The much-anticipated, Italian-themed Crystal Charity Ball Fashion Show Platinum Circle cocktail and dinner event took place Wednesday evening, August 31, at Brook Hollow Golf Club, and a grandioso time was had by all. The feel of the fete sponsored by Comerica Bank was Italian casual, befitting the theme of the 2022 Ball and the upcoming 10 Best Dressed Fashion Show — all light colors (think yellow and white) and, as Fashion Show Chair Jennifer Dix put it, “casually elegant.”
Among the evening’s guests were the September 8 Fashion Show’s Honorary Chair Gene Jones with her sister Kathy Counce, 2022 Hall of Famer Pat McEvoy, Erin Mathews with daughter-in-law Brittany Mathews, Kim Schlegel Whitman with husband Justin Whitman, Elizabeth and Eric Gambrell, Vicki and Bob Chapman, Mary and Bob Potter, Robyn and Don Conlon, 2023 CCB Chair Angie Kadesky and husband Dr. Kevin Kadesky, Nancy Carter, Lindsay and Ray Ballotta, Emilynn Wilson, Susan Roberds, Mary McGreevy Jenkins with Marjon Henderson, Louise and Joe LaManna, Kristi and Bill Francis, Patti Flowers and Tom Swiley, Samantha and Dr. Phil Wortley, Gail Fischer with Ken Christensen, Sharon Friedberg and Steve Bishop and Megan and John Burkhart.
And, of course, the class of 2022 best dressed (Tiffany Divis, Monica Eastin, Libby Hegi, Kim Hext, Meredith Land, Karla McKinley, Anne McPherson, Amy Prestidge, Kim Quinn and Marybeth Conlon, who had to duck out early due to a prior commitment) were on hand for the occasion except for Karla, who was still in travel mode.
Speaking of Tiffany, she was lamenting during the cocktail hour how the recent storm and floods had battered Turtle Creek Park, piling up debris on its grounds and sweeping away its $30,000 water fountain, which was still MIA. Meantime Kim Hext’s husband Greg Hext was remarking on the beginning of the social season’s “run for the roses” that would culminate with the Crystal Charity Ball on Saturday, December 3. Greg also told how he and Kim sit down each weekend, poring over the invitations for the week ahead, deciding which events to attend and which to regretfully decline. Navigating the scheduling is no mean feat, as Kim sits on seven non-profit boards and has racked up 300,000 American Airlines flight miles so far this year alone.
And as long as we’re mentioning travels, it sounded like Europe was the summer destination of the year, with Lisa and Clay Cooley and their kids and kids-in-law having just returned from London and Paris (“Loved Claridge’s!”). Lee Bailey was sporting a chic new short straight hairstyle following her most recent trip to Europe. Unfortunately her summer getaway was cut short, too, due to Lee’s helping a friend whose hard fall necessitated an emergency return to the states for surgery.
Brook Hollow’s ballroom was dressed to the Italiano nines, many of the tables adorned with silver bowls filled with lemons and tiny flowers. Scattered around each bowl were still more lemons, oranges and roses, as well as small white lit votive candles.
In the center of the ballroom was a magnificent arrangement of more yellow and white roses surrounded at its base by ferns and statuary. Highlighting the lineup of tables were what appeared to be two towering wired obelisks looking like they’d been plucked from Amalfi, each boasting lush greenery and … you guessed it … lemons and oranges just ripe for the picking.
The center doorway leading to the verandah had been turned into a stage, where DJ Andre was spinning 1970s, ’80s and more contemporary tunes in front of a gleaming white-padded screen topped with tendrils of vines. In front of the base of the stage, an extended Venetian-style silver frame showcased a full-color, oversized mural of all the BD-ers plus 2022 CCB Chair Susan Farris, Hall of Famer Pat McEvoy, and Gene and Jennifer, painstakingly photographed a la Vanity Fair over many months for PaperCity magazine. Plans had been made to distribute the issue including the Best Dressed spread at the dinner, but a last-minute publishing glitch put the kibosh on that. Instead, guests found copies of Park Cities People in their vehicles.
Just before everyone enjoyed their wonderful dinner — Salad Caprese, Herbed Filet of Beef with Asparagus Risotto and Brook Hollow’s Exquisite Lemon Souffle — 2022 CCB Chair Susan thanked the 150+ guests for coming and Comerica Bank for underwriting the event. She then turned the microphone over to Comerica’s Curt Farmer, who introduced several members of his staff and thanked the CCB-ers for their always-sterling work raising money for Dallas County children’s nonprofits.
While the serving staff was quite attentive, at least one chap was a little too eager to clear the tables, whisking away the lemon souffle scarcely before a couple of bites could be eaten. It was also interesting that the same fellow served an iced-tea spoon with the coffee. Maybe it’s the latest fad from Italy?
* Photo credit: Tamytha Cameron Photography