Oh So Stylish: Mad Hatters Tea 2017

Scroll through this gallery of spectacular images! Photos c/o Dana and Daniel Driensky, Gregory Martin, Danny Campbell, and Shana Anderson


Celebrating its 29th year, the always stylish and fashionable Mad Hatters Tea took place on March 27th in the beautiful Ginsburg Plaza at the Dallas Arboretum. This annual soiree benefits the Women’s Council of the Dallas Arboretum and A Woman’s Garden, the only public garden in the nation inspired by women, funded by women and dedicated to the universal spirit of women. Event Chair Linda Spina with Sharla Bush as vice-chair and honorary chairs Amy Warren and her daughter Amanda Hill, greeted a sold-out crowd of 500 women who had come dressed to impress. Celebrity guest and hat judge Rachel Zoe created quite a buzz when she arrived with her dapper husband, Rodger Berman. It was bananas. Rachel is an unparalleled fixture in the fashion world known for her unique take on effortless glamour, fashion stylist to the stars, clothes designer, author and editor of The Zoe Report. Also penciling-in their favorite hats in special categories were judges Kori Green, jewelry designer, attorney and wife of country singer, Pat Green; Tara Green, president of Klyde Warren Park; Courtney Kerr, editor of KERRently, a fashion, beauty, interior design and travel blog; Caroline Kraddick, Kidd’s Kids CEO/Chief Happiness Officer of the Kraddick Foundation; Dallas-based fragrance designer Niven Morgan; Dallas’ own First Lady, Micki Rawlings, community leader, volunteer and wife of Mayor Mike Rawlings and the judges team of Tracy Rathbun and Lynae Fearing, Park Cities restauranteurs and owners of Shinsei and Lovers Seafood and Market.

What (And Who) Is Hot This Month? The Society Diaries Shares In Their March/April 2017 issue

Among my many projects, I am a Contributor for The Society Diaries, a bi-monthly lifestyle publication that is distributed all across the great state of Texas. I mean, who else know more about what makes Dallas fabulous than me!? In every issue I get an entire page to spotlight the restaurants, fashion designers and retail stores that I think are worthy of a Texas-sized spotlight. In the new March/April 2017 issue I am shining a spotlight on my new obsession with Susan Posnick Cosmetics, introducing you to floral designer Shane Walker who creates magical Derby Day hats, and talking about the mouth-watering cakes from Nothing Bundt Cakes which recently opened in The Shops of Highland Park.   

Local Celebs Strut The Runway For the SPCA of Texas

 

photos c/o Kristina Bowman Photography


Canine couture met feline fashion at Project Ruffway, presented by the Gay and Lesbian Fund for Dallas, benefiting the SPCA of Texas, on Saturday, April 2. I was unable to attend this purr-featly fabulous event, but in a press recap I was told that co-chairs Betsy Orton and Brian Walker, along with Honorary Chair, Dallas County Commissioner Dr. Elba Garcia, celebrated the special bond between people and pets at the gorgeously over-the-top event. Steve Kemble, Master of Ceremonies, graced the catwalk as local celebs and influencer models strutted their stuff with well-dressed doggies on their arms. Most of the dogs were up for adoption at the SPCA of Texas, while others were already pampered pets. Guests hobnobbed with the adoptable dogs and cats in the adoption lobby of the ever-stunning Jan Rees-Jones Animal Care Center as they sipped wine, bubbly and the evening’s signature drink, the Cat’s Meow (a delightfully purple concoction of Equality Vodka, white cranberry juice, pineapple juice and raspberry Schnapps with a lime garnish). Noshes included savory and sweet delights from Bolsa Mercado, Mattito’s Tex-Mex, Steel Restaurant & Lounge and MLJ Catering. The funds raised from Project Ruffway will provide for a new Emergency Rescue Vehicle for the Animal Cruelty Investigations Unit at the SPCA of Texas.

Mad Hatter's Tea Announces Theme For 2016

Mad Hatter's Tea is always on my short list of "can't miss" events and 2016 looks like it will be another amazing showcase of fashion and fun.  The Women’s Council of the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden recently held an announcement party to unveil plans for 2016 where Jocelyn White, Mad Hatter’s Tea chair, welcomed the crowd and thanked Nerissa Von Helpenstill, Director at TOOTSIES, for hosting the night’s event.

The first reveal was the fabulous logo by fashion illustrator Rongrong DeVoe, literally depicting the theme for the 2016 Tea of Steel Magnolias – a fabulous sketch of a Southern gal wearing a hat with the steel structures of the City of Dallas rising out of the crown. Connie Carreker, a former Mad Hatter’s Tea chair, was announced as honorary chair. Jocelyn announced the Mad Hatter’s fashion show will be produced by Jan Strimple and feature fabulous spring fashions from sponsor TOOTSIES.

Shane Walker will once again create the centerpieces (and many of the events winning hats). Attending were Andrea Alcorn, Patricia Armstrong, Kay Hammond, Dixie Marshall and Linda Spina. Former Mad Hatter’s Tea chairs enjoying the scene were Carole Ann Brown, Kim Mathews, Dyan Skelton, Jewel Williams and Sharon Adams.

Mad Hatter’s Tea Steel Magnolias will celebrate its 28th anniversary on Thursday, April 21, 2015 at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. This fabulous and fun party has been an ongoing fundraising event sponsored by the Women’s Council of the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. Monies raised grow and maintain A Woman’s Garden, a major garden at the Dallas Arboretum. Over 500 guests, some from as far away as California, plan their trips to Dallas not only to take part in the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party – many in wild and wonderful over-the-top hats - but to view the glorious springtime azalea displays and flowers that grace the Dallas Arboretum.

The event includes a champagne reception in Ginsburg Plaza, professionally staged and choreographed fashion presentation inside Rosine Hall and afterwards, hats are judged in different categories and contest winners are announced at the fashion show and strut the runway. The fashion show festivities are followed by a seated al fresco luncheon under elegantly draped tents. It is truly a day of fun, fashion and celebrating friends. Sponsorships and underwriting are available by contacting Patricia Armstrong, Underwriting chair at 214-215-1300 or email at patricia.armstrong@verizon.net. For photos from past Mad Hatter’s Tea Parties and more information, visit the website at www.womenscouncildallasarboretum.org 


Photo: Nerissa Von Helpenstill (Director, TOOTSIES, fashion show sponsor); Billy Fulmer; Jocelyn White (Chair, Mad Hatter’s Tea); Connie Carreker (Honorary Chair); Shane Walker (Florist and table centerpieces); Jan Strimple (Fashion Show producer); Dustin Holcomb (TOOTSIES, fashion show sponsor) Photographer: Dana Driensky

Oh So Charitable: SPCA Paws Cause Kickoff Party

Karen Lufkin, Tiffany Hendra, Marie Reyes, Billy Fulmer, LeeAnne Locken, Cathy Vieth  | photo c/o Cathy Vieth

Last week, Shane Walker and Billy Fulmer hosted Dallas animal lovers at Flower Reign gift and floral shop, for the SPCA of Texas Paws Cause 2015 kickoff party. The party featured a Photomadic photo booth and caricature sketches, bites by Food Glorious Food and champagne donated by Kristen and Scott Greenberg. Among those in attendance were event chair Phyllis Comu, Diane Brierley, LeeAnne Locken, Steve Kemble, Ashley Berges, Karen Lukin, Holly Forsythe, Tiffany Hendra and Rob Bradford. There were even a few four-legged guests in attendance who happily greeted guests with tail wags and lots of licks. Flower Reign donated 20 percent of party proceeds to the SPCA’s Mary Spencer/Neuter and Wellness Clinic at Village Fair in South Dallas. Paws Cause, will take place on Sunday, June 14 at the SPCA’s Jan Rees-Jones Animal Care Center in West Dallas. Look for more nibbles from Food Glorious Food, musical entertainment by the British Are Coming, a silent auction, the famous Bone Appetit restaurant drawing and more. Tickets are $150 and can be purchased online.

Photomadic fun (left) LeeAnne Locken, Tiffany Hendra, Marie Reyes (right) Phyllis Comu, Cynthia Smoot

Mad Hatters was Skittles Rainbow of Floral Fun

Celebrating its 26th year, the Mad Hatter’s Tea Serenade to Style fashion show and luncheon included a champagne reception, a fashion presentation showcasing collections from Lela Rose, Diane von Furstenberg and Escada and a seated luncheon. This year there were 6 awards to be handed out: Over the Rainbow: Most Colorfully Flamboyant, My Favorite Things: Chic Couture, The Yellow Rose of Texas: Most Elegant, Edelweiss: A Vintage Look, Tip Toe Through the Tulips: Most Whimsical, Do Re Mi: Most Creative use of Natural Materials, Best of Show. Criteria: Integrity of Design and Creative Use of Botanical. As you can see from the photos in this post, these ladies are serious about the themes and about W-I-N-N-I-N-G. In years past, the judges cast votes in all the categories. This year, each judge was assigned one category. In theory, this was a grand idea to simplify the process for the judges. The only problem, was that no one at the event knew which judge had each of the categories. This created mass pandemonium as contenders tried to figure out who they needed to get in front of to be seen and considered for their category.

NOTE TO THE COUNCIL: Next year have each judge seated at a table with a sign so that ladies can line up at their intended destination and everyone feels like they have been seen. Much more efficient to have the ladies parade past the judges that to have the judges try to navigate the crowd and see everyone. Just my two cents. Take it or leave it... 

Cynthia Smoot, Steve Kemble

The weather couldn't have been lovelier and everyone in attendance was in a sunny mood as we sipped champs and snapped away on our iPhones.  I'm pretty sure we almost overloaded Instagram.

Everyone was a-buzz because Steve Kemble was missing. But, wait! There he was - over in the corner with a milk carton on his head. Oh, that crazy Steve. You just cannot outdo him, no matter how hard you try. And try indeed, did LeeAnne Locken who dazzled in a custom chapeau created by Andre Yabin at Binzario Couture that took up two seats at the fashion show in and of itself. She was a rainbow of color (see below)!

There was practically a stampede to get a photo of Jill Rowlett who won the Best of Show award for her "It's Not Easy Being Green" Kermit the Frog ensemble. Not only was her hat amazing, but she was dressed in head to toe green silk and had a darling Judith Lieber Kermit clutch. Perfection! I always love Jill because you just never know what crazy, over-the-top thing she will show up in. Two years ago, she showed up with a 3-tiered working fountain on her head... I'm telling you people, these ladies are SERIOUS about this competition!

House of DIFFA 2014 Masquerade (in pictures)

It's hard to put into words the fabulosity that is DIFFA. The mission of the Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS (DIFFA) is to raise funds and grant those funds to organizations which fight HIV/AIDS by providing preventative education programs targeted to populations at risk of infection, treatment and direct care services for people living with/impacted by HIV/AIDS and that support public policy initiatives which add resources to private sector funds. Known for it's over-the-top fun and fund-raising abilities, their annual black-tie gala makes this event one of THE hottest tickets in town every year. DIFFA chairman of the board Brittanie Buchanan Oleniczak, event chair Jim DiMarino and honorary chair Simona Beal led this year's efforts and instigated a couple of BIG changes. First off was a venue move from the Hilton Anatole to the Omni. The second was to give the gala a theme of "Masquerade" which inspired guests to add venetian masks to their already glittering ensemble. Instead of me describing the eye candy, I thought I'd just let you see it for yourself... Enjoy the show!

Steve Kemble and Christopher Wright
photo: Thomas Garza

Let the bidding begin! Art From the Heart kicks off with a Preview Party

Last Thursday,  Jones Walker Home provided Dallas Challenge the opportunity to preview art that will be up for bid at the 5th Annual ART FROM THE HEART Celebrity Art Auction & Benefit, a fundraising event featuring the artwork of celebrities and professional artists. This chic affair will be held at Seven for Parties in the Dallas Design District on Friday, April 25, 2014 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Attendees to the Preview Party were able to not only be the first to view select pieces, but kick off the bidding and set the tone for this year’s auction frenzy! Co-chairs LeeAnne Locken and Lindsay Lee McCain played host to a crowd that included fashion designer Elizabeth Anyaa, Britt Harless of Bohem Unique Gems, Janet Fresquez, Shane Walker, Hamilton Sneed, fashion designer Charles Smith II, and blogger Tiffany Hendra.

Mad Hatter Shane Walker becomes the Masquerade Man

DIFFA/Dallas recently unveiled plans for the House of DIFFA 2014, the organization’s annual gala and largest fund raising event. Inspired by the legendary Carnival of Venice, House of DIFFA 2014’s theme is a black tie Masquerade ball. Patrons are encouraged to wear traditional Venetian masks. The best mask will be judged for originality, quality and design, and awarded during the course of the evening.  DIFFA's annual gala is always one of the most stylish and exciting annual charity events in Dallas and this year's soiree will take place at 6:00pm on Saturday, March 29th at the Omni Dallas Hotel and promises to be filled with the hottest fashions and attendees. Simona Beal will serve as this year’s honorary chair for House of DIFFA 2014. This year's Event Chairman is longtime DIFFA/Dallas board member Jim DiMarino.

Shane Walker

Floral designer Shane Walker is the genius behind many of the elaborate and over the top chapeau's at the annual Mad Hatter's Tea at the Dallas Arboretum, so it's no surprise that Walker has been inundated with calls to create masks for this event.

"I can give you a few hints about the people behind the mask and what they are wearing," says Walker. "There will be a mask that is made from sculpted black leather and encrusted with gold metal findings, chains and bling. Move over Ga Ga!

I also have a guy that is pretty over the top and his personality always shines just like his mask! His mask will be all silver and black and heavy on the Austrian Crystals. He also ordered a solid rhinestone bow tie to compliment the jeweled masterpiece!

 Oh, and let's not forget about the two guys from Florida arriving in for DIFFA. They will be sporting matching mask made of sculpted black leather and embellished with gold spikes of different sizes! Spikes don't always go on shoe's! I will be designing a mask to replicate a black raven! It will literally look as if he could take off in flight at any moment."

Any thoughts I had about buying a mask at Party City long since flew out the window...

What You Missed: Twerking, the Limbo and Crooning at the 2013 Celebrity Waiter Luncheon

LeeAnne Locken and Candy Evans give Ron Corning a twerking for charity
photo Allyson Aynesworth

Celebrity Waiter Luncheon 2013
as recalled by Candace Evans of Candy's Dirt

Jamie Singer & Lindsay Jacaman
photo Shana Anderson

It’s Monday, and I am still trying to recuperate from this year’s Celebrity Waiter Luncheon benefiting, as it always does, Family Gateway. Family Gateway is a wonderful local charity that breaks the generational cycle of homelessness by providing individualized care to homeless families with children, then restoring the dignity, stability and self-sufficiency of the family unit.

Did you know that families with children are the fastest-growing homeless group in our city? Celebrity Waiter is one of many events throughout the year that raises money for Family Gateway, now in its 27th year. At the kick-off party last spring, held in the penthouse of Museum Tower, Jill Herz, board chair of Family Gateway, talked about the agency’s dream of ending child homelessness in Dallas by 2017. After Friday’s event, I’d say they are well on their way!

This year’s luncheon took place on September 6, at the newly decked out Joule Hotel in the heart of downtown Dallas. The organization was beautiful, as guests were greeted as soon as they emerged from the endearing valets – mine told me, unsolicited, how nice I looked! (He got a HUGE tip!) Garry Potts directed and produced a super video and PSA spot for Gateway as a donation in kind, and talented Shane Walker, who is opening a fab new store down in Trinity Groves, created all of the centerpieces that were available for purchase.

Halloween 2012 - Big D Style

Halloween isn't just for little kids. This past weekend, Big D held some spooktacular parties to treat us big kids. Here's a look at how some of Dallas' most colorful characters and notable names celebrated Halloween 2012:

Big Rich Texas vixens Connie Dieb, Melissa Poe and DeAynni Hatley at Sambuca
photo Plano Pete/Pete Wynne Photography

Timothy Oulton Turns on the British Charm and Turns Out an Incredible Opening

London-based store, TIMOTHY OULTON opens to the public on Saturday, June 23, 2012 but several hundred lucky Dallasites got to preview the store at a lavish grand opening soiree last Thursday.  Chaps in Oulton's signature bowler greeted guests at their cars with champagne and inside the scene was a bevvy of sights from pillars made of books to a yellow submarine fish tank, a propeller coffee table to a Willy Wonka-inspired candy bar.

Bri Crum, James Shackelford, Steve Kemble Jack Son and guest

The Knox Henderson store is the company's first stand-alone store in the U.S. A British artisan, Oulton took his dad’s antique business and refashioned it to recreate a world of antiques with a modern sensibility. He has stores in Singapore, Barbados and Beijing as well as galleries within specialty stores in the U.S. including ABC Carpet & Home and H.D. Buttercup. The guiding philosophy behind TIMOTHY OULTON is simple. "I think it is a love for design and a desire to see things done the best way possible that keeps me motivated,” says founder, Timothy Oulton. “In everything that we do, I want it to be unique, to be best in class, or I won’t do it.”

Handsome stranger with Barbara Daseke, Shane Walker, Carmaleta Whitely and Billy Fulmer

A tribute to Tim’s antiques background, each piece is handcrafted using time-honoured techniques, while Tim’s extraordinary attention to detail means that every bolt and every stitch counts. No two products are ever alike and each piece is imbued with its own distinct personality. “It’s the raw finish that makes it contemporary and relevant. It’s furniture that you interact with, that you look at and smile,” says Tim. With inspiration from timeless classic design and his unique modern perspective, core values of the brand are authenticity, heritage and longevity are core of the brand’s values. “We’re the Rolling Stones of the furniture world,” explains Tim, “It’s about designs and ideas that maintain relevant over time.”

photo: Eat. Style. Dallas.

TIMOTHY OULTON is now a part of Dallas history as it came to life inside the historic Potter Art Metal Studio, the one-story building at the corner of the northbound service road and Henderson. Beginning in 1920, Potter designed beautiful and graceful chandeliers, railings, balustrades, gates and more out of wrought iron, bronze, copper and brass for the stately homes of Swiss Avenue, Highland Park, Lakewood and other emerging neighborhoods. In-store, you will find truly authentic handcrafted furniture, made using traditional fabrications and classic hand craftsmanship techniques, but blended with a uniquely modern sensibility.

The company chose Dallas as its flagship store because they thought it was a great fit for the brand. “The larger than life approach to living and the energy you find in Dallas are also values at the heart of our brand, so we thought it was a perfect fit,” says Antony Pearce, Head of Marketing for the brand. “Furthermore, Dallas has a strong sense of individuality and creativity, which we wanted to tap in to.” In addition to Oulton’s upholstered furniture, accessories, case goods and trunks, the gallery will also have a design studio, floral shop, meeting space and coffee bar offering sweets from Hospitality Sweet, a Lake Highlands-based bakery.

TIMOTHY OULTON 4500 N. Central Expressway Dallas, TX www.timothyoulton.com 

party pics courtesy of Shana Anderson

Mad Hatter's Tea 2012

The 24th annual Mad Hatter's Tea benefiting the Women’s Council of the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden’s A Woman’s Garden is always one of the most fun charitable events of the year.  This year's event was held on Thursday, April 12, 2012. And just like last year, the day started off with gray skies and a smattering of raindrops. Fortunately the rain was short-lived and this year's Chairman, Carmaleta Whiteley and Barbara Daseke greeted guests as the sun broke through the clouds and ladies in their fabulous chapeaus waltzed into the Ginsburg Plaza.

Barbara Daseke (with a stuffed chipmunk on her shoulder!) and Carmaleta Whiteley
with their hat designer, Todd Fiscus

The divine Hunter Sullivan crooned Big Band tunes as ladies flitted about the outdoor Plaza ooh'ing and ahh'ing over the amazing array of millinery creations, sipped champagne and snapped photo after photo. This is one event where everyone has their cameras out!  I was on one side of the Plaza when I stopped dead in my tracks - across the way I spied a hat with a working fountain on it! I dashed over to see who had such a fantastic creation.  Of course... It was Mad Hatter's legend Jill Rowlett, there with her trusty sidekick and BFF, Yvonne Crum.

Jill Rowlett (with a working fountain on her head!) and Yvonne Crum

Not to be outdone, Jocelyn White had live butterflies on her hat. She explained that their wings had been misted so they couldn't fly away. As the day progressed and their wings dried out, they would flutter off into the skies of the Arboretum. She had a big bag of them and was handing them out to everyone. It was super cool. Look at the photo above and you'll spot a big yellow and black butterfly on Yvonne Crum's arm.

(top left)  Joclyn White with live butterflies   (top right)  Guest with D'Andra Simmons
(bottom left)  Shay Geyer is pretty in pink  (bottom right)  Doris Jacobs and Lee Bailey

We moved into Rosine Hall for a fashion show produced by the incomparable Jan Strimple, featuring designs by local retailers Betty Reiter, V.O.D., Forty Five Ten and Cicada.  Then it was time for the awards! Emcee Ron Corning, along with this year's judges, announced the winners and handed out prizes. And the winners were....




After the fashion show and awards presentation, everyone went back outside for a beautiful lunch under a tented pavilion. Since its inception in 1982, the Women’s Council has supported the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden overall and through the creation, development and on-going funding of the world renowned A Woman’s Garden and now, through funding the garden’s enhancements that will continue to draw visitors to our great city from all over the world.

Shane Walker and Cynthia

The main topic of conversation at the luncheon was everyone wondering when next year's theme would be announced. Let the planning begin!!  For more information, visit the website at www.womenscouncildallasarboretum.org.

Click here to see a complete gallery of photos from this event

Special thanks to Shane Walker of Shane Walker Design for creating my over-the-top amazing hat and to Lela Rose in Highland Park Village for styling me in the perfect frock to accompany such a magnificent creation!

Dallas Dweller: Shane Walker

If you are like me, every month you flip through the pages of PaperCity, Modern Luxury, F!D Luxe, GrandLuxe and the like, scouring the social pages to see who was deemed worthy of photo recognition.  There's a handful of regulars who seem to do no wrong when it comes to picking the right outfit or arm candy for editorial selection. And then there are those photos that you see and think, "Who IS that person?" Whether they strike your fancy for their fabulous frock or outrageous hair or interesting style.  Dallas Dweller seeks to introduce you to the fabulous faces you've always wondered about but haven't had the occasion to meet in person. This week, let me introduce you to the "Mad Hatter" of Dallas:

Shane Walker

I first encountered Shane at last year's Mad Hatter's Tea Party at the Dallas Arboretum.  Walker owns Shane Walker Design, a floral design and event planning empire and has been involved with Mad Hatter's for years.  "Accolades, such as 'awesome' and 'dramatic', describe Shane Walker's big and bold arrangements. He has become a hit among those who entertain with panache, says Entertaining in Dallas.

Walker's passion is "creating art with flowers.  My look is very dramatic, unique and over the top.  I have a passion for hat designing as well, which I call "wearable art".  I've been designing floral art for nearly twenty years.  My artwork seems to get better with time, due to the fact that I always want to out-do myself." If you want to win one of the coveted titles at the Arboretum's Mad Hatter's Tea... you'd better call Walker, because you can't win without him!