Celebs, Royals, Diplomats, a Socialite DJ & an Elton John Surprise

What: The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston Grand Gala, The Black & White Ball.

Where: MFAH, Caroline Weiss Law Building

Who: Chair extraordinaire Lynn Wyatt; actress Shirley MacLaine; diplomat Hushang Ansary and wife Shahla; Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, in from Britain; NY socialite Marjorie Gubelman, moonlighting as her DJ persona Mad Marj; premier underwriter River Oaks District’s Dene Oliver and wife Elizabeth; MFAH’s Gary Tinterow with Christopher Gardner; Susan and Fayez Sarofim; Diane Lokey Farb; Rolanette and Berdon Lawrence; Cornelia and Meredith Long; Phoebe and Bobby Tudor; Pat Breen; Carol and Michael Linn; Bradford Wyatt; and Steven Wyatt with Joyce Echols.

PC Moment: A truly unforgettable evening was conjured up by Lynn Wyatt, who was glowing in her stunning custom white Oscar de la Renta gown by Peter Copping, who flew in from New York for the gala. The theme, inspired by her black and white striped River Oaks dining room, a legendary party she threw in the South of France, and her love of the combo (Karl Lagerfield calls her “black and Wyatt”), came to life thanks to Richard Flowers of The Events Company, who donated unbelievable decor and transformed Cullinan Hall with black and white linens and thousands of white orchids. Guests adhered to the black and white black tie dress code, providing further decoration and mood to the affair. Wyatt’s BFF Elton John, who was in Sioux Falls for a concert, even made a cameo via video screen, providing a pair of his sunglasses for auction — Nancy Kinder acquired them for husband Rich, which tipped the amount raised to a record-smashing $2,010,000. The most energetic Grand Gala to date, supporters partied on the packed black and white striped dance floor until well after midnight to the beats of Mad Marj.