Air Kisses and Peek-a-Boos Highlight the Most Amazing Parade of Hats Ever: This Park Party Dazzled

What’s a lady to do when her wide-brimmed hat (extending seven to 10 inches from the crown) obscures not only her identity but also her ability to share cheek-to-cheek greetings? Opt for air kisses, of course.

That politesse salutation was the order of the day at the Hermann Park Conservancy‘s “Hats in the Park” luncheon held on a rare glorious spring day in a party tent in the center of McGovern Centennial Gardens.

Two who were beautifully obscured by their swooping chapeaus were Stephanie Cockrell and Marita Fairbanks who shared duties as luncheon chairs with Lisa Holthouse, who opted for an au courant straw fedora.

On this 10th anniversary of the popular luncheon, the profusion of hats was like never before. More ladies, more hats and more creativity resulting in a visual feast of fancy headwear. None could match Martha Finger‘s floral confection, created by David Brown of his eponymous floral design fame. Were those magenta orchids real? And what about the ranunculus that framed her face? A very close second was Karen Bradshaw in her stunning Kokin. She confessed to adding a butterfly or two with her glue gun.

Conservancy board chair Phoebe Tudor, wearing a playful petite pillbox, welcomed the chic crowd of 420 that had come to enjoy the day, to salute honorees Judy Nyquist and Cece Fowler and to support the conservancy’s new Fund for Public Art — that effort officially announced at the luncheon. The fundraising was off to a positive start with close to $400,000 raised.

Swift + Company created the perfect table settings for the al fresco “Primavera” themed event. Think rough-hewn tables and chairs set with centerpieces of artichokes, rosemary, boxed topiaries, and platters of antipasta. And then think delicious ladies lunch.

Madhatters: Pat Breen, Becca Cason Thrash, Rachel Volz, Leigh Smith, Sandy Godfrey, Merele Yarborough, Ann Kennedy, Kim Tutcher, Gina Bhatia, Mary D’Andrea, Isabel David, Melissa Juneau, and Houston Texans wives Hannah McNair, Ericka Graham, Megan Cushing, and Bianca Wilfork.

Gents on the scene: Mayor Sylvester Turner, retiring parks director Joe Turner, Sanford Criner, C.C. Connor, J.B. Fairbanks, Michael Holthouse, Jerry Schultz, Fady Armanious, and Jake Nuquist.