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Heather Esping The Best Dressed with Peter Copping Alex Bolen Jim Gold Eliza Bolen Peter Copping Chair Mary Clare Finney Christi Urschel Lana Andrews Pat Harloe Barry Andrews Mary Gill Max Trowbridge Victoria Snee LAUDING COPPING: Mimi Crume Sterling, Charlotte Jones Anderson, Maggie Kipp, Katy Bock, Annika Cail, Leisa Street, Lisa Troutt, Anne Reeder, Lee Ann White, Kim Miller, Kimberly Whitman, Nancy Carlson, Capera Ryan, Pam Perella, Pat McEvoy, Lynn McBee, Aileen Pratt, Robin McMonigle, Heather Furniss, and Brooke Shelby. BY JANE ROZELLE. PHOTOGRAPHY DANA DRIENSKY, MEI-CHUN JAU. J ust as fast as you can utter the words "Ten Best Dressed," tickets to the sought-after fashion show and luncheon are snatched up, and within precious few days, the event is sold out. For more than 40 years this spectacle has ensued, as The Crystal Charity Ball Ten Best Dressed Women of Dallas Fashion Show and Luncheon is the high point of the season. For its 42nd year, The Crystal Charity Ball Committee and Neiman Marcus — the flagship store downtown is always the location for the annual event — selected the eminent Oscar de la Renta as the featured design house for the fashion show. It was a beautiful, albeit sentimental, choice, as this would be the first collection presented by newly appointed creative director Peter Copping since de la Renta's passing last year. Needless to say, the ante was upped. Per tradition, during the weeks before the luncheon, a whirl of pre-parties generated buzz, from the Platinum Circle dinner at the seminal Dallas Country Club to the patron party at the magnificent home of Lana and Barry Andrews. Of course, little could top the excitement of the big day: A champagne reception was held on the first floor of Neiman Marcus, and more than 500 guests buzzed with excitement, anxiously awaiting the moment of entrée into the colossal Oscar de la Renta tent, which had been constructed along Commerce Street just outside the store. "Walking into the tent," says luncheon chair Mary Clare Finney, "Neiman Marcus had created a glamorous room, with a runway for the spectacular show." First came a flurry of air kisses and hugs before all were seated at their luncheon tables for the show. Remarks came by way of vice president and store manager Jeff Byron; Neiman Marcus Group CEO and president Karen Katz; The Crystal Charity Ball chair Michal Powell; and Ten Best Dressed Fashion Show and Luncheon chair Mary Clare Finney. The Ten Best Dressed Women of Dallas wore the Fall 2015 Oscar de la Renta collection, which was described by writer Nicole Phelps in its Vogue review as demonstrative of Copping's "deft sense of color — midnight blue and violet, chartreuse and Bordeaux — and [his] special eye for detail." No surprise then that the tent's palette was plum. There was applause aplenty for The Ten Best Dressed: Katherine Coker, Janie Condon, Heather Esping, Margaret Hancock, Pat Harloe, Julie Hawes, Ashley Hunt, Patty Leyendecker, Francie Moody- Dahlberg, and Christi Urschel; Hall of Fame Honoree Sarah Perot; and honorary chair Ruth Altshuler, who received a standing ovation. Pro models then took to the runway in Oscar de la Renta Resort 2016 — an amalgamation of the house's signature rich colors and bold mix of patterns. The whimsical hand-embroidered gowns caused quite a stir, suggesting we'll spot a few at The Crystal Charity Ball and other galas this season. THE OSCAR WINNING CRYSTAL CHARITY 10 BEST DRESSED OTHER THAN THE BEST DRESSED HONOREES, WHO WORE YOUR FAVORITE FASHION ENSEMBLE? "Candace Krause had on the most exquisite cream Chanel top — it was cape-like!" — DeeDee Lee "Claire Emanuelson was beyond chic in the most beautiful Oscar de la Renta graphic, floral frock." — Piper Wyatt "There was not just a single fabulous ensemble, but it was a fashion explosion. We were in one room with so many women in beautiful Oscar de la Renta." — Luncheon chair Mary Clare Finney NOVEMBER | PAGE 8 | 2015 Abigail Powell Janie Condon Jonathan Joselove Neva Hall Mary Margaret Hancock Wanda Gierhart Margaret Hancock Celese Gierhart Caleb Powell Katherine Coker DeeDee Lee Muffin Lemak Ginny Bailey Shelby Wagner Piper Wyatt Sarah Perot Brittany Mathews Julie Hawes Erin Mathews Ashley Hunt Nancy Dedman, Laura Bush Ruth Altshuler Nancy Rogers Gina Betts Gene Jones Karen Katz Jeff Byron Alicia Wood Billie Leigh Rippey Elaine Agather Michal Powell Nini Nguyen -