, Mary Margaret Hancock, Carolina Henry, Alexandra Henry, McKenzie Hicks, Allison Horn, Maddie Lee, Eleanor Light, Tai Massimilian, Caroline McDaniel, Margaret Mulcahy, Madison Mulligan, Elizabeth Perry, Peyton Porter, Lowrie Reniger, Megan Rooney, Payton Scott, Laura Scully, Callie Stone, Darby Strickland, Abby Tisdale, Kayla Vrij, Meredith Weaver, Allison Weil, Mary Wheat, Morgan Winspear and Allison Zashin).
But the announcement activities didn’t end Friday night. There was a reception and fashion show back at the store on Saturday, and then a reception on Sunday hosted by designer Patti Flowers at her studio.
Between now and February 20, the families will be busy being fitted for gowns and white-tie attire and the debs-to-be will practicing that bow. Practice will make perfect and perfection is expected on the Meyerson stage.