DALLAS — A little extra dazzle marked the Dallas Fashion Awards on Saturday night, including the star power of entertainer Vanessa Williams and an airy new venue in the Dallas Market Center.
The 31st edition of the event was held in the renovated lobby of the Trade Mart, which was spiffed up with a new terrazzo floor, fresh paint and trim. For the party, huge white sails rimmed the atrium, which offered cozy seating areas decorated with big clusters of red roses.
“It looks kind of fantastic,” said Ken Downing, fashion director of Neiman Marcus, and no slouch at party planning himself. “All this beautiful seating and the [koi] pond looks so nice.”
During the cocktail hour, DFA nominees and their guests mingled in the space, which was bathed in red light.
“I’m so proud to be here,” said Lisa Oswald, designer of Sorrelli, a finalist in the jewelry category and first-time guest at DFA. “Even to be nominated is an honor.”
For Jerry Kohl, owner of Brighton, the company’s record ninth nomination for accessories was merely a reflection of Brighton’s refusal to rest on its laurels.
“We just keep working hard,” Kohl said. “We take an order for one piece and smile.”
Williams presented the marquee trophy, the Fashion Excellence Award, to Carmen Marc Valvo, her favorite designer and a friend of 20 years.
“He has impeccable taste, whether it’s a short lace cocktail dress or an evening gown,” she told the audience of 700 guests. “I wear Carmen so much that when other celebrities come up and say. ‘Who are you wearing?’ I say, ‘It’s Carmen,’ and they say, ‘Of course, it’s Carmen.'”
Accepting the award, Valvo said, “I do believe I am truly a blessed individual because of the people who surround me in my life,” citing his staff and Neiman Marcus Group chairman Burt Tansky, Neiman’s president and chief executive officer; Karen Katz, and Downing. “Burt is not here tonight, but he said I should thank you all for coming.”
Katz, however, attended along with Ann Stordahl, Neiman’s senior vice president and general merchandise manager, to present the Personal Style Award to Joan Kaner, Neiman’s former fashion director, who has retired.
Related Articles
You May Also Like
“Joan’s got knowledge, impeccable taste and keen ability,” Stordahl said. “She nurtured designers and filled the closets of women everywhere.”
Katz added, “Joan has an amazing ability to always have an appropriate comment. When I asked Joan what to say after a disastrous fashion show, she looked me in the eyes and said, ‘Congratulations, you’ve done it again.'”
In her acceptance remarks, Kaner admitted she had flirted with the idea of becoming a designer — briefly.
“I said, ‘This is not me.’ Don’t give me a blank piece of paper. Give me two sketches and I’ll tell you which is better.”
Ever the tastemaker, Kaner couldn’t resist giving a little advice to the crowd.
“As far as personal style, just be yourself, be comfortable in what you do, choose things that are age appropriate and then relax,” she said. “It’s only a shell that covers you and your heart.”
The gala also featured the announcements of the winners of Dallas Fashion Awards in eight merchandise categories. In the contest, buyers vote for one of three nominees in each category that were selected by a panel of retailers, media and industry consultants.
“This is a big surprise to me,” said Tadashi Shoji, as he stepped to the podium to accept the After 5 prize for his Tadashi dress line. “I come from Japan as an immigrant…and I didn’t plan to get this award or to be a fashion designer, but it really worked for me.”
Other winners included Vivienne Tam for Contemporary; Free People for Casual Contemporary; Luisa Cerano for Bridge/Designer; Otazu for Jewelry; Sondra Roberts for Accessories; Haven Girl for Children’s Wear; and Karen Kane for Modern Wear, a term the DMC has trademarked to describe updated misses sportswear.