While Ercot was issuing SOS’s about Gretel the Grid’s being in trouble due to a record-breaking temperature on Thursday, September 7, the 2023 Crystal Charity Ball held its 2023 Ten Best Dressed Fashion Show cocktail party for generous supporters of the fundraiser taking place the next day at Neiman Marcus Downtown.
Taking place at Heidi and Matthew Mazzucchi’s home in Highland Park, JPMorgan Chase And Co. Dallas Region Chair Elaine Agather was (wo)manning the front door welcoming guests. If Elaine ever tires of banking, she could easily be snatched up by any of the area’s tony hotels to meet and greet guests. But don’t hold your breath. She’s entering her 45th year with the banking institution and plans on at least five more year to hit the 50 mark. Why, oh why does one think that a wait list to snatch up the blonde who can wear couture as easily as blue jeans is already in the making?
Upon his arrival and being the recipient of the Elaine welcome, 2023 CCB Fashion Show designer Adam Lippes went from Elaine’s howdy to 2023 CCB Fashion Show Chair Patty Leyendecker’s embracing him like an old friend. He had hardly un-embraced when he was swept back to the hallway’s circular holding room, where a gaggle of the Ten Best Dressed early arrivals including Lisa Rocchio, Marybeth Conlon, Wendy Messmann, Libby Hegi, Kim Hext and Kim Quinn and Hall of Famer Claire Emanuelson, 2023 CCB Chair Angie Kadesky and Patty gathered for a quick photo as the 170 other guests were arriving.
It seems that Adam, in addition to being the sweetheart designer of the 2023 CCB Fashion Show, had broken ranks with tradition and skipped the New York Fashion Week’s spring showing to present in Big D.
Along with the presentation, it was obvious from the evening’s attire that the Big Apple influence was indeed on hand with Adam’s President Jeannie Yoo and his Alexander Farnsworth.
In the meantime, Neiman Marcus President Ryan Ross and Robbie Kruithoff arrived looking as if they had given Ryan Gosling a run for Ken’s role in “Barbie.” By the time they arrived, it took some doing to get to the back of the house, but they soon found a place close to the family room and open kitchen. There they found Adam, the Neiman’s posse (Stefanie Tsen Ward, Judy and Scott Mitchell, Marjon Henderson and Jodi Kahn), Katherine and Austin Wyker, Joyce and Larry Lacerte, Tucker Enthoven, Paige and Chuck Locke, Patti Flowers and Tom Swiley, Leslie Merrick, Shannon Graham, Tanya and Peter Foster, Janie and David Condon, Cindy and Charlie Feld, Candace and John Winslow, Carol Seay, the Mazzucchi’s decorator Suzy Childress, Sarah and David Martineau , Lucy Wrubel with her folks Jennie and Stuart Reeves, Ten BD-ers Monica Eastin, Anne McPherson and Sunie Solomon.
But as the backyard bar seemed as lonely as a patio heater, the crowd inside the family room grew with surprised looks as news was reported but not shared. Darn.
For some the gathering was a family affair. Making the rounds with their youngsters in tow were Marybeth with her son Luke Conlon looking pretty natty in his coat and tie… Steve Solomon with his daughter Lauren Carter and her husband Ed Carter… Patty and husband Mark Leyendecker with their kids and kids-in-law Bryan and Meredith Block and Katie and Eric Leyendecker… and Jennie and Stuart Reeves with their musically inclined daughter Lucy Wrubel.
2023 CCB Hall of Famer First husband Dwight Emanuelson showed shots of their Old Baldy “log mansion” complete with basement (aka wine cellar) and a major generator. When asked if they were relieved not to still have their property in South Carolina following Hurricane Idalia, Dwight fessed up that with the yearly insurance being $30K, it was timely to sell and head to the mountains.
Unlike the hard-to-get types, Caren Kline, who celebrated her birthday last month with multi-generations of her family, reported that the kin represented various years of Caren’s decades. And, no, there’s no sharing of which decade Caren was hitting. Still, the highlight was her sister’s black dress with photos of Caren over the years.
Still holding ground in South Carolina, 2024 CCB Chair Cheryl and Richard Joyner were relieved that Hurricane Idalia had not damaged their digs. Still, they were keeping a wary eye on the arrival of Hurricane Lee that was churning in the Atlantic. The reason? Their daughter Courtney Joyner’s upcoming destination wedding there.
For more looks at the fashionable philanthropists, check out MySweetCharity Photo Gallery.