Adore March 2020

CHAPTER III Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall

Photos by Josh Brasted

(left to right) Kelly, Lindsey Gibert, Lydia Calhoun, and Meredith Mentz

K elly and her friends Lydia Calhoun, Lindsey Gibert, and Meredith Mentz were fêted by their parents at a large-scale soirée last December. The themed shindig —The Four Seasons —was planned and produced by Susan Zackin, the award-winning founder and creative director of Z Event Company. With New Orleans- size extended families and daughters at four different colleges, the guest list of relatives and friends easily topped 1,200. But with Susan's savvy choice of the venue and clever use of the floorplan, the party felt personal and welcoming. The fabulous invitation was directly inspired by the Art Nouveau movement made popular by Alphonse Mucha in Prague during the early 1900s. "We crafted all original artwork representing each girl with seasonal florals," Margaret Jones of Scriptura explains. "Irises for Spring, tropical plants for Summer, Fall leaves for Autumn, and icicles and a snowy owl for Winter." Comprised of six panels held together with a tassel, the elegant invitation opened and shut to form a working fan, harkening back to the elaborate style of early carnival ball invitations. I loved the nod to a style that was popular in New Orleans at the dawn of the 20th century.

28

ADORE • MARCH 2020