Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1488935
W hy would Tommy Hilfiger, Karlie Kloss, Marc Glimcher, Derek Blasberg, Hank Willis Thomas, and Seth Meyers, as well as Texas' Christen Wilson, Elaine Agather, and moi all rush to the Ozarks on a Wednesday night? Such is the gravitational pull of Walmart heiress Alice Walton and the inaugural fund-raiser for Crystal Bridges Museum, the Grit to Glamour gala. The high-wattage fashion event, which fêted the institution's 10th anniversary, was created by Olivia Walton, Alice's board-chair successor, with a theme that nods to the first fashion exhibition in the history of Crystal Bridges. "Fashioning America: Grit to Glamour," on view through January 30, was curated by Michelle Fenimore, who culled dresses worn by first ladies, art-inspired garments, and iconic fashion moments that defined a generation. One might say the event also served as the younger Walton's leadership coming-out party. Wearing a custom Wes Gordon for Carolina Herrera frock, she welcomed guests, including vintage fashion savant Cameron Silver, from a wonderland designed by Van Wyck & Van Wyck, the international event design and production firm based in NYC. "Tonight is the first fundraiser we've ever had," she said of the evening, which was inspired by the Costume Institute's annual Met Gala. "We're 10 years old, and Alice has generously endowed operations of the museum, and a gift from Walmart makes all admission free. But we are a public nonprofit, which means a third of our funds need to come from the public." Dallas' Amanda Dillard Shufeldt of the department-store family held court with photographer Douglas Friedman (a celeb in his own right, given his 168,000 Instagram followers and friendship with icon Martha Stewart) as champagne flowed and the auction began. Heads turned when TV legend Norman Lear joined Fort Worth local Sybil Robson Orr (Sam Walton's niece) as they cheered bidders towards the $2 million raised for the museum that evening. Fresh from New York Fashion Week, designers Fe Noel, Aurora James, and multi-hyphenate Christy Turlington Burns (model/ activist/designer) snapped selfies under the larger-than-life Koons in the glorious Moshe Safdie-designed building. Meanwhile, Latvian performance artist, creative director, and model Viktoria Modesta won It-girl honors of the evening — Google her and thank me later. As the after-party went well into the night, Texas transplant and current Crystal Bridges' KC Hurst (formerly with the Dallas Museum of Art) toasted the third-generation Walmart heirs on the night's success and what's next for the visionaries of the richest family in the world. As for me, what happens in Bentonville, stays in Bentonville — except for the 300 videos and photos on my phone. A Walton Wonderland CRYSTAL BRIDGES MUSEUM'S "GRIT TO GLAMOUR" OPENING GALA By Annika Cail. Photography Shane Drumond/BFA.com Viktoria Modesta Nina Hawkins Annemarie Dillard Amanda Dillard Shufeldt, Wren Dillard Derek Blasberg, Karlie Kloss Olivia Walton, Hank Willis Thomas, Tommy Hilfiger Annika Cail Christen Wilson Aurora James Arianna Huffington Barbara Bush "Fashioning America: Grit to Glamour" exhibition Alexis Ashe Seth Meyers Christy Turlington Burns 43