Don Gaiser

Reminiscent of the lyrics in the Eagles’ Grammy Award-winning song “Hotel California,” DIFFA’s “Hotel Mystique” was similar in that “you can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave!” Nor would you want to! With the ballroom transformed into an elegant, alluring hotel, with an actual working elevator no less, a reservation at “Hotel Mystique” last weekend was the most coveted one in town! Late checkout was de rigueur! @diffadallastx

Anxiously waiting backstage to walk the runway with the ever so glam Style Council Ambassador @mrs.teamverma ! @diffadallastx

Counting down the ONE day remaining until the curtain rises on House of DIFFA: “Hotel Mystique!” Here are some shots snapped at DIFFA’s 2012 Dallas Collection: “Smoking Haute” gala. The vibe definitely was smoking HOT & HAUTE, where charity met fashion head on as only DIFFA can do!! Showcased in a provocative runway show, DIFFA that year changed direction with its iconic denim jackets in favor of smoking jackets, designed for men and women & created by top-name designers! @diffadallastx

Counting down the 2 days until House of DIFFA: “Hotel Mystique,” here are some highlights of 2013’s House of DIFFA: “Dallas Collection” show at the Hilton Anatole, the first year it was rebranded to House of DIFFA from Dallas Collection. What a nite! Jetting in for the show was Kazaky, a celebrated synthpop Ukrainian boy band dance group, who undeniably owned the runway with their androgynous looks and stilettos! With her always on-point command performance, the incomparable @janstrimple pulled out all the stops in choreographing and directing the show. The beyond regal “Rock ‘n Royalty” finale, envisioned by Jan & executed in part by the creatively genius stylist @robbradforddesign and his amazing team, including @johnnyjaydesigns & @chaselynwade for gravity-defying wigs, & JD Martin for the period men’s knickers and frock coats, is one I’ll never forget and gave me goosebumps! If you’d like to attend House of DIFFA: “Hotel Mystique” this Saturday & need tix, it’s not too late! Just click the link in my bio & avoid FOMO at all costs! I have 2 $500 seats available in my block of reserved tables as well as 2 $750 seats. Grab ‘em before they’re gone! @diffadallastx

Counting down the 3 days until the much anticipated, House of DIFFA: “Hotel Mystique,” here are some pics from DIFFA’s memory lane snapped in 2014 at House of DIFFA: “Masquerade,” when I was totally upstaged by the inimitable @stevekemble ! Attendees wore every variation imaginable of a mask, the de rigueur accessory of the evening. A big tip of the hat to goes to @shanewalkermadhatter for designing my incredible mask! This was the first year DIFFA’s annual signature event was held at the Omni Dallas, which would be its home until 2023, when after a 10-year hiatus, DIFFA returned briefly to the Hilton Anatole. @diffadallastx

Throwing it back and counting down the 4 days until House of DIFFA: “Hotel Mystique,” remembering DIFFA/Dalllas’ celebration of its 25th anniversary with House of DIFFA: No. 25 in 2015! For me, one of the highlights of this non-stop evening of fashion, fun, and fundraising was walking the runway as a DIFFA Legend of Style. A nite I’ll never forget!! @nicolas_designs , kudos to you and your creativity for designing such a stunning runway outfit. The cape you created was a showstopper! The theatrical evening showcased a rowdy runway spectacle that wove together fashion and previous pop culture moments, paying homage to DIFFA’s past 25 years, its present, and future. Patrons rocked out to entertainers impersonating everyone from Beyonce to Madonna to Gwen Stefani. The fashion-heavy finale featured futuristic looks that toasted DIFFA’s bright future. @diffadallastx

Counting down the 5 days until House of DIFFA: “Hotel Mystique,” these pics, snapped at “Circo Rouge,” DIFFA’s signature event in 2016, proved beyond a doubt fundraising can be the greatest show on earth! A fashion-fueled spectacle of epic proportions featured stilt walkers, human animals, and DIFFA’s legendary bespoke jackets as well as chilling circus acts on mini-stages sprinkled around the ballroom. @diffadallastx

Counting down the 6 days until House of DIFFA: “Hotel Mystique,” here are some memories from House of DIFFA: “Arabesque” in 2017 that are still as vivid as ever! When a live camel is the greeter, you know it’s going to be an epic nite!! This exotic fashion blowout also featured belly dancers and a bevy of barely clad male models walking the runway with too many six-packs to count and included a special guest performance by Natasha Beddingfield and a stirring tribute to the late George Michael. A raucous after-party with DJ Lucy Wrubel on the decks capped off the evening. @diffadallastx

DIFFA partygoers love a theme! House of DIFFA: “Alter Ego” in 2018 was no exception. Counting down the 7 days until House of DIFFA: “Hotel Mystique,” here are some memories of the 2018 show, where patrons revealed many facets of their personalities in keeping with the Alter Ego theme. Fashion, art, and culture collided in an evening of glitz, glam, and giving in Dallas’ version of NYC’s iconic Met Ball. Featured entertainer was singer Brian Justin Crum of America’s Got Talent fame. Channeling Marilyn Monroe and Marilyn Manson, celebrated actress Gwendolynn Murphy lit up the runway juxtapositioning these two personalities. “Strike a pose” was de rigueur that nite!! @diffadallastx

Counting down the 8 days until “Hotel Mystique,” 2019’s House of DIFFA: “Futuro” showcased a look into tomorrow, including giant eyeballs dressed in frilly frocks that paraded down the runway. Brilliantly choreographed by Co-Creative Director @rsc_show & fellow Co-Creative Director @densil_a_ballet , the future never looked brighter! Interpretations of the theme were beyond creative and limited only by each person’s imagination, combining a unique twist of design, fashion, and theatrics while raising critical funds for North Texas AIDS service organizations. DIFFA’s mantra of “Life’s a party; dress like it” was full tilt! Adding to the festivities was Bravo TV personality @carsonkressley , who served as celebrity auctioneer. As you can imagine, it literally takes a village to pull off an event like this! Also, a huge tip of the hat goes to this dream team, including Costume & Fashion Director Daniel Lewis of DDSL Productions, Hair Director @johnnyjaydesigns , HaIr/Makeup Director @rossermakeup , Theatrical Hair/Makeup Director @gigicoker of Neiman Marcus, and Act I & Ii Makeup Directors Lana Adams & @mrpmakeupman , Each of you, please take a well deserved bow! House of DIFFA: “Futuro” definitely was a vibe, with DJ @lucywrubel spinning until the wee hours at the after party! @diffadallastx

Counting down the 9 days until House of DIFFA: “Hotel Mystique,” never was DIFFA’s annual signature event in 2022 so aptly named with the theme of “Extravaganza!” After a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic, 2022 marked DIFFA’s first show since 2019. DIFFA pulled out ALL the stops for their 2022 fashion spectacle, with one after another mind-blowing outfits & production numbers on the runway!! In true DIFFA style, the guest’s’ ensembles were a mashup of bold, opulent, & avant-garde, & in many cases stop-traffic stunning! Bravolebrities Carson Kressley & Jai Rodriguez took to the stage as emcees. Other-worldly, surreal scenes ranging from “In the Garden of Good & Evil” to “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” & “Kinky Boots” mesmerized the audience. Dallas’ own, always-in-demand DJ Lucy Wrubel manned the decks for the energized after party. The epic event sold out five months in advance, with tix the most coveted of the season. “Extravaganza” truly was worth waiting for!!! @diffadallastx

Counting down the 10 days until House of DIFFA: “Hotel Mystique,” everybody was included on “The List,” theme for House of DIFFA 2023! Transcending the exclusivity of Studio 54, Coachella, & Starck Club to the inclusivity of House of DIFFA: “The List,” everyone was welcome & on the guest list! The stunningly creative black-tie gala celebrated such creative cultural moments as London Punk, Disco, Hip Hop, ‘80s Glam Rock, Teen Pop, EDM, & Grunge, with Studio 54 look-a-likes of Andy Warhol, Deborah Harry, Cher, & Halston taking the runway. Emmy & Tony Award-winning actress & singer @kchenoweth performed multiple sings throughout the evening, while also serving as emcee. After the grand finale, @rsc_show , Brian Brothers of @planetproductions , @densil_a_ballet , & their bevy of models led patrons to the after party, where the DJ kept the guests dancing until the wee hours the next morning. @diffadallastx