The Famed Southern California Headdress Balls
Submitted by Cathy Hillen-Rulloda AIFD
Two well-known charitable organizations – Las Floristas of Los Angeles and Damas de Caridad of Orange County – held famed annual fundraisers that featured floral headdresses created by some of the most renowned designers in So Cal, including many AIFD members. Each organization raised millions of dollars to support their respective projects.
The most well-know was Las Floristas, which garnered so much attention that its balls were featured on local television stations going back to the 1950’s. In fact, in 1955 the ball had the distinction of being the first remote color TV presentation in the world.
This article will discuss the program and process of creating floral headdresses in the last 4 decades.
It All Starts with The Design
Designers selected their headdress themes based on the overall event theme for that year. Each designer would be matched with a sponsor and would be given a budget to (hopefully) cover the material costs of his/her composition. The design work was a labor of love.
The charitable group then held a meet-and-greet event where designers would be matched up with their Mannequins.
Note: A Mannequin is a member of the charitable group who would present the headdress and perform on stage at the ball. She was also responsible for paying for her coordinating gown. Mannequins spent many hours practicing how to move as effortlessly as possible in their headdresses – all while wearing high heels and dancing across the stage!
A favorite quote from an LA Times article about the 1991 Damas de Caridad Ball https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-03-19-vw-690-story.html from a Mannequin’s husband, “‘Honey, this is like the Rose Parade, and you’re just like the truck .”
Rules
Headdress frames with finished floral material could not rise more than 6’ above the Mannequin’s head nor more than 3’ to each side of her body.
The headdress could weigh no more than 30 lbs. If over-weight at judging, designers were required to remove materials to make weight, or forfeit participation.
For Las Floristas – all visible material had to be of fresh or dried floral material.
For Las Damas – most material had to be fresh, dried or permanent floral products.
Framing
Once their designs were approved, floral designers typically worked with frame-makers who would craft the skeletons in lightweight metal (such a aluminum and screening) – although some well-known designers, like Don Honold AIFD were also highly skilled at crafting their own frames.
Each frame was affixed to a cap base which was attached to a flat steel rod that followed the curve of the neck and spine of the Mannequin. At the base of the rod was a flat section of steel that fit into a pocket sewn into the back of a corset.
The headdress didn’t really rest on the Mannequin’s head – it hovered slightly above it. In these photos of Darrel Poper AIFD’s Mannequin – Jan Brown – practicing in his frame for his Sweepstakes-winning design “Jazz Baby”. The corset is visible in the first photo.
Petaling
Up to three months before the event, a designer would start applying fresh petals to the frame with glue, allowing them to thoroughly dry, and applying floral paint to the dried petals. This process would be repeated several times as the petals would shrink in the drying process. Drying the materials also reduced the weight of the petals.
The most popular petals for this task were carnations and gladiolas.
Fresh Materials
Close to the day of the ball, designers would begin adding fresh materials, being cautious about added weight to the design. Designers often used coco sticks and other light weight linear materials to create extensions onto which blooms like dendrobium orchids, Strelitzia florets and/or stephanotis would be added to give movement.
Judging
A panel of judges would assess the uniqueness, workmanship and thematic interpretation, as well as scoring on the overall stage presentation with the Mannequin. Trophies were awarded for a variety of categories, with the crowning honor going the Sweepstakes Winner.
Memories
We had the privilege of judging the Las Floristas Ball, and it was an experience of a lifetime – with all the glamour of Hollywood at the famed Beverly Hilton Hotel (home of the Golden Globe Awards).
Sadly, neither group hosts the large balls these days, but you can still see video highlights from past Las Floristas events from 1938 to 2005 at https://lasfloristas.org/the-spring-gala/ . Take a look, you’ll be Wowed!!
We want to give special thanks to Darrel Poper AIFD for his wonderful insight and his helpful photos, and to Sandy Wessel, long-time Las Floristas member and Mannequin extraordinaire, for her photos from past Balls.
Pictured below are prize-winning designs from Darrel Poper, AIFD, Don Honold AIFD, Modesto Busto AIFD, Scott Acevedo, AIFD and Richard Seekins AIFD. Phil will be sharing more headdress photos on Facebook. If any member has pictures of his/her headdresses, we hope you’ll share them on Facebook, Instagram or anywhere else people can see those spectacular compositions.
