Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1500317
O f course, my absolute favorite part of Art Ball each year is checking out the fashion — I consider it my Met Gala. And the 2023 incarnation did not disappoint. For the past few years, more and more members of the fashion world have been in attendance. At my table were representatives from Dior (Anne Cao), Gucci (Jamie Christensen and Rebecca Lyne), Valentino (Tyler Catlett and Michael Walker), and Brunello Cucinelli (Ramiro Garcia and Kelli Luevano). Chanel and Van Cleef had each purchased an entire table for their most valued clients. My dear friend Ann Hobson was seated at the latter, dripping in some of her favorite baubles from the iconic jewelry house. And quite a few designers flew in for the occasion, including Christian Siriano, Naeem Khan, Paul Andrew, Bach Mai, and Prabal Gurung. Siriano had quite the client list that night, with Moll Anderson, Kelly Cheeseman, and Suzanne Droese wearing his creations. An equal number of girls paid homage to Gurung. Tina Craig, who was on his arm for most of the night, wore a bubbly off- shoulder short frock, while Rochelle Gores rocked a sexy, curve-hugging electric blue number. Other standouts were Kira Nasrat in Ralph Lauren, Kasey Lemkin in Carolina Herrera, Neiman Marcus president Ryan Ross in an Alexander McQueen rhinestone harness jacket, and finally Jennifer Eagle and Jacquelin Sewell Atkinson, both in Brandon Maxwell. And let's not forget the co-chairs. Leigh Anne Clark did two outfit changes, starting with a black Carolina Herrera strapless gown with diaphanous silk chiffon and embroidered tulle overskirt, then changing into a Valentino Couture crepe sleeveless mini dress. In the weeks prior to the event, dear Bela Cooley had been texting me various outfit options she was considering for her Art Ball year. I most definitely agreed with her decision to wear a dreamy spearmint- colored Monique Lhuillier organza high-low dress with organza details and removable train (which she did remove for post-dinner dancing). Others spotted that gorgeous evening were Agustín Arteaga, The Eugene McDermott Director of the Dallas Museum of Art; Gowri Sharma, DMA president of the board of trustees; Jeff Ellerman, chairman of the DMA board, with wife Pam; Geoffroy van Raemdonck, Neiman Marcus CEO; Cindy and Howard Rachofsky; Lisa and Clay Cooley; Kelli and Gerald Ford; Deedie Rose; Catherine and Will Rose; Mark Moussa; Katherine and Eric Reeves; Emberli and David Pridham; and Georgina Hartland. How did the evening end? We danced until the clock chimed midnight. Then a select few of us — shall we say, the more well-known of the fashionable clique (primarily boys, except for the daring Missy Peck and Kelly Cheeseman) ended up at a dive bar on the wrong side of the tracks. In fact, well beyond said tracks. It was all quite mischievous, but I've been sworn to secrecy. Under INFLUENCE THE Nancy Dedman Brad Kelly Charlie Anderson, Todd Fiscus Moll Anderson, Ceron Christopher Wood Shelby Goff Djamal Yunusov Georgina Hartland Todd & Kasey Lemkin Jessica Nowitzki Geoffroy van Raemdonck Deedie Rose 26