After the prior day’s mishap of the hijacked truck of chairs for the Crystal Charity Ball‘s 2024 Ten Best Dressed Fashion Show, 2024 CCB Chair Cheryl Joyner, Fashion Show Chair Kim Hext and the Neiman Marcus staff got down to the logistics for the fundraiser on Thursday, September 12.
But unlike years past there were many moving parts in addition to the champagne reception on the first floor, the fashion show of Oscar de la Renta clothes and David Webb jewelry on the second floor and the seated luncheon on the fourth floor.
The day started early with the Ten BD-ers (Monica Eastin, Tracey Kozmetsky, Meredith Land, Tracy Lange, Anne McPherson, Wendy Messmann, Kim Quinn, Lisa Rocchio, Sunie Solomon and Katherine Wyker) and HoF-er Lisa Cooley arriving before 9 for a dress rehearsal. While it wasn’t a full dress rehearsal, the ladies were told to wear the shoes that they would be wearing during the presentation. Wise move, since the carpeted runway was thicker than most luxury mattresses.
Just as the rehearsal finished up, the 10 BD-ers in their monogrammed white robes gifted by Nancy Rogers headed up to the sixth floor’s Zodiac Room for Nancy’s private party.
On the other hand, the organizers shifted gears and headed to the first floor to coordinate a unique photo shoot. Since this was CCB’s 50th Ten Best Dressed Fashion Show, it was the perfect time to celebrate the ladies who had been honored as Hall of Fame honorees. Would they have them parade down the runway? No. Instead, they would gather the available honorees for a group photo on the first floor. It was decided that the best place was on the staircase leading to the mezzanine. The hope was that the photo would be snapped before the sold-out crowd of guests spilled into the area. As soon as the honorees arrived, some were sidetracked by well wishers and friends. The early bird ladies were rewarded by being seated on a bench at the base of the stairs. As the honorees laughed and chatted, the clock ticked, with the organizers texting in search of the missing ladies. Word came that Charlotte Jones was waylaid going over her script as the day’s emcee. Another honoree had turned left instead of right and gotten swallowed up in the crowd. Ten minutes past the scheduled shoot, a tough call was made — they would have to go with those present plus newest honoree Lisa Cooley, Cheryl and Kim H. After all, there was a schedule to keep.
Back in the Zodiac Room, Nancy was hosting and toasting the Ten BD-ers and Lisa C. Despite the incredible turnout of guests including Oscar de la Renta designers Fernando Garcia and Laura Kim, Laura’s significant other Linus Adolfsson, NM executives (Ryan Ross, Jody Kahn, Mary McGreevy, Scott Mitchell, Tim Adair, Stefanie Ward and Panjola Abel), Gina Betts, Kit Sawers, Melody Rogers, Niven Morgan and Shelby Wagner, Claire and Dwight Emanuelson, Steve Stodghill, Pat Montgomery, Lisa Shirley and Devan Messmann for her pre-show reception, Nancy confided that this one was going to be her swan song.
Like Cinderella heading home after the ball before curfew, the 10 BD-ers and HoF-er made their exit to prepare for the presentation. The hope had been to have them all dolled up in their Oscar outfits for their group photo before the guests filled the showroom. But, alas, as the chairs were arranged, guests were seen in the hallway wanting to enter immediately.
But there were still more delays. Just as the group of Ten BD-ers and HoF-er were arranged with Ryan, Mary and Jody, a loud voice was heard over the din of the crowd that the ladies had to go backstage to add David Webb jewelry to their outfits. Organizers rolled eyes and shook their heads. Someone asked, “What about Laura and Fernando?” An all-out search for the designers was undertaken. A few precious minutes later the jewel-laden ladies returned only to be arranged and then rearranged. Still no designers. An NM staffer announced that they were on their way. All eyes looked in the direction of the elevators but no Laura and Fernando. Finally, the duo was seen through the waiting guests and arrived without a hair out of place.
As soon as the last group photo was taken, the Ten BD-ers, HoF-er and others headed back stage to pose for the annual “shoe shot” and prepare for their walk, NM staffers put the chairs back in place and the guests like Annette Simmons, Gene Jones, Laura Bush, Nancy Dedman, Anita Arnold, Joan Levy and Vicki Chapman with daughter Lauren Bellemare started filling the multi-tiered rows of seating.
Then the program got underway with welcomes by Ryan, Cheryl, Kim and Charlotte, who announced the presentation of the Ten BD-er and HoF. As soon as Lisa and her husband Clay Cooley completed the runway stroll, the models took their turn displaying the Oscar collection and they met the challenge of the double-thick carpeting and the narrow runway that had the added challenge for front row guests’ crossed legs. Pity the poor last model in the show wearing a dramatic white gown with a billowing skirt requiring her use both hands to pick it up in making her way through the room. Another model who is a flawless regular in the area fashion shows nearly tripped on her silky, long hem. She recovered nicely and even cracked a smile.
https://youtu.be/tcvwvT1wqGc
As the show ended the guests headed upstairs for the seated luncheon, which was supposed to be the NM’s traditional Helen Corbitt lunch of popovers, chicken broth and Neiman Marcus chicken salad, sliced almonds in a Mandarin orange soufflé. Instead it was sliced beef tenderloin, bearnaise aioli, baby greens, shaved crispy vegetables; beets and goat cheese terrine, toasted hazelnut and citrus; and roasted corn “tostada” lettuce spear, little gem, sunflower jalapeno crema and raisin chorizo, radish and scallion.
However, while guests were table hopping and chatting, there quietly seemed to be a presence of uniformed officers. One person wondered if it was because of the Ten B-Ders and HoF-er wearing the David Webb jewelry. No, the ladies had been stripped of those gems just after the show. Perhaps it was due to the former first lady being present? No, her usual team was as usual discreetly in place.
Ah, never mind. It was probably nothing.
Well, then cellphones started lighting up like firecrackers on the Fourth of July. Texts were sharing news of a shooting and not just any shooting in a faraway place. Rather, it had taken place just up the Main Street resulting in police cars and first responders blocking streets. In the distance, the streets dazzled with the flashing lights of emergency vehicles. Rumors of what had happened swirled. Someone said that the shooter was still at large. NM staffers immediately secured the building and the valets apologized to departing guests that their vehicles would take some time to retrieve due to Main being at a standstill. To ease the pain of waiting in the noontime heat, guests were provided with bottles of water.
Looking at the traffic jam, the flashing lights and the crowd of people waiting, one person raised an eyebrow at the situation and sniffed, “Just like New York City. I guess we have arrived.”
For a look at the fashions and faces of the day, check out MySweetCharity Photo Gallery.