While Oscar de la Renta co-designers Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia were surrounded by guests, over on a couch in the living room of Gretchen and George Seay‘s glorious mansion sat Laura’s “boyfriend” Linus Adolfsson, enjoying the music just an arm’s-length away from the pianist. Earlier in the evening he had been happily settled in a wooden chair on the porch at the front door, taking in the beautiful view and remarkably beautiful weather.
This was the setting for the 2024 Crystal Charity Ball’s Ten Best Dressed Fashion Show night-before cocktail party on Wednesday, September 11.
Despite the home-drive traffic along Lakeside, more than 220 guests including the 10 BD-ers Monica Eastin, Tracey Kozmetsky, Tracy Lange, Anne McPherson, Wendy Messmann, Kim Quinn, Sunie Solomon and Katherine Wyker (alas, Meredith Land and Lisa Rocchio were unable to attend), Hall of Fame Honoree Lisa Cooley, Fashion Show Chair Kim Hext, Carol Seay, Suzy Childress, Jennie and Stuart Reeves, Cindy and Charles Feld, Christy Berry, Diane Etheredge and Stacy McCord arrived at the Seays’ stately mansion. And as in past years, they were met there by JPMorgan Chase And Co. Dallas Region Chairman Elaine Agather inside the door, greeting each guest like an old friend. Despite recent hip surgery, one old-timer guest laughed that Elaine at the door was more elegant than Loretta Young. [Editor’s note: For anyone born in recent decades, check here for what the BB-er (Baby Boomer) meant.]
Luckily, while the home’s entry hall could have easily been a jam, the guests seamlessly moved to other parts of the house and the beautiful backyard, thanks to the trays of beverages and appetizers placed enticingly beyond the hallway.
But one gent who wasn’t on hand was Gibbs Henderson. After all, wife Marjon Henderson was juggling the Ten Best Dressed event logistics at the Neiman Marcus flagship store in downtown Dallas while also co-chairing the Cattle Baron’s Ball with Lora Farris on Saturday, September 28.
Not to worry. Marjon’s young and bright-eyed, so it should be no problem.
NM super-duper execs Ryan Ross with Robbie Kruithoff and Mary McGreevy made a stop-and-visit before dashing off in a black SUV to make a dinner commitment.
Chatter of the Night: A near catastrophe took place earlier in the day when a delivery truck filled with chairs for the fashion show and parked in front of the store was hijacked by an alleged “homeless person.” While the gent in question was stopped by Dallas’ local law enforcement, the organizers were dealing with an additional problem. It seems the truck and its contents were evidence in the crime scene. Thus the chairs could not be released even briefly for the show. Don’t ask how the replacements were found, but they were hauled in as stand-ins… or, in this case, sit-ins.
2024 Crystal Charity Ball Cheryl Joyner didn’t miss a beat with the perfect weather and the setting for the evening. Why, even as guests departed, she arranged a favor in keeping with her CCB New York Holiday theme: a box of four Oreos stamped with I Love NY.