photos c/o Shana Anderson and Thomas Garza PhotographyOn November 4, Fashion Industry Gallery was the setting for an evening of glitz and high-glamour when the industry elite of Dallas fashion gathered to pay homage to those who have put – and continue to keep – Dallas on the world fashion scene. Fashion Group International of Dallas (FGI Dallas) hosted their annual Night of Stars gala and honored a select few for high achievements in art, fashion, jewelry design, and interior design. This year the gala co-chairs were Rachel Roberts and Britt Harless. Chuck Steelman was honored for the 3 years he served as Regional Director. Incoming Regional Director, Ken Weber, will lead FGI of Dallas beginning in 2017. Guests were greeted with champagne as they passed through a formal English garden which included live foliage and real flowers. Models posed in the garden wearing the Monique Lhuillier Spring 2017 collection. Dallas native, actor, and former fashion model, Greg Vaughn, emceed the event.
Fashion designer, Monique Lhuillier, was honored with the Career Achievement in Fashion award for her work in fashion. Lhuillier is recognized for her exquisite work in women’s eveningwear, particularly, bridal fashion. The iconic model, television star and actress, Jerry Hall, was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award. She was raised in a Dallas suburb and left home at the age of 21 to pursue a modeling career in New York City. By 1977, Hall had been on the cover of magazines like Italian Vogue and Cosmopolitan. As her modeling career took off, Hall expanded into acting and appeared in movies like Urban Cowboy (1980), and Batman (1989) - not to mention her 20+ years with The Rolling Stones, Mick Jagger. Jerry brought along her new husband, Rupert Murdoch, and he was utterly charming. Allan Knight (who killed it in a hot pink jacket) received the Career Achievement in Interior/Furniture Design award, Sue Gragg was bestowed the Career Achievement in Jewelry Design, and the award for Art Patron of the Year was Lynn McBee.
During the “Fund A Scholarship” portion of the evening, Nancy Rogers, philanthropist and past FGI of Dallas honoree, generously matched up to $100,000 raised by guests for a grand total over $200,000. Hands shot up around the room accepting Nancy's challenge, including Heidi Dillon's who donated $7500 on behalf of The Fashionistas. This year’s gala broke the record for scholarship money raised at any Night of Stars, and will be presented to students during the FGI scholarship competition in April 2017. With the additional funding, FGI of Dallas is considering an endowment or additional fashion scholarship program for one of the local universities.
The event is FGI Dallas’ largest fundraiser of the year and proceeds from the event fund FGI Dallas’ foundation scholarships. This year marks the 67th year of Fashion Group International of Dallas (FGI Dallas). FGI Dallas is part of Fashion Group International, Inc., a global, non-profit, professional organization with more than 6,000 members representing all areas of the fashion industry. Fashion Group International, Inc. provides a high-profile forum to promote the fashion business by hosting events that educate and facilitate the exchange of ideas by giving back to the community. For more information about FGI Dallas visit http://dallas.fgi.org/.
