DALLAS — Though it starts at 10:30 a.m. at Neiman Marcus’ downtown flagship, the Crystal Charity Ball’s Ten Best Dressed Women of Dallas Fashion Show and Luncheon always resembles a cocktail party.
Sequins, feathers, brocade, metallic bouclé, satin and a profusion of fancy florals adorned the crowd of 550 guests on Thursday at the 50th annual fundraiser, with many sporting looks by featured house Oscar de la Renta.
Lisa and Clay Cooley. Photo by Tabytha Cameron/Courtesy
“This is one of my favorite events in Dallas because it’s like going to an art gallery,” said Caroline Snell Wagner, a second-generation member of the charity who recalled she thought the extravagant morning garb was “crazy” when she first witnessed it as a 10-year-old.
Neiman Marcus has hosted the event every year except for the first in 1974, when long-gone specialty store Lou Lattimore presented the show, and in 2020, when it was canceled due to the pandemic.
“Crystal Charity is our longest-standing philanthropic partner,” Neiman’s president Ryan Ross told WWD. “We are very close with all of the individuals who are part of Crystal Charity. We work with them year round, not just for this event.”
Established in 1952 to benefit local children’s causes, the nonprofit relies on 100 well-heeled volunteer women to achieve a fundraising goal in time for its annual gala on the first Saturday in December. This year’s target is $7,093,665, and the luncheon will contribute more than $1 million, according to event chair Kim Hext.
Many of the city’s most prominent families are supporters, and the luncheon routinely attracts billionaires Gene Jones and her daughter, Charlotte; Nancy Rogers, and Annette Simmons, who sat with former First Lady Laura Bush.
Charlotte Jones introduced each of the women named “best dressed” and described their philanthropic roles as they took a turn on the runway escorted by a male model in a black suit. They and Lisa Cooley, who was named to the charity’s Hall of Fame for having made the list three times, all wore de la Renta.
The brand presented the runway show for a record sixth time, displaying its pre-spring 2025 collection by co-creative directors Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia.
“It’s a very different environment from New York where women really celebrate,” Kim told WWD. “I love it. It’s happier and more fun.”
Fall business is off to a good start, Ross said.
“We’re very happy with the way it’s being delivered, and the customer is responding positively to the new fall fashions,” he said. “We want to make sure that what we have in all the stores and online is what we know is going to sell and be the bestsellers throughout the season.”
Top trends are leopard — “a neutral at Neiman’s” — shades of wine and burgundy and feminine styles with sheerness, feathers and embellishments, added vice president of luxury Jodi Kahn.
“Our customers will of course come to us for Brunello Cucinelli, Akris, Oscar de la Renta, Carolina Herrera and all the big brands, but it’s important for us to note that we also have a focus on emerging brands as well,” she said, citing Zankov, Diotima and Marques Almeida.
De la Renta president Alex Bolen stayed in New York due to recent surgery for a torn meniscus but said by phone that the company would headline the luncheon every year if it were invited.
“We love supporting children’s charities in particular, but as a business matter we love opportunities to present our latest design ideas right to the customers and get their reactions and feedback,” Bolen said. “We want to hear what people need to lead their lives, and this is a particularly well-dressed group to show it to.”