Rob Giardinelli
60’s-inspired Attire & Set Design Enhances The Vintage Mood
By Rob Giardinelli Photography by Jeff Loftin
THE SCENE: The Four Seasons in downtown Austin was the setting for an elegant, fantastic night of fun and fundraising. Over 300 of the area’s most notable community leaders, medical advocates, sociables, and philanthropists for the Imagine A Way Gala. This year’s event theme, Mad Money for a Mission, was inspired by the iconic, mid-century period drama Mad Men. The result was a night of mad fun that those fortunate enough to be a part of will not soon forget.
THE VIBE: The 60’s chic-attire crowd featured an elegant mix of cocktail and formal attire. In the crowd, one could find a mix of polka dots, A-lined skirts, pillbox hats, and thin ties that perfectly complemented others who opted to don current looks. The result was a beautiful tapestry from the second they arrived to one of the grandest entrances to a gala in recent memory.
Heads Or Tails
Check-in was transformed into a 1960s secretarial pool, where women wearing vintage attire sat at 1960s metal desks to receive their seating assignments. From there, they were led down the Four Seasons corridor elevator doors and a doorman welcoming guests to Sterling Cooper, the original name of the iconic Mad Men advertising firm.
Once inside, guests had the opportunity to take a photo in one of two photo installations. The first was in front of a 1960s-inspired bar with cocktails adorning the background. The second was a photo booth where patrons could sit at Don Draper’s desk for the ultimate vintage photo opp.
After commemorating their evening with images, revelers enjoyed a lively cocktail hour. Guests grabbed their favorite spirit, with many opting for a classic shaken martini from the 1960s. Guests mingled while perusing an impressive silent auction, where the items were beautifully displayed atop open 1960s-era filing cabinets, serving as a perfect nod to the theme.
Guests then gathered in the Four Seasons ballroom for the main program. The room was transformed into an elegant supper club, featuring red, white, black, and pink hues that gave the space a vintage yet timeless elegance. Host of KEYE’s We Are Austin, Trevor Scott, served as emcee, keeping the festivities flowing at a fun, brisk pace throughout the night. As guests dined on their delectable, multi-course meals, they were treated to words from event and organization leaders thanking them for their support. Next came a game of heads or tails, which was followed by a spirited live auction. The paddles and the fundraising increased as revelers bid on an array of luxury items, with trips to a home in France and San Jose del Cabo emerging as the most popular among guests. The night was capped off with an after-party where revelers danced the night away to the tunes of Big Night Vintage Jazz D Blues Band.
THE NON-PROFIT: The 2025 Imagine A Way Gala: Mad Money For A Mission raised over $425,000 for Imagine A Way. Proceeds raised from the event provide financial services and resource networks for families of children ages two to seven who are diagnosed with autism. Over the past 15 years, the organization has provided over 428,000 hours of therapy for 170 families who have a child living with autism.
