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Mad Hatter’s Tea Party Divas and Dahlias Salutes Spring in Style!
Benefiting the Women’s Council of the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden’s “A Woman’s Garden”
D’Andra Simmons, Honorary Chair | Sharon Ballew, Event Chair
(May 17, 2010) The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden was in full bloom on April 22nd for the 22ND Annual Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, this year themed Divas and Dahlias, benefiting the Women’s Council of the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden’s “A Woman’s Garden.”
This fabulous and fun party is attended by over 500 women, some from as far away as California, who plan their trips to Dallas not only to take part in the Mad Hatter’s Tea – many in wild and wonderful over-the-top hats relating to the event’s theme - but to view the glorious springtime azalea displays and flowers that grace the arboretum and visit friends.
“This is the perfect girlfriends trip,” said Kathy Cothrum, president of the Women’s Council. “The gardens are so beautiful this time of year.”
Sharon Ballew, Mad Hatter’s Tea chair agreed, “The azaleas are in glorious full bloom, the weather is wonderfully cool with a light breeze and the ladies’ hats are more beautiful, clever and outrageous than ever.”
Personifying “clever” were hat judge co-chairs, Yvonne Crum and Jill Rowlett, who were dressed head-to-toe in exact replicas of Lucy and Ethel’s burlap outfits from the episode of I Love Lucy in which Lucy and Ethel, on vacation in Paris, are duped by Ricky and Fred into wearing awful creations, thinking that they are designer gowns. (See photos above and below.)
Yvonne and Jill’s outfits were re-interpreted by Shirin Askari, Dallas fashion designer, most recently featured on Project Runway and one of the hat judges at today’s event. The creations were the talk of the party, deserving a prize on their own.
Uniquely outrageous was America’s Sassiest Lifestyle Guru and one of today’s hat judges Steve Kemble’s “Super Bowl” hat, literally a replica of the Dallas Cowboys new stadium, even with the hole at the top, looking into the field. What a hoot! Steve is the Cowboys’ go-to guy for planning, designing and executing their fabulous functions and well-known for his appearances on TLC’s “Battle of the Wedding Planners” (he was declared the winner!) as well as ABC’s “Extreme Makeover Wedding Edition,” Style Network’s “Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?” and “Married Away.”
Sarah Eveans, associate editor, D magazine and the third judge, was beautiful in her golden dahlia-yellow sheath topped with a black wide-brimmed hat and white polka-dotted scarf.
Television cameras rolled and photographers snapped as hundreds of ladies enjoyed champagne, tea, wine and hors d’oeuvres in the open air plaza.
Stealing the scene was a floral floor-length gown by Botanical Art made of nearly 2,500 carnation petals, rows of fuschia orchids, burgundy dahlias and bright green clemantis vines. The gown took a total of 90 hours to create.
Indoors, the ladies were seated while world-renown fashion designer and emcee, Michael Faircloth, introduced D’Andra Simmons, honorary chair and thanked D HOME as a media sponsor. In a salute to the past, chairmen from previous Mad Hatter’s Teas were introduced and walked the runway, while Michael described each chairman’s year and theme.
Fashion show producer, the imitable Jan Strimple, again proved her sleek styling with the fashion show featuring selections from Carolina Herrera, Jimmy Choo, Ralph Lauren and St. John; all of Highland Park Village.
Then it was time for the hat judges to present the awards to the winners in these categories, all in honor of the fashion show presenters:
Kudos from Carolina (Most Creative): Ana Pettus;
Raves from Ralph (Best Vintage/Elegant): Robin Marin;
She Fell Off Her Choos (Most Whimsical/Outlandish): Dee Simmons;
St. John's Dazzling Dahlias (Best use of Dahlias/Botanical): Carmaleta Whiteley;
Divine Diva (Best of Show): Susan Scullen.
Luncheon was served beneath elegant open-air white tents, ceilings centered with intricate draping and black crystal chandeliers. Tables were covered with fuschia silk tablecloths topped with white wrought iron atriums filled with flowers, and as if Mother Nature had the cue on the color scheme, all amidst walls of tall bright pink azaleas.
Beneficiary: 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.
More information: For photos from past Mad Hatter’s Tea Parties and more information, visit the website at www.womenscouncildallasarboretum.org
About the judges: Shirin Askari started sewing early and made her first dress at the age of seven. After making the decision in high school to pursue fashion design she transfered to the University of North Texas. There she received a BFA in Fashion Design in May 2008. The summer after graduation she received word about auditions for Project Runway. After sending in an audition tape and getting through countless interviews, she received a call telling her she was going to be on the 6th season of Project Runway. On February 26, 2010 she debuted a full collection to a packed house in her hometown of Dallas, TX. She also has a line of custom bridal dresses as well. Her clothing and accessories are
currently selling in select stores and online at http://www.shirinaskaristore.com
Sarah Eveans is the events editor for dmagazine.com and a contributing editor for D Magazine. She grew up in Overland Park, Kansas, and graduated from SMU. She is also a graduate of the California Culinary Academy, but somehow she still doesn’t cook very well. She has worked at The Food Network, Saveur, PaperCity, and In Touch and has written for Allure, American Way, D Weddings, D Beauty, and D Home.
Steve Kemble has been the magic behind countless corporate events, weddings and other sassy ventures for more than two decades. The event industry’s king of self-promotion, known as “America’s Sassiest Lifestyle Guru,” is the industry’s most visible, vocal and unique personality. Steve has been dishing out fashion disses at celebrities for more than three years as a Top Cop for Us Weekly magazine’s Fashion Police, on the red carpet at the Golden Globe Awards, American Music Awards and Independent Spirit Awards, and annual appearances on TV Guide Network’s “Idol Tonight.”
His “What’s Hot” segment can be heard daily on CBS radio, and he has gone head to head with some of TV’s other big personalities from Melissa Rivers to Donny Deutsch. Steve’s “A Dose of Sass” blog has become an online sensation. Let’s not forget weddings! A centerpiece of WE tv’s marquee block of bridal programming, Wedding Central, Steve has appeared on TLC’s “Battle of the Wedding Planners” (he was declared the winner!) as well as ABC’s “Extreme Makeover Wedding Edition,” Style Network’s “Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?” and “Married Away.”
To top it all off, he has dished out delectable advice for throwing Hollywood-level bashes at home for E!’s Countdown to the Academy Awards, CBS’s The Early Show and Every Day with Rachael Ray magazine. Steve serves on the national board of NACE and has received over twenty-five industry accolades, including Event Solutions magazine Event Planner of the Year, the ISES International Volunteer of the Year award and the Meeting Professionals International Planner of the Year Award. In 2010, he was named to D Magazine’s exclusive “Dallas Dozen.” He has also been profiled by Modern Luxury Dallas and Texas Monthly magazines.
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