Mad Hatter’s Tea was a Suite of Artistic Fantasy, Couture Fashions and a Cornucopia of Hat Designs Celebrating The Art of the Garden
Benefiting the Women’s Council of the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden and A Woman’s Garden
(Featured photo: Sheridan Reeder, Chair; Paige Elliott, 2025-2026 President, Women’s Council; Reagan Pace, Chair.)
Never an event described as quiet and shy, Mad Hatter’s Tea is one of the most anticipated events of the spring, held at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden amongst glorious displays of springtime flowers and benefiting the Women’s Council of the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden (WCDABG) and A Woman’s Garden.
Once the Kick-Off Party is announced, the buzz starts as everyone secures their tables and begins planning their fashion statements, including elegant, sophisticated and sometimes outrageous chapeaux.
Themed The Art of the Garden, patrons were encouraged to draw inspiration from all genres of art, resulting in a spirited and lively display of hats and fashion statements that wow’ed spectators and participants alike. As it so happened, the celebration was surrounded by Hunt Slonem’s first large-scale exhibit, Bunnies, Birds & Butterflies, which had just been installed earlier in the week.
Chaired by the dynamic team of Reagan Pace and Sheridan Reeder, with Anne Stodghill as Honorary Chair, the morning was beautiful as the rain had let up the day before, clouds cleared, and the sun peeked out revealing the perfect day for the al fresco champagne reception and fashion show.
As DJ Lucy Wrubel spun tunes, hat judges Capera Ryan, Hannah Fagadau Kaye, Eliot Whittall, Dr. Nicole R. Myers, John Sughrue, and Sharon Lee Clark, strolled the grounds of A Tasteful Place and the reception in Ginsburg Plaza eyeing the fantastical creations for prizes to be presented after the fashion show.
A fanciful sight greeted guests as hundreds of white chairs were placed in rows along the gardens, topped with colorful parasols, offering a personal touch of shade. Esé Azénabor was honored as the featured designer, bringing her signature couture craftsmanship and statement-making aesthetic to the afternoon in an eye-popping, elegant and fun fashion show produced by the renowned Jan Strimple. Beginning with couture for the younger set, the fashion show was stunning, showcasing formal and fun fashions for all ages.
Paige Elliott, Women’s Council President said, “The weather and the hats did not disappoint for the WCDABG annual Mad Hatters event at the Dallas Arboretum. Overheard were comments about the outdoor fashion show being the BEST in Dallas and that Ese’s apparel were truly works of art! This all ties to this year’s theme of The Art of the Garden, co-chaired by the ever-amazing Sheridan and Reagan.”
After the fashion show, everyone gathered in Ginsburg Plaza for announcements of the hat judging winners. The chairs agreed saying, “For our theme this year, we decided to pay tribute to the Dallas Arts Community including our first-class museums, local artists, the Dallas Art Fair and the burgeoning gallery scene.”
The winners were:
- Italian Masters: Debbie Murray (“classical creations,” judged by Capera Ryan)
- Impressionists: Katie Kennemer’s group, D&M Leasing, (“best group category,” judged by Nicole Myers)
- Surrealism: Elizabeth Smith (“over the top creations,” judged by Sharon Lee Clarke)
- Rococo: Sarah Ring (“best use of live botanicals,” judged by Eliot Whittall)
- Cubism: Allison Brodnax’s group (“monochromatic geometry,” judged by Hannah Fagadau Kaye)
- Pop Art: Erin Jett (“brightly colored tribute to pop culture,” judged by John Sughrue)
- And to top it all off, The Inaugural Carole Ann Brown Best in Show: Prashe Shah (judged by Honorary Chair Anne Stodghill). The late Carole Ann Brown was founder of and chaired the very first Mad Hatter’s Tea in 1989. A dedicated leader, she received the 2022 Legacy Leadership Award and served as honorary chair for the 2021 Mad Hatter’s Tea. Her hard work was central to fundraising for A Woman’s Garden.
As the chimes rang, everyone took their seats inside Rosine Hall and A Tasteful Place, where the beautiful tables were preset with fanciful flowered place-settings and garden-style pressed glasses, all topped off with green moss-covered vases full of fresh floral arrangements of colorful hydrangeas, roses, ivy and more. Luncheon began with a Signature Spring Salad and followed with a tip-of-the-hat to one of the most favorite lunches in Dallas, Neiman Marcus-inspired popovers with strawberry butter, Mandarin orange gelatin, chicken salad, pimento cheese sandwich and a pasta Greek salad, followed by an delicious mouth-watering individual carrot cake with decadent cream cheese frosting.
Sponsors included: Fashion Show: Esé Azénabor; Décor: Gro; Patron Party: Anne and Steve Stodghill; Production: Headington Companies; Floral: T Shop; Tablescape: Tablepop; Wine: Adair Family Wines; Valet: Avondale; Photo Booth: Venise Stuart and the late Lisa Meyer; Registration: Saville CPA; Specialty Drink: Nicole and Paul Devlin; Media: Modern Luxury Dallas and My Sweet Charity; Gift Bag, Eataly; Beauty: About Face Pros.
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 Thomas Garza and 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 special events and announcements, including this event, and post this Philanthropy Lifestyles Scene.)
