Dallas, October 8, 2025
News Summary
The 51st Crystal Charity Ball’s 10 Best Dressed Women of Dallas took place at Neiman Marcus Downtown, featuring a runway show by designer Brunello Cucinelli. Attendees celebrated honorees, including Aileen Pratt, a three-time Best Dressed inductee, while the event raised significant funds for children’s charities. This year’s fundraising commitment reached over $7 million, continuing the event’s long-standing philanthropic legacy in the community.
Dallas — The 51st Crystal Charity Ball’s 10 Best Dressed Women of Dallas took place on September 11 at Neiman Marcus Downtown. The event included a runway presentation by Italian designer Brunello Cucinelli and served as a fundraising and social highlight for the organization’s annual calendar.
Top-line summary
The event featured a runway presentation by Italian designer Brunello Cucinelli. This year’s Best Dressed honorees include Shelby Goff, Jacquelin Sewell Atkinson, Julie Bagley, Shannon Graham, Tracey Kozmetsky, Tracy Lange, Wendy Messmann, Lisa Rocchio, Sunie Solomon, and Katherine Wyker. Aileen Pratt was inducted into the “Hall of Fame” for being a three-time Best Dressed honoree. Elaine Agather, global vice chair at J.P. Morgan Private Bank, announced the honorees along with their community involvement and charitable accomplishments.
Event leadership and attendance
The event was chaired by Amy Hegi, with Francie Moody-Dahlberg serving as the honorary chair. Carolina Cucinelli, the designer’s daughter and vice president of the brand, attended the event from Italy. Attendees enjoyed Veuve Clicquot champagne during the event.
Philanthropic results and commitments
The 2025 Crystal Charity Ball has pledged a commitment of $7,459,305 to its beneficiaries. The Crystal Charity Ball has raised over $198 million for children’s charities in Dallas County since its inception in 1952. The ticket price for this year’s event increased from $1,000 to $1,500. The lunch is part of a twice-annual tradition within the organization, which consists of one hundred women dedicated to philanthropy.
Fashion presentation and collections
The fashion show showcased Brunello Cucinelli’s fall and winter collection and an exclusive new collection for Neiman Marcus called “Heirs of Craftsmanship.” Models wore outfits that included tailored menswear, equestrian-themed separates, and a delicately knit white gown. The runway presentation highlighted the brand’s focus on craftsmanship, seasonal tailoring, and a mix of tailored and softly constructed pieces.
Food, atmosphere and program details
The lunch event featured a menu that included antipasti with Brunello Cucinelli olive oil, rare beef tenderloin tagliata served with Caprese salad, and classic tiramisu for dessert. The event is known for its elegant atmosphere, with cascading taupe draperies and fine dining. The combination of a formal lunch, champagne service and a designer runway presentation framed the program as both a social and philanthropic occasion for the local community.
Upcoming events
The 2025 Crystal Charity Ball will culminate on December 6 at the Hilton Anatole with the theme “Expedition d’Elegance.” The December gala will serve as the larger, signature fundraising event for the organization and follows the twice-annual pattern that includes smaller, themed luncheons and presentations throughout the year.
Background and context
The Crystal Charity Ball is organized by a group of one hundred women who rotate leadership of events and fundraising initiatives. The organization’s long-term fundraising totals demonstrate a sustained focus on supporting children’s charities within Dallas County. The Best Dressed luncheon functions as a recurring part of that calendar, pairing fashion presentations with announcements of honorees and donor commitments. This structure combines social recognition, community engagement, and fundraising goals in a single program.
Notable honorees and recognitions
Honorees and special recognitions at this edition reinforced ties between local philanthropy and high-end fashion partnerships. The inclusion of a Hall of Fame induction and a named list of honorees places emphasis on ongoing civic participation by those recognized.
FAQ
Q: When and where did the 51st Crystal Charity Ball’s 10 Best Dressed Women of Dallas take place?
A: The 51st Crystal Charity Ball’s 10 Best Dressed Women of Dallas took place on September 11 at Neiman Marcus Downtown.
Q: Which designer presented at the event?
A: The event featured a runway presentation by Italian designer Brunello Cucinelli.
Q: Who were this year’s Best Dressed honorees?
A: This year’s Best Dressed honorees include Shelby Goff, Jacquelin Sewell Atkinson, Julie Bagley, Shannon Graham, Tracey Kozmetsky, Tracy Lange, Wendy Messmann, Lisa Rocchio, Sunie Solomon, and Katherine Wyker.
Q: Was anyone inducted into a special recognition?
A: Aileen Pratt was inducted into the “Hall of Fame” for being a three-time Best Dressed honoree.
Q: Who announced the honorees and their charitable work?
A: Elaine Agather, global vice chair at J.P. Morgan Private Bank, announced the honorees along with their community involvement and charitable accomplishments.
Q: Who chaired the event?
A: The event was chaired by Amy Hegi, with Francie Moody-Dahlberg serving as the honorary chair.
Q: What financial commitment was made for 2025?
A: The 2025 Crystal Charity Ball has pledged a commitment of $7,459,305 to its beneficiaries.
Q: How much has the Crystal Charity Ball raised historically?
A: The Crystal Charity Ball has raised over $198 million for children’s charities in Dallas County since its inception in 1952.
Q: What was the ticket price change for this year’s event?
A: The ticket price for this year’s event increased from $1,000 to $1,500.
Q: What did the lunch menu include?
A: The lunch event featured a menu that included antipasti with Brunello Cucinelli olive oil, rare beef tenderloin tagliata served with Caprese salad, and classic tiramisu for dessert.
Q: Which collections were shown in the fashion presentation?
A: The fashion show showcased Brunello Cucinelli’s fall and winter collection and an exclusive new collection for Neiman Marcus called “Heirs of Craftsmanship.”
Q: What kinds of outfits were modeled?
A: Models wore outfits that included tailored menswear, equestrian-themed separates, and a delicately knit white gown.
Q: What is the event known for in terms of atmosphere?
A: The event is known for its elegant atmosphere, with cascading taupe draperies and fine dining.
Q: What champagne was served?
A: Attendees enjoyed Veuve Clicquot champagne during the event.
Q: Who attended from the designer’s company?
A: Carolina Cucinelli, the designer’s daughter and vice president of the brand, attended the event from Italy.
Q: How does the luncheon fit into the organization’s schedule?
A: The lunch is part of a twice-annual tradition within the organization, which consists of one hundred women dedicated to philanthropy.
Q: When and where will the 2025 Crystal Charity Ball culminate?
A: The 2025 Crystal Charity Ball will culminate on December 6 at the Hilton Anatole with the theme “Expedition d’Elegance.”
Key event features
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Event | The 51st Crystal Charity Ball’s 10 Best Dressed Women of Dallas took place on September 11 at Neiman Marcus Downtown. |
| Designer | The event featured a runway presentation by Italian designer Brunello Cucinelli. |
| Honorees | This year’s Best Dressed honorees include Shelby Goff, Jacquelin Sewell Atkinson, Julie Bagley, Shannon Graham, Tracey Kozmetsky, Tracy Lange, Wendy Messmann, Lisa Rocchio, Sunie Solomon, and Katherine Wyker. |
| Food | The lunch event featured a menu that included antipasti with Brunello Cucinelli olive oil, rare beef tenderloin tagliata served with Caprese salad, and classic tiramisu for dessert. |
| Commitment for 2025 | The 2025 Crystal Charity Ball has pledged a commitment of $7,459,305 to its beneficiaries. |
| Historical fundraising | The Crystal Charity Ball has raised over $198 million for children’s charities in Dallas County since its inception in 1952. |
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HERE Resources
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Crystal Charity Ball’s Ten Best Dressed Women Fashion Show
Additional Resources
- PaperCity: 51st Annual 10 Best Dressed Women of Dallas
- CultureMap: Crystal Charity Best Dressed
- MySweetCharity: 2025 Crystal Charity Ball’s 10 Best Dressed Women Fashion Show
- Sports Illustrated: 2025 WNBA Draft Best Dressed
- ESPN: WNBA Draft 2025 Best Dressed Stars
- Wikipedia: Fashion
- Google Search: Crystal Charity Ball
- Google Scholar: Charity Gala
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Fashion
- Google News: Philanthropy
Author: STAFF HERE DALLAS WRITER
DALLAS STAFF WRITER The DALLAS STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREDallas.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Dallas, Dallas County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the State Fair of Texas, Deep Ellum Arts Festival, and Dallas International Film Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Dallas Regional Chamber and United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, plus leading businesses in telecommunications, aviation, and semiconductors that power the local economy such as AT&T, Southwest Airlines, and Texas Instruments. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAustinTX.com, HERECollegeStation.com, HEREHouston.com, and HERESanAntonio.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Texas's dynamic landscape.
