Dallas’ Over-the-Top Wild Fashion Night Keeps the Party Going (and Going): Inside the House of DIFFA

What: House of DIFFA: Alter Ego

Where: Omni Dallas

PC Moment: Dressed in dazzling gowns and crisp tuxedos, guests unveiled their alter egos at DIFFA’s over-the-top House of DIFFA Gala. The annual event returned to the Omni Dallas for a nonstop evening of fashion, fun and fundraising, bringing in $306,000 for local HIV/AIDS Service Organizations in North Texas.

Headington Companies, its retailers and The Joule Hotel took on title sponsorship of the event again this year, with The Louis L. Borick Foundation as presenting sponsor.

Guests arrived early for cocktail hour and a silent auction sponsored by Ebby Halliday. Keeping with DIFFA tradition, the auction centered around an enviable selection of one-of-a-kind tailored jackets by designers including Zac Posen, Dolce & Gobanna, Adam Lippes, Frame, Theory, Traffic LA at The Joule, and more.

The ballroom soon opened its doors and invited attendees to take a seat, while dancers throughout the room provided pre-dinner entertainment. The Style Council Ambassadors began the program with a strut down the runway, followed by a powerful speech by DIFFA/Dallas Board Chair Steve Weird and House of DIFFA co-chairs Lee Borchert and Tim Garippa.

After this, awards were doled out to Christopher Baker (DIFFA/Dallas Young Professional of the Year), Gary Miller and Alan Pierce (Donna Fishel Community Hero Award), Children’s Medical Center of Dallas (Health Award), Global Views and Studio A Home (Excellence in Design Award), and Rhonda Sargent Chambers (Legend in the Fight Against AIDS).

As guests enjoyed a seated dinner, America’s Got Talent season 11 contestant Brian Crum gave a passionate and stirring performance. Dessert and an Ebby Halliday live auction concluded the program.

Then came everybody’s favorite part of the night: The runway show. Fashions from TenOverSix, Forty Five Ten and Traffic LA dazzled the crowd, as did an energetic performance by Gwendolynne Murphy. DJ Blake Ward kept the vibe going into the wee hours at the House of DIFFA After Party: Altered.

Who: DIFFA/Dallas’ Board Chair, Steve Weir, House of DIFFA: Alter Ego Event co-Chairs, Lee Borchert and Tim Garippa, mingled with celebrity guest Mischa Barton, and a crowd of Dallas’ charitable patrons including Michael Tregoning, Steven Borick, Anne and Steve Stodghill, Karen and Bill Seanor, Cearan Henley, Allan Knight, David Gonzalez, Ronak Assadi, Meagan Camp, Darin Kunz, Clint Bradley, LeeAnne Locken, Reed Robertson, Jordan Kepsel, Neil Patel, Krystal and Tommy DeAlano, Javier Burkle, Mason McCleskey, Debra Nelson, Julian Leaver, Don Gaiser, Jim Sheehan, Joy Martin Stein, Allane O’Neil, Cary and Mark Deuber, Brittanie and Jason Oleniczak, Justin Bundick, and Carol Quist.