Reveal Party for the 38th Annual Mad Hatter’s Tea
(Featured photo: Anne Stodghill, Honorary Chair; Reagan Pace, Mad Hatter’s Tea Co-Chair; Paige Elliott, President, Women’s Council; Sheridan Reeder, Mad Hatter’s Tea Co-Chair.)
Mad Hatter’s Tea chairs Reagan Pace and Sheridan Reeder gave two clues about the upcoming tea’s theme in the invitation’s design featuring Andy Warhol’s pop art and location of the Reveal Party: The Meadows Museum at Southern Methodist University. Art!
Chaired by Kristen Kocis and Rosie Shahkarami, the event began as partygoers filled the room and enjoyed wine, champagne and hors d’oeuvres while discovering who was working on which committee and exchanging stories about past Mad Hatter’s events and speculating on the theme of the 2026 event.
When the time came for the big reveals, Reagan and Sheridan first thanked Kristen and Rosie for chairing this evening’s event and sponsors Vestals Catering, The T Shop Lakewood for the florals, Susie Kwiatkowski, Susie HK Fine Art for the original artwork and Beth Dunham, Dunham Designs for the logo design. As a big surprise, they revealed that Jan Strimple will be returning to produce the fashion show, as she has done for the past many years.
Then came the big reveal! The theme is The Art of the Garden. In keeping with the theme, the Hat Categories are:
* Masters of the Renaissance: The big three: Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Raphael. Characterized by realism and humanism with lifelike depictions of the natural world and human form.
* Cubism: Pablo Picasso, George Braque. Fragmented, geometric forms such as cubes, cones and spheres; multiple perspectives shown at once with limited color palettes and collage.
* Rococo: Fresh Flower Category: Fragonard, Watteau and Boucher. Frivolous, elaborate, ornamentation asymmetrical curves and pastel colors. A playful, lighthearted and whimsical style with elaborate ornamentation of natural elements.
* Surrealism: Salvador Dali, Joan Miro and Rene Magritte. Explores the subconscious and dreams, using illogical or bizarre imagery. Embracing the irrationality and channeling the power of the imagination.
* “The Impressionists”: Group Category: Claude Monet’s waterlilies and garden scenes, Renoir’s famous scenes of people enjoying leisurely activities. Degas’ beautiful ballerinas. Light, bright colors with an emphasis on ordinary subject matter.
* Pop Art: Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Claes Oldenburg. Use of imagery and techniques drawn from popular and commercial culture, challenging the boundaries between high and low art.
The chairs then had a final surprise to reveal, Anne Stodghill, a former Mad Hatter’s Tea co-chair and longtime Women’s Council supporter, was announced as honorary chair. Paige Elliott is president of the Women’s Council.
Everyone is encouraged to get tickets and tables now, as the event is sure to be another sell-out!
Secure your reservations and learn more about the Women’s Council of the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, membership benefits, trips, parties in private homes, garden tours and more at www.wcdabg.org
ABOUT THE WOMEN’S COUNCIL: Celebrating its 43rd Anniversary.
2025-2026 Theme: Rooted in Friendship – Blooming with Purpose focuses on the Women behind A Woman’s Garden, longstanding members and welcoming new women to our garden community in friendship, fundraising, and fun!
Since 1982 the major goal of the Women’s Council has been the design, construction, funding and endowment of A Woman’s Garden, a principal garden at the Dallas Arboretum. A Woman’s Garden is the only public garden in the United States conceived by women, funded by the efforts of women and dedicated to the spirit of women. Celebrating its 43rd year, the support of over 600 members of the Women’s Council makes possible the continued expansion and development of A Woman’s Garden. The Women’s Council is an all-volunteer, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. www.wcdabg.org
ABOUT A WOMAN’S GARDEN: Celebrating its 28th Anniversary.
A Woman’s Garden is the only public garden in the nation conceived, constructed and maintained by the funding efforts of women. Ablaze with color in every season, A Woman’s Garden sits majestically as a living testament to the passion and vision of the Women’s Council founders and the boundless energy and devotion of its members whose commitment to creating a garden dedicated to the universal spirit of women across generations is realized in its inspired design. Our beautiful garden celebrates the power, creativity, resourcefulness, passion and unwavering commitment of the women who came before us and those entrusted with its care now, and into the future.
*Photos by Rob Wythe/Wythe Portrait Studio
(Sharon Adams, Adams Communications Public Relations, is honored to represent the Women’s Council of the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden and their special events and announcements and post this Philanthropy Lifestyles Scene.)
