FOURTH TIME’S A CHARM: Oscar de la Renta is the only design house that has been featured four times at the Crystal Charity Ball luncheon and fashion show, the biggest annual event at Neiman Marcus’ flagship in downtown Dallas. On Friday, designer Peter Copping and company executives Alex and Eliza Bolen were on hand to present de la Renta’s resort collection to 480 guests seated in a white tent next to the store.
First, however, came a presentation of the 10 Best Dressed Women of Dallas – socially prominent figures who are in the charity’s exclusive membership of 100. All donned looks from Copping’s fall collection for the house.
“I really enjoyed seeing the 10 best-dressed women because that really brings it home,” Copping said. “You can sit in your studio and be designing all these great clothes, but to actually see who the women are who wear it – that is really interesting and a great learning curve.”
The honorees were Katherine Coker, Janie Condon, Heather Esping, Margaret Hancock, Pat Harloe, Julie Hawes, Ashley Hunt, Patty Leyendecker, Francie Moody Dahlberg and Christi Urschel. The charity also paid tribute to “Hall of Fame” honoree Sarah Perot and honorary chairman Ruth Altshuler, a nonagenarian fund-raising whiz who was the first woman to serve on the boards of many institutions.
Seated along the runway at the room’s most powerful and monied table were former First Lady Laura Bush (in vintage Oscar) with her friends Annette Simmons, Gene Jones, Nancy Dedman and Carol Poston.
“I love this city,” Copping said. “Just to be here today and meet all the fabulous women has been great.”
Separately, Jim Gold, president and chief merchandising officer of Neiman Marcus Group, expressed a similar sentiment.
“We love our Oscar business,” Gold said. “The clothes are beautiful. Women love them.”