What: Fashion Group International of Dallas Night of Stars Gala
Where: Adolphus Hotel
The 411: Celebrating its 70th year, FGI of Dallas hosted a glittering evening of fashion and glamour at its annual gala honoring bright stars of fashion.
This year, legendary fashion and costume designer Bob Mackie accepted the Lifetime Achievement award from FGI. Veronica Swanson Beard and Veronica Miele Beard of beloved ready-to-wear line Veronica Beard received the Career Achievement in Fashion award; Sandra Moon was named Art Patron of the Year; John Terlingo received the award for Career Achievement in Business; and actress and Dallas native Angie Harmon was lauded for Career Achievement in Entertainment.
Cameron Silver — vintage fashion expert, author, and fashion director of the Halston brand — emceed the evening, which was chaired by Victoria Snee. Chuck Steelman served as honorary chair, and Holly Quartaro and Rhonda Sargent Chambers represented as regional co-directors of FGI of Dallas.
Upon arrival, guests enjoyed a full bar, where models posed during the cocktail hour wearing the Veronica Beard resort 2020 collection. Exhibits featuring the FGI 2019 Rising Star Awards and the 2019 FGI Scholarship Competition added to the ambiance.
Following a multicourse dinner, the awards presentation included some very touching, poignant (and in some cases, hysterical) commentary by presenters and honorees. The evening ended with a spectacular runway presentation showcasing some of Mackie’s most glamorous archived fashions. For more than a decade, Mackie designed costumes for "The Carol Burnett Show," where he met his most famous future client, Cher. She's worn thousands of his designs since, including some of her most famous red carpet, video, and concert looks.
The presentation was directed by the designer's long-time friend and muse, Dallas fashion producer Jan Strimple, who also presented his award.
FGI Dallas is part of Fashion Group International, Inc., a global, nonprofit, professional organization with more than 6,000 members representing all areas of the fashion industry.
Who: Neiman Marcus CEO Geoffrey Van Raemdonck, Days of our Lives star (and Harmon's fiancé) Greg Vaughn, Dallasites Muffin Lemak, Lynn McBee, Claire Emanuelson, Hamilton Sneed, Alison Volk, Amber LaFrance, and Giselle Roman.
Angie Harmon, Greg Vaughn
Natalie Boerder, Kaleta Blaffer-Johnson, Meredith Connally, Jennifer Cifuentes, Nathalie Barrera, Hayden Hrncir.Photo by Rob Wythe/Wythe Portrait Studio
A quartet played Rodgers and Hammerstein tunes during dinner. Photo by Rob Wythe/Wythe Portrait Studio