The Plaza at Preston Center felt especially fashionable on October 20, when social butterflies gathered for the 2016 Stylemaker Awards reveal party at Tootsies. First on the agenda: Get photo snapped at the step-and-repeat to memorialize the evening when CultureMap and partner Plaza celebrated the six most fashionable men and women in Dallas.
This year’s finalists — Mark Deuber, Shay Geyer, Chris Hite, Ekaterina Kouznetsova, Brittanie Buchanan Oleniczak, and Guillermo Tragant — were asked to show off their styling skills by creating two looks using clothing and accessories from Plaza retailers. Both looks, jet-set chic and signature style, were presented on mannequins throughout the store.
Once inside, guests — including Cynthia Colver, Susan Barrett, Joel Zandstra, Kate Zandstra, Misty Incontrera, Lindsay Weatherread, Tiffany Eubanks, Jim DiMarino, Jon Hodge, Lela Orr, and Samuel Michalak — sampled bites from Plaza restaurants True Food Kitchen, Taco Diner, and Sprinkles while checking out each finalist’s work.
Revelers got makeup touch-ups by Benefit Cosmetics — then hit the photo booth, courtesy of Social Light, for more party pics. They also had oh-so-stylish watercolor portraits done at the Betchy Sketch station, sampled whiskey from Woodford Reserve, shopped the B. Stellar jewelry trunk show, and browsed candles from Plaza newcomer Society.
As the time drew near to reveal the winners, CultureMap network editor-in-chief Jennifer Chininis introduced the finalists to the crowd.
To reach the finals, the contestants, nominated by the public and CultureMap editors, survived two rounds of voting. In addition to Chininis and yours truly, on the judging panel were 2015 readers’ choice winner Javier Burkle, 2015 editors’ choice winner Nancy Koen, and 2015 finalist Julian Leaver. The judges not only determined the 12 semifinalists, but they also selected the editors’ choice winner during the party.
J. Hilburn stylist and senior managing partner Chris Hite ran away with the popular vote, earning the 2016 Stylemaker Awards readers’ choice title. Richards Lerma creative director/principal Guillermo Tragant was editors’ choice.
Tragant’s winning looks included a standout plaid-skirt-white-blouse combo from Double R, paired with a colorful fur stole and haute hat from Calypso St. Barth. He even pulled colorful dog collars from Lucky Dog Barkery to use as necklaces (!).
Hite stuck with two men’s outfits, both from Pockets and equally dashing. Watches from Bachendorf’s, a bag and bracelet from Orvis, and peepers from Occhiali Modern Optics finished off the looks.
Though he didn’t win, Mark Deuber received his fair share of attention, because he and wife Cary — whom he likes to dress, and he does it so well — were followed around by a film crew for the Real Housewives of Dallas. Joining them at the party were fellow RHOD stars Stephanie and Travis Hollman, and newcomer D’Andra Simmons Locke.
As the evening wound down, guests congratulated the finalists one last time and headed off with swag bags full of goodies from Sprinkles, Society, Mel Crews, Kendra Scott, Kid Biz, Benefit, Lucky Dog Barkery, and more.
Cortney Bailey, LaShell Nelson
