A Night of Stars

Zac Posen and fellow fashion stars shine at FGI of Dallas' grand gala

Fashion Group International of Dallas’ A Night of Stars Gala was precisely that: a star-studded affair at Fashion Industry Gallery. In particular, guests were smitten with designer Zac Posen, the Career Achievement in Fashion award recipient who won over everyone in town with his charm.

The venue sparkled a bit more than usual, in honor of FGI of Dallas’ 65th anniversary. Well-heeled attendees headed up the stairs to find a space suited for this hybrid event that included a seated dinner, runway show and awards presentations. Event chair Katy Messersmith Maddox, keeping in mind Posen’s fancy for fab flowers, enlisted Posh Floral to fill the space with his favorite jewel tones.

After a champagne reception, FGI of Dallas regional director Chuck Steelman welcomed everyone, who then settled in for a seated dinner and elaborate runway show featuring Posen’s designs. Once the fashion presentation concluded, it was time for the most important part of the evening: celebrating this year’s award winners.

Event emcee Emma Bell of Dallas fame introduced the presenters one by one: Neiman Marcus fashion director Ken Downing presented Posen with his Career Achievement in Fashion award; Lisa Dawson accepted her Career Achievement in Business honor from Chandra North; Cindy Rachofsky bestowed the Career Achievement in Event Design award to Todd Fiscus; Peter Doroshenko presented Nancy C. Rogers with Art Patron of the Year; and Linda Gray received the Lifetime Achievement award from Ron Corning.

Proceeds from the event fund FGI of Dallas’ foundation scholarships. With that in mind, supporters — including Nasiba Adilova, Renée Rouleau, Brian Bolke, Nha Khanh and Elizabeth Anyaa — made sure to hit the silent auction.

FGI of Dallas is part of Fashion Group International, a global, nonprofit, professional organization with more than 6,000 members representing all areas of the fashion industry. FGI provides a high-profile forum to promote the fashion business by hosting events that educate and facilitate the exchange of ideas by giving back to the community.

A runway show featured looks from honoree Zac Posen.

Photo by John Strange

A runway show featured looks from honoree Zac Posen.

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Matcha News

Dallas TikTok star Keith Lee crafts matcha drink for flood relief

Instagram

Keith Lee hoists his special matcha drink.

The devastating floods that swept across Central Texas on July 4 are bringing out all kinds of charitable endeavors — and that includes a limited-edition beverage from Dallas' favorite TikTok food influencer Keith Lee.

Lee, a social media sensation whose online food reviews have benefited hundreds of small restaurants, is partnering with Dallas-based La La Land Cafe on a special drink: Called the La La Land X Keith Lee Latte, it's a matcha drink in which 100 percent of the proceeds will go towards Kerr County flood relief.

La La Land is the coffee chain founded in Dallas in 2019 with a mission to provide opportunities for fostering youth and individuals in need. It now has 10 locations across Dallas-Fort Worth, plus three in Houston and six in Southern California.

The new Keith Lee Latte will consist of double ceremonial matcha, with secret syrup, matcha cloud, a whole fresh strawberry, flaky salt, and matcha powder. (Lee can be seen enjoying the beverage in this video.)

Matcha is the Japanese green tea powder that has experienced a surge in popularity, appearing in everything from drinks like the matcha latte to desserts like matcha mousse.

Keith Lee Latte is a matcha drink.Instagram

Lee, who relocated to Dallas in 2024, has been on a matcha kick ever since he tried it in Chicago, which he says "led me down a rabbit hole," and it has become his trademark drink. In May, he visited seven cafes across DFW in search of the perfect matcha in town, and that included La La Land, where he ordered a matcha with almond milk.

He also has a charitable history, including a special visit he made to Taste Project in Fort Worth to donate $4,000 to support the nonprofit's mission to fight food insecurity.

The Keith Lee Latte will be available at all La La Land cafes beginning Friday July 11, for a limited time only. From July 11-27, 100 percent of all proceeds will support flood relief efforts in Kerr County - "a community in our home state that’s hurting," La La Land Cafe says.

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