Thanks to a break in today’s rain, the 2020 Mad Hatters gathered together for the Reveal Party. Thanks to Reveal Party Co-Chairs Regina Bruce and Joni Krieg, the backdrop for the announcement was dazzling among the crystals and geodes filling Empressive Earth Gallery.
Women’s Council for the Dallas Arboretum President Venise Stuart and 2020 Mad Hatter’s Chair Patti Flowers unveiled this year’s theme — “The Art Of Chic” — for the fundraiser at the Arboretum with Robin Carreker serving as honorary chair.
But the news that will have guests and hat designers warming up their glue guns and getting their creative juices flowing was the naming of the judges and the categories in which guests will compete for prizes and a stroll on the runway.
The team of judges include the following: lifestyle blogger Tanya Foster, Empressive owner Empress Gilbert, Chef Giuliano Matarese, Dallas Symphony Orchestra CEO Kim Noltemy, jeweler Joe Vilaiwan and Canadian designer Tanya Taylor, who was having a trunk show at Tootsies through Thursday with a portion of sales benefiting the Women’s Council of the Dallas Arboretum through .
This year’s categories will be:
- The Art of the Garden: Botanical Beauty
- The Art of Music: Sounds of the Season
- The Art of Dance: Magical Movement
- The Art of Fashion: Fabulously Fashionable
- The Art of Chivalry: The Most Elegant of Gentlemen
- The Chic Chapeau: Simply Chic: The Marilyn Hailey Award
The festivities start on Thursday, April 16, at 10 a.m. with a champagne reception in the Ginsburg Family Plaza and the eye-popping hats floating in the crowd. At 11 a.m. the crowd will move into Rosine Hall for the Tootsies fashion show and judging results followed by a seated luncheon on the terrace.
Underwriting opportunities, table reservations and individual tickets are available here.
* Graphic courtesy of Mad Hatter's Tea