From Paris to the world

Dior's Dallas debut dazzles with luxurious lunch and posh preview

A magnificent Monday in May yielded spring sunshine and perfect temperatures for what was perhaps the luncheon of the year at the Dallas Museum of Art.

In celebration of the museum's highly anticipated special showing of Dior: From Paris to the World, Gene Jones, Charlotte Jones Anderson, and Jordan Jones chaired a magnificent ambassadors' luncheon. Per usual, the elegant affair would not have been possible without the guidance of Dallas' godmother of fashion and philanthropy, Nancy C. Rogers, who served as honorary chair.

Before lunch, guests were guided through a sneak peek of the exhibition, which surveys more than 70 years of the House of Dior's legacy. Champagne in hand, attendees took in over 200 haute couture dresses, accessories, photographs, videos, and sketches.

Glamorous guests — most of whom were wearing Dior themselves — included former first lady Laura Bush, Cindy Rachofsky, Deedie Rose, Jennifer Eagle, Rusty Duvall, Ann Hobson, Brian Bolke, Lisa Cooley, Shonn Brown, Tracy Lange, Kara and Randall Goss, Céron, Nasiba Hartland-Mackie, Regen Horchow Fearon, and more.

When the lunch bell sounded, attendees took their seats and enjoyed the sweet smells of the fresh, pink peonies and the thousands of other flowers that embellished the room. The most impressive arrangement adorned entrance to the Hamon Atrium; it was a floral canopy that looked so perfect, many had to touch it to ensure that it was, in fact, the real deal. The arrangements were the work of Todd Fiscus, who proved yet again why he's the king of floral in Dallas.

During the delicious lunch, prepared by Cassandra's Fine Catering, guests heard from a variety of speakers. They included the Eugene McDermott Director of the DMA Agustín Arteaga; Gene Jones; DMA board president Catherine Marcus Rose; Florence Müller, organizing curator of the exhibition; and Stephen Jones, milliner for the House of Dior. Müller and Jones spoke to the group about the seven-decade history of design at the House of Dior, which included Jones’ personal experience designing hats for Dior, as well as for the current exhibition.

The Dior: From Paris to the World exhibition at the Dallas Museum of Art is now open and runs through September 1. Tickets start at $20, and DMA members can reserve their tickets for free online.

Jordan Jones, Gene Jones, Charlotte Jones Anderson

Photo by Tamytha Cameron Smith

Jordan Jones, Gene Jones, Charlotte Jones Anderson

luncheons museums

Fundraising fun

Dallas’ Night at the Museum gala brings in $2M for Perot programs

Photo by Tamytha Cameron

Santiago Jorba, Catalina Gonzalez

On Saturday, November 8, the Perot Museum of Nature and Science opened its doors, after hours, for one of Dallas’ most anticipated galas of fall: Night at the Museum.

Photo by Tamytha Cameron

Santiago Jorba, Catalina Gonzalez

Led by co-chairs Shelly and Michael Dee in honor of Sally and Forrest Hoglund, the 2025 Night at the Museum immersed guests in a science-y wonderland of interactive exhibits, fun cocktails, unique cuisine, and more.

Guests agreed: The couldn't-miss highlight of the evening was the 10-Minute Restaurant, which transformed the museum gift shop into a five-star culinary adventure by Wolfgang Puck Catering, reminiscent of how they serve celebrities at the Oscars. Amid all the night's action, it was a great way to sneak in a quick bite and some one-on-one time with a date in a VIP-like setting.

Attendees also noshed from a Living Crudité Bar, an Off the Bone beef station, a paella station, enjoyed "roaming tiramisu," and stopped servers in their tracks for the famous Night at the Museum pot pies. No one went thirsty, either, as guests sipped creative cocktails like Sorbete de Sangria de Cava and the sparkling “Aqua Pearl,” enjoyed a 196 Vodka Seltzer Bar, and a refueled at a coffee cart that opened at the after-party.

Guests got to dig like paleontologists at the Paleo Lab, ooh and ahh at the sparking Aquamarine on the display in the Lyda Hill Gems and Minerals Hall, and learn all about little creepy-crawlies in the Bug Lab Exhibit. Another favorite activity was the Iris Photography, which turned photos of the human eye into works of art.

In total, the crowd of "after-hours scientists" raised $2 million to help fund field trips, outreach, discounted admission and memberships to the Perot, and more.

Among the notable attendees were Margot Perot, Dr. Linda Silver, Marilynn Thoma, Carl Thoma, Santiago Jorba, Catalina Gonzalez, David and Mary Henderson, Katie and Jerome Rose, Lyda Hill, Cade McCarter, DeWitt McCarter, Kelly Compton, Kenna McCarter, John Sughrue, Marlene Sughrue, Kate and Steve Sigfusson, Kristina Kirkenaer-Hart, Grace Cook, Laura Compton, Angus Mitchell, Rachel Mitchell, Martine and Michael Philippe, and many more patrons and supporters.

museums fundraisers galas