Almost Tea Time
Ladies get all juiced up at the Mad Hatter's Tea Party kickoff
Photo by Dana Driensky
Photo by Dana Driensky
Photo by Dana Driensky
Photo by Dana Driensky
Photo by Dana Driensky
Photo by Steve Wrubel
Photo by Dana Driensky
Photo by Dana Driensky
Photo by Dana Driensky
It's never too soon for our city's social butterflies to think about springtime — especially with the anticipation of the Mad Hatter's Tea Party on April 11, 2013.
More than 100 ladies packed into Number One/Le Jus in Highland Park Village for dainty bites and juicy sips to kick off the 25th annual luncheon.
Co-chair Shay Geyer perused the room and chatted with guests about the upcoming fete, while fellow co-chair Maggie Kipp was out giving birth to her second daughter.
"This year's theme is Adventures in Time," Geyer told us. "I think I'll be wearing a hat with a roaring '20s twist, even though I can't win the hat contest. Last year, my hat weighed something like 20 pounds."
The annual event, which benefits the Women's Council of the Dallas Arboretum, is not your ordinary tea party. Ladies go all out with opulent hats — the prettiest made by local floral designer Shane Walker — and sophisticated dresses. And they drink a lot more than tea.
When the clock struck 7, Sue Ringle, president of the Women's Council, stepped up the stairs to introduce Geyer to the crowd of mad hatters — including Doris Jacobs, Yvonne Crum, Amy Vanderoef, Kersten Rettig, Karen Lukin, Tanya Foster, Nancy Lopez, Kathy Cothrum, Ramona Jones, Jennifer Bell, Pam Brock and Jocelyn White — and to thank Brian Bolke, co-owner of the new organic concept store and cafe.
Geyer expressed her gratitude to last year's luncheon chair, Carmaleta Whiteley — whom she called a "fairy godmother" — for serving as an advisor for this year's event.
"The biggest announcement is that our fashion sponsors [for the fashion show produced by Jan Strimple] are confirmed: Oscar de la Renta and Roberto Cavalli," Geyer said.
After recognizing honorary chair Patricia Brown Dedman, Geyer shared the following: The color scheme is pink, lime green, purple and turquoise; Ron Corning will be the emcee; Walker will do the floral designs; and Steve Kemble will give a surprise presentation.
If you're planning to attend the fete, these are the hat categories to help give you a head start:
- Most Whimsical: Roaring Twenties
- Most Outlandish: Wild, Wild West
- Most Elegant: Court of Versailles
- Most True to Theme: Back to the Future
- Gents Top Hats: Timeless
- Botanical: Adam and Eve
- Best of Show: 25th Anniversary
Purchase your tickets now, because attendance at the tea is capped at 500.
Ice skaters showed off their moves in the "Central Park" rink.Photo by Ashley Gongora
The Kilgore Rangerettes channeled the Radio City Rockettes.Photo by Ashley Gongora
Dessert included a cake that looked like a blue Tiffany box.Photo by Michael Merry