Curated Texan
Chic And Colorful Store Event Wows Patrons
By Gordon Kendall Photography by Gordon Kendall
THE SETTING: Scores of colorfully clad gents and ladies came out recently to the Highland Park Village Trina Turk boutique for a Mr. Turk shopping event benefiting Dallas’ Black Tie Dinner (BTD). Turk’s men’s line with its updated, retro-chic styles…from swimsuits to caftans and everything else…in Palm Springs-inspired hues offered both summer and fall fashion options. Not only could the shopping and feeling good in Mr. Turk clothes, but they could also feel good about buying them that one evening since 10% of the proceeds from sales were earmarked for Dallas’ Black Tie Dinner (BTD) to be held Saturday, October 28 at the Downtown Dallas Sheraton Hotel. This year, BTD will honor writer and activist, Dr. Eric Cervini, as well as benefiting up to twenty North Texas charities, as well as the national Human Rights Campaign Foundation. Proceeds from the shopping event would further those groups. Summer never got off to such as well-dressed and well-meaning start.
THE VIBE: What did it feel like to be there? Transported to the ultimate California-chic lounge, only a swimming pool was missing, but the crowd stayed cool enough sipping champagne in the brightly mirrored Turk store. Back Tie Dinner’s Co-Chairs Regina Lyn-Pierce and Dustin Vyers welcomed guests and were stylish ambassadors in Trina Turk and Mr. Turk pieces themselves. Boutique Manager Randi Schwartz was on hand to show collection pieces and to assist with the fun, exciting pieces to add to any wardrobe. Press releases on hand at the event showed neon bright jackets and pants hanging in RuPaul’s closet. That’s how vibrant they are. Making a fashionably late arrival at his own party was Turk’s Director of Retail Joe Lopardi, whose flight from Turk H.Q. outside Los Angeles just made it in just in time for him to welcome the crowd and share more details about the Mr. Turk vibe.
What a crowd it was! Guests trickled in throughout the two-hour event to see, be seen, and mingle with others eager to try on such things as magenta-colored shorts and bold teal and brown print jackets, preferably together. Among the crowd was Ben Holden combing the racks while Dallas fashion follower Gregory Pynes was there in Mr. Turk’s sunny yellow and white suit separates while mom Phyllis Balla was in bold orange accessorized with a Trina Turk beaded rainbow clutch, as chic that night as if in a 1970s disco. BTD Advisory Board member Scott Bates remained cool in white linen and an opt-art-inspired Mr. Turk print pants in refreshing shades of blue and teal. Bringing his own entourage, as one does, was Micah Prestige in shorts and floral shirt, eyeing caftans, with companions Cindy Hall and Cam Hall there in here-to-party looks. Fashion fun and fun fashion.
THE NON-PROFIT: Fun as it was, the event was to do well, too, as it was in aid of Dallas’ Black Tie Dinner, supporting LGBTQ+ organizations. To date, BTD has distributed over $26 million to the group’s beneficiaries. While some details of this year’s event remain under wraps, Co-Chair Pierce, whom we think found a sleek, sequined Trina Turk dress to wear to upcoming events, shared with us such development news as the newly expanded BTD board, which grew from 25 to now 31 members. As well, she noted there were two new beneficiary organizations: Texas Health Action and The Kind Clinic, located in the Cedar Springs/Oak Lawn area. What would Dallas be without cars? This year’s raffle item, she told, was an electric 2023 EQB 250-W SUV from Park Place Mercedes-Benz, Lemmon Avenue. For further information about BTD and sponsorship opportunities visit BlackTie.org.
