Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1510301
Best Dressed Women 10 L et's go, girls." Oh, wait … Perhaps I should have saved that Shania Twain lyric for the Cattle Baron's Ball, where that timeless diva headlines this year at South Fork Ranch. But I do feel like that was the rallying call for the official first day of Dallas' social season: the 2023 Crystal Charity Ball Ten Best Dressed Fashion Show. The action was at the iconic downtown Neiman Marcus with a fashion show on the second floor followed by the luncheon on the third floor. This year's marquee star was dashing designer Adam Lippes. And the big news: He debuted his Spring/Summer 2024 collection here in Dallas instead of New York Fashion Week — a first for the brand. His pieces came swanning down the runway, worn by the Crystal Charity Ball's Ten Best Dressed honorees themselves: Meredith Land, Monica Eastin, Sunie Solomon, Marybeth Conlon, Anne McPherson, Libby Hegi, Kim Hext, Kim Quinn, Lisa Rocchio, Wendy Messmann, and 2023 Hall of Fame honoree Claire Emanuelson. The collection was inspired by Lippes' visit to the Royal Pavilion at Haga Park in Sweden — a glorious example of European Neoclassicism with a palette of washed yellow, shocking pink, alabaster, and amethyst. My personal favorites: the "new" power suit worn by Land and the gown worn by Rocchio, both in the gorgeous aforementioned shade of yellow. The coats had all the ladies (and moi) taking notes, and I could write an entire column about those whimsical black chapeaux. At the luncheon, I found myself seated at Sunie Solomon's table with a lively bunch that included Samantha Wortley, Katy Bock, Paige Lane, Jennifer Walters, and Elaine Pearlman. Standout outfits that day were Melinda Knowles in Toni Maticevski (a "hottie Aussie designer," she whispered in my ear), Lisa Cooley in Carolina Herrera, and Jennifer Dix in pink Dolce & Gabbana. Ready for the social season ahead: mother/daughter duos Jennie Reeves and Lucy Wrubel and Kelli Ford and Electra Ford; Nancy Rogers (in one of the gorgeous creations that Lippes showed that day) and Brian Bolke, both heading to New York Fashion Week that afternoon; Fort Worth fashionista Cami Goff; Neiman Marcus team members Ryan Ross, Mary McGreevy, Marjon Zabihi Henderson, and Jodi Kahn; and, back from their summer travels, Muffin Lemak, Karla McKinley, Leisa Street, and Julie Butler. At the end of the day, my bestie Ann Hobson said, "I'm not gussied up like you, so let's just do Highland Park Village Mi Cocina." Quelle surprise: That's where all the CCB squads ended up to recap the day. I guess a Mambo Taxi and fashion show are the best ways to spend a Friday afternoon. Signal the Unofficial Start of the Social Season Dallas' By Billy Fong. Photography Tamytha Cameron. Partygoers: 1. Adam Lippes, Marybeth Conlon, Sunie Solomon, Anne McPherson, Charlotte Jones, Lisa Rocchio, Kim Hext, Monica Eastin, Ryan Ross, Patty Leyendecker Meredith Land, Libby Hegi, Claire Emanuelson, Wendy Messmann, Kim Quinn Angie Kadesky 2. Electra Ford, Kelli Ford 3. Kate Hinckley, Courtney Mazzella 4. Lu Scovell, Diane Scovell, Lucy Wrubel 5. Stacey Walker, Kay Sim 6. Tracy Lange, Lisa Cooley 7. Billy Fong, Chas Martin 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 50