Want to hobnob with a bunch of Arkansas first ladies ... And while you're at it, learn about preservation of textiles?
You can do so at the First Ladies Luncheon, an Oct. 6 event designed to raise money to restore and preserve the dresses in the First Ladies' Gowns exhibit. Current first lady Susan Hutchinson, along with the board of the Old State House Museum Associates, are the presenters. The event will begin at noon under tents on the lawn of the Arkansas Governor's Mansion, 1800 Center St. Former first ladies Ginger Beebe, Janet Huckabee, Barbara Pryor, Gay White and Betty Tucker will be dining with guests. Programs will include pictures of all of the gowns. (Hutchinson's gown will be on display at the event.)
The First Ladies' Gowns exhibit is the largest of its kind outside the Smithsonian Institution, and the most popular at the museum. What's the draw? "I think ... it personalizes the office of governor and first lady," says White, widow of the state's 41st governor, Frank White (1981-1983), and luncheon chairman. Although the governor is out front, "the first lady is generally a little bit quieter, a little more behind the scenes."
On display at the museum, White's own inaugural gown is a white, long-sleeved georgette sheath. "My husband always loved me to wear white," she says. "It didn't have anything to do with our name ... I think he thought it lit up my face and made me look pretty." The dress also bears cascading crystal diamond motifs. "I ... wanted something that would be symbolic of Arkansas," White adds. "We are the diamond state. Rather than having a Razorback embroidered onto my inaugural gown, somehow I felt more comfortable with a diamond."
Ah, but wouldn't it be lovely to see other first ladies' garments? Housecoats, college sweatshirts and such?
"Why not?" White quips. "All of our dirty underwear has been aired in public since our husbands ran for governor."
A few tickets remain at $150 each. Call Sammye Johnston at (501) 664-1879.
Passion on the runway
Is that stretch between major Little Rock fashion shows getting a bit too long? Here's something to satisfy the fashionistas: The Passion of Fashion. This new runway show gets underway at 5 p.m. Oct. 11 at the Castle on Stagecoach Road. Featured designers and stores are Shonda Stroud Ali-Shamaa, Nicole McGehee, Abby Alba, Aaliyah Fisher, Sonja Majors-Thomas, Bruce Davis, Laron Harlem Sr. (Noral DeCarlo, Atlanta), Matt Vice (Dallas), Applause Formalwear and Dillard's Park Plaza. This show steps away from the norm a bit: round runway; horse-drawn carriages dropping models off at the runway staircases; guests mingling poolside with designers and their models. "I wanted this show and runway to be a ... one-of-a-kind experience -- something that left people in awe," says organizer/presenter Ann Marie.
Tickets range from $45 general admission to $80 VIP. Tables for four are $500. Visit the-passion-of-fashion.ticketleap.com.
Shoe shenanigans
Shopping channel QVC is once again teaming with the Fashion Footwear Association of New York to bring FFANY Shoes on Sale, which will be broadcast 5-8 p.m. Oct. 22. The sale will feature styles from more than 80 brands for half the suggested retail price.
Proceeds benefit breast cancer research and education institutions, including the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute. "Some of the other [beneficiaries] that are in there are ... really big institutes," says Dr. Peter D. Emanuel, Rockefeller Institute director. "We get the exact same cut as all the others do. So it really makes us feel like we're up there playing with all the big players." The majority of the money has been used for recruitment and retention efforts for researchers as well as special breast cancer research projects, he adds.
Has Emanuel himself shopped FFANY Shoes on Sale? No, he replies. But "my wife certainly has."
Trunk show
Cantrell Gallery, 8206 Cantrell Road in Little Rock, is hosting a trunk show and sale for the fall line of natural-fiber clothes from Regalia Handmade Clothing in Eureka Springs. Designer Mark Hughes will show his wares via a wine and cheese preview party, 6-8 p.m. Oct. 23, and the trunk show will continue from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 24. Visit regaliahandmade.com or call Cantrell Gallery, (501) 224-1335.
Make me up
Leah Patterson of Little Rock, creator of Etniq Mineral Cosmetics (Dressing Room, Feb. 5, 2012), has given that line a new name. Now called Move Makeup, it's a "sweat-proof, all-natural makeup line for active women." Also a professional salsa dancing instructor, Patterson created the line out of her own need. To help move Move along, Patterson has a Kickstarter campaign to raise money to manufacture the line. Visit http://bit.ly/movemakeupks.
Send Arkansas fashion-related tips and news releases to:
hwilliams@arkansasonline.com
High Profile on 09/27/2015