Never too chic
Ballet dancers-turned-runway models dazzle at the Tutu-Chic Fashion Show andLuncheon
More than 300 ladies waltzed through the lobby of the Winspear Opera House with bubbly in hand for the Tutu-Chic Fashion Show and Luncheon. Like the natural progression of our city's social events, the third annual fete was even more elegant than years past.
When the doors opened, guests — including Teffy Jacobs, Doris Jacobs, Lynn McBee, Barbara Daseke, Linda Ivy, Carmaleta Whiteley, Nancy Carlson, Elaine Agather, Olivia Kearney and Tanya Foster — made their way to the main stage, where rows of chairs were set around a platform runway.
Texas Ballet Theater managing director Margo McCann recognized chairs Paige Slates, Alicia Wood, Kristi Hoyl and Daffan Nettle and talked about the memorable peanut butter and jelly sandwiches at the Sugar Plum Fairy Tea. Then she announced 2013 chairs Kathryn Beach, Meg McGonigle and Merry Wyatt before thanking Crawford Brock of Stanley Korshak for his support.
Bret McKinney of Stanley Korshak stayed behind the scenes to style the ballerinas from TBT, who shed their usual tutus and sparkly leotards in favor of designer looks by KaufmanFranco, Valentino, Michael Kors, Fendi, Haute Hippie, Lanvin, Ralph Lauren, Veronica Beard, Cynthia Vincent, Missoni and Donna Karan. Adorable male dancers, in black tees and jeans, accompanied the girls who did pirouettes and arabesques wearing gowns, heels, flowing tops, sequins and silk.
After an hour of admiring the beautiful clothing and reminiscing on our dancing days, Brock and McCann took the stage. "Every time I come here it touches my heart to see the dancers — and I prefer this a lot more to the other models," Brock said.
He thanked Ken Kaufman and Issac Franco,of KaufmanFranco, for flying in for the fashion event. Brock donated a $2,500 gift card to Korshak, which was sold — in minutes — during a mini-live auction. He also asked the audience to give a donation for dancers to buy a season's worth of pointe shoes, and the enlightened guests did not hesitate.
To top off the noontime fete, attendees sat down for a light lunch with tomato basil soup, spinach quiche and chocolate decadence. This was one "too too chic" way of getting us ready for the holiday season.