Fashionable Fundraising

Well-heeled Dallasites pop up to party ahead of glamorous gala-auction

Glamorous Dallasites have had Two x Two for AIDS and Art circled on their calendars for months. The annual Rachofsky House benefit for amfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research, and the Dallas Museum of Art is one of the most anticipated society events of fall.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the starry gala dinner and contemporary art auction. While the October 27 extravaganza is already sold out, a number of run-up events this fall are helping to mark the momentous occasion.

Pop-up shop at Forty Five Ten
Dallas-based retailer Forty Five Ten has opened a pop-up shop celebrating the event's 20th anniversary, and stylish shoppers turned out to welcome its arrival.

On September 19, Two x Two founders Cindy and Howard Rachofsky hosted a pop-up event preview party at Forty Five Ten, where they enjoyed passed bites from The Joule, Cindy’s Margarita with Casa Dragones’ Blanco Tequila, and music by DJ Lucy Wrubel.

Well-heeled attendees included Jessica Nowitzki, Nasiba and Thomas Hartland-Mackie, Brian Bolke and Faisal Halum, Rob Dailey, Jeny Bania, Suzanne and David Droese, Cindy Ferris, Meghan Looney, Lisa and John Runyon, along with Joe Cole and Forty Five Ten’s president and chief creative officer Kristen Cole.

The pop-up shop carries exclusive designer brands who have donated a range of signature pieces and will be open through October 27 at the flagship, 1615 Main St., Dallas. (Items are also available on the amfAR site.)

“Over our 20 years, we have been extraordinarily blessed with the support of so many designers, luxury brands, and generous supporters," says Cindy Rachofsky in a release. "Along with our sponsor Forty Five Ten, we wanted to celebrate this special anniversary and provide a one-of-a-kind shopping experience commemorating our milestone.”

Among the pop-up shop highlights is a series of limited-edition T-shirts designed by some of the fashion industry’s leading names, each retailing for $200. The designers include Rosie Assoulin, Aquazurra, Alberta Feretti, Prabal Gurung, Mary Katrantzou, Derek Lam, Adam Lippes, Peter Pilotto, Lela Rose, Proenza Schouler, Jeremy Scott for Moschino, Carine Roitfeld, Christian Siriano, Emilia Wickstead, and David Yurman.

Notable brands also have donated signature pieces, such as a set of sipping tequila glassware and a margarita glass from Casa Dragones; special edition handbags from Nancy Gonzalez; and a custom diamond necklace with a child’s name from Sue Gragg Precious Jewels.

Coffee table book
To mark the 20th anniversary, the Dallas Museum of Art has published TWO x TWO x TWENTY: Two Decades Supporting Contemporary Art at the Dallas Museum of Art. The book celebrates 20 years of significant contemporary art acquisitions and exhibitions made possible by proceeds from the Two x Two for AIDS and Art auction.

The book includes a look at the works the museum has acquired thanks to Two x Two, as well as an essay by Anna Katherine Brodbeck, The Nancy and Tim Hanley associate curator of contemporary art, chronicling the auction’s history and impact on the Museum and the Dallas arts community.

The book retails for $55 at the Forty Five Ten pop-up shop, and in October, will be available at the DMA Store.

Two x Two First Look Party
The gala may be sold out, but organizers say there are still tickets available to the First Look Party, which takes place October 25 at the Rachofsky House. Attire is "white hot" for this, the most famous preview party in Dallas. Guests will sip cocktails, sample cuisine, and peruse the year's featured artworks. (Artist Dana Schutz will be the honored artist at the gala.)

For those who absolutely can't wait to be surprised, the art auction catalog is now online. "Own it Now" bidding begins October 19.

Since its inception,Two x Two for AIDS and Art has raised over $75 million in support of amfAR’s essential AIDS research initiatives and the Dallas Museum of Art’s Contemporary Art Acquisitions Fund. To date, more than 260 works of art have been acquired by the Dallas Museum of Art with proceeds from Two x Two.

Cindy Rachofsky, Jessica Nowitzki

Photo by Bruno

Cindy Rachofsky, Jessica Nowitzki

shopping fundraisers

Shopping News

Where to shop in Dallas right now: 6 new stores to check out for June

LoveShackFancy

LoveShackFancy and Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders collaboration.

The June edition of Where to Shop, CultureMap Dallas ' monthly roundup of new shops and hot sales has a little of everything: buzzy new designer boutique, museum shop, thrift store, and furniture boutique that graduated from online to brick-and-mortar. There's also a new cheerleaders collection and a major tile sale.

Here's where to shop in Dallas for June 2025:

Billy Reid
Texas fashion designer has opened a boutique in Dallas at 1902 N. Henderson Ave., in the former Knot Standard space. Reid is known for his carefully crafted clothing and accessories embodying lived-in luxury, with high-quality fabrics and unexpected detailing. Reid says that the space will allow them to combine their main collection and custom clothing efforts under one roof. They carry men’s and women’s clothing, including men’s polos and trousers, dresses, blazers, plus travel bags, belts, and cotton twill ball caps.

Casa Bella Decor
Luxury home furniture boutique is now open in Melissa at 3210 Milrany Ln. #300. After eight years as an online store, this is the brand's first physical showroom with items like bedding, chairs, patio furniture, and nightstands. They carry home goods and furniture brands such as Barefoot Dream, Farmhouse Fresh, Rowe Furniture, and Voluspa Candles. There are also complimentary design consultations available.

Daltile
Dallas-based company — the largest manufacturer and marketer of tile in the U.S. — has launched a summer sale highlighting "Made in the USA" products with up to 40 percent off American-made tile collections on 36 lines ranging from ultra-trendy Artcrafted colored glass tiles to the wood look of Acreage to the convincing faux marble of Marble Attache. Daltile products are distributed through 260-plus company-owned sales service centers, stone slab yards, design studios, and independent flooring retailers, searchable online. The sale runs through August 31.

Frontiers of Flight Museum store Thomas Garza

Frontiers of Flight Museum store
There's a museum store now open inside Frontiers of Flight Museum, at 6911 Lemmon Ave. near Dallas Love Field. The store is a 1,400-square-foot space with Frontiers of Flight merchandise, interactive STEM kits, aviation-themed books, art prints, and toys, plus candles, apparel, and jewelry from local makers chosen to reflect the innovation that defines the museum. Located right inside the museum’s lobby, it's open to the public, no ticket required.

Goodwill Carrollton
Goodwill's newest location is a state-of-the-art store and donation drop-off center which opened on June 5 in a former Big Lots. This store is the non-profit's 19th location in its eight-county service area and represents Goodwill's mission-integrated social enterprise that is dedicated to helping people with barriers recognize and reach their full potential through the power of a job.

LoveShackFancy
Cotton Incorporated and LoveShackFancy have partnered with the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders on an "America's Sweetheart" all-cotton 28-piece collection featuring frilly print and gingham sundresses, American flag sweatshirts, and a line of skirts, dresses, and tops embroidered with cherries. The brands will host a tailgate party at LoveShackFancy’s Dallas boutique (at 29 Highland Park Village) on June 21, that includes a meet & greet with two of the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders.

museums openings where to shop