Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1482852
Ciao, Bella R ather like a soigné groundhog, our grand dame of the social season, Crystal Charity Ball Ten Best Dressed Fashion Show, has emerged (with her well-coiffed mane) to proclaim: Ladies, it's time to suit up! I had lunch in advance of the big event with this year's chair, Jennifer Dix, and she promised that it would be a day to remember. For the many recent coastal transplants to Dallas, here's a little primer on CCB (yes, that's how the inner circle refers to it when texting). The purpose is to raise funds for children through programs and services provided by their beneficiaries. Since 1952, Crystal Charity has distributed more than $175 million to the children of Dallas County. This year's committee has chosen eight beneficiaries with a collective need of $7,180,555. In case you missed the recent excuse for sinfully glamorous day drinking and a fabulous fashion show from Dolce & Gabbana, the Ten Best Dressed swanning down the runway at Neiman Marcus NorthPark Center were: Marybeth Conlon, Tiffany Divis, Monica Eastin, Libby Hegi, Kim Hext, Meredith Land, Karla McKinley, Anne McPherson, Amy Prestidge, and Kim Quinn. One of my favorite moments from the show was this year's honorary chairman, Gene Jones, escorted down the runway with her dashing husband, Jerry Jones, on one arm and handsome son, Jerry Jones Jr., on the other. In the momentous 49-year history of the event, only four other women have served as honorary chairs: Margaret Hunt Hill, Nancy Dedman, Annette Simmons, and Norma Hunt. Rather like last year's event, this one offered two seatings. The first included a Buongiorno brunch; the second, a quintessentially Italian Aperitivo. As I'm generally not a morning person, I chose the 5 pm option. My dear friend Lisa Cooley (last year's CCB Ten Best Dressed Fashion Show chair) and I had been trying in vain to make a date, so we decided to meet up that afternoon. I had a rapido conversation with two favorites, Muffin Lemak and Julie Butler — both back from summer travel. On the third floor, I was greeted with a flute of bubbles, and off to the races we went. I grabbed a few minutes with Max Trowbridge, Piper Wyatt, and Christy Berry to quickly download our recent lives. Other friends I spotted included Nancy Rogers, Cami Goff, Charlotte Jones, Melinda Knowles, Janie Condon, and Shelle Sills. By Billy Fong. Photography Tamytha Cameron. Monica Eastin, Anne McPherson, Kim Quinn, Kim Hext Tiffany Divis, Amy Prestidge, Meredith Land, Libby Hegi Mary Beth Conlon, Mary McGreevy, Jennifer Dix Gene Jones, Pat McEvoy, Susan Farris, Karla McKinley Can Hall, Katie Haung, Cindy Tran Stephanie Tsen Ward Mary McGreevy Brooke Shelby Samantha Wortley Dan Rothmann, Ryan Ross Capa Aikman Haley Anderson, Charlotte Jones Nancy Dedman, Kelli Ford Nancy Rogers Sabrina Harrison 40