The Baton Rouge Symphony League held its 66th annual Mad Hatter’s Luncheon on March 24, 2022 at Crowne Plaza. The theme this year was Artistas and Fashionistas, and the event featured a wearable art fashion show with two categories: Accessible Wear and Avant-garde Wear.

Prior to the start of the event, guests were entertained by two aerialists from Rufuge Aerial Fitness & Performance. The guests also enjoyed performances by the Pans String Quartet.

The main event was one for the record books with WAFB’s Elizabeth Vowell serving as the Mistress of Ceremonies, along with Honorary Chair, Diane Tate, Chair of the Irene W. and C. B. Pennington Foundation Great Performers in Concert series. Tate was introduced for her passion and dedication to The Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra.

Then, it was time for the fashion to take center stage. Andrea Eastin with Fair Fit Studio opened the Accessible Wear fashion show with a talk about fashion and the importance of custom creations that fit your own unique body type. Her students; Caroline Bolton, Cecily Driskill, Diana Robert, Isabell Robert, Kristin Thompson, Mary Catherine Pinac, Mattie Ray, Rowan Thompson, Ruby Dupre, and Temple Ray; took the runway to present their custom clothing wear. Also taking the stage in Accessible Wear was Master Furrier, Raffaele Raimondi, owner of Raffaele Furs & Boutique showing sportswear, casual day dress wear, and evening gown wear accompanied by his hand-crafted furs.

The second part of the show featured Avant-garde Wearable Art by local artist, Denise Greenwood-Loveless (artofgreenwood.com), Wendy Brideveaux (etsy.com/shop/lightandwonderart), Hannah Dick (alwaysafternoon.com), Nancy Taylor, Cora Barhorst (corabgallery.com), Storey Wilson, and Mad Hatter’s newest Partner, Chapeaux
(chapeauxparty.com) showing off their custom creations.

You can find out more about the artist and the inspiration behind their work here.

The award ceremony was full of excitement. Hat judges, Bebe Fucundus (Past President BRSL), Caty Stewart (BRSO), Elizabeth Vowell (WAFB), Nedra Hains (LSU Museum of Art), Renee Chatelain (Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge), and Suzie Adler (Community Volunteer) announced the hat winners.

Individual awards included:

• Genteel Jensen (Most Beautiful) – Janet Boles
• Vogue van Gogh (Most Outrageous) – Susan Brantley
• Fad Frida Kahlo (Best Ensemble: Hat, Outfit & Shoes) – Albertha Warren.

Group awards went to:

• Mod Mondrain (Best Group Ensemble: Hats, Outfits, Shoes) – Lee Michael’s Fashionistas
• Divine da Vinci (Best Overall Group: Hat, Theme & Table) – Living La Vita Longshore.

Pop-up shopping followed the event, with local artist and boutiques: Always Afternoon, (alwaysafternoon.com), Annet Chatoyer (annetchatoyer.com), Art of Greenwood (artofgreenwood.com), Cora B. Gallery (corabgallery.com), Drip Jewelry (dripjewelry.com), Light and Wonder Art (etsy.com/shop/lightandwonderart), Sassy Royal Hats (sassyroyals.com), Strung with Love (facebook.com/strungwithlovedesigns).

With over 300 in attendance, over $64,000 was raised for The Baton Rouge Symphony
Orchestra. This could not have been possible without the attendees, auction supporters, and  sponsors. Save the date for March 23, 2023 for the 64th Annual Mad Hatters.

Sponsors included Lee Michael’s Fine Jewelry, Raffaele Furs & Boutique, Investar, Coleman Consulting Group, LLC, TFG Billing, Baton Rouge Parents Magazine, InRegister, Otey White & Associates, Lamar, Fair Fit, and AGC.