Washington Tips Hat To 24th Annual Woodrow Wilson House Garden Party!

NORTHWEST -- It might not quite have been a League of Nations, but the Woodrow Wilson House nevertheless executed a warm weather gathering fit for a President on Wednesday evening, in celebrating the museum’s annual Garden Party.

The gardens of the Woodrow Wilson House.

Now in its 24th year, the sartorial affair invited guests to take advantage of both the historical landmark’s indoor exhibits and outdoor grounds -- all while sporting some magnificently colorful spring dresses, suits, and, of course, hats.

Junior Patrons Fritz Brogan and Brooke A. Henderson.
Prizes, including gift certificates to various area restaurants, were awarded in a handful of categories during a fierce hat contest, such as “Most Creative” (Jill Bruno with a “butterfly-embellished” hat), “Best Use of Fresh Flowers” (Susan Amey with her bird’s nest fascinator boasting snap dragons and panseys), and “Best Ladies’ Classic” (Diana Minshall with her feather and ribbon fascinator made by friend Bob Belle).

Susan Amey won the “Best Use of Fresh Flowers” prize with her bird’s nest fascinator.
Men were also enlisted into the fashionable fray with Will Rabbe taking top honors for “Best Gentleman’s Classic”, with a classic fedora he purchased in New York’s Chelsea neighborhood.

Will Rabbe (second from left) took top gentleman’s honors with his fedora.
This year’s Garden Party marked the first time the organizers included a special Junior Committee in the event’s planning. And the energy that emerged from the newly diverse crowd showed, as both young professionals and their wiser counterparts mingled about the carefully groomed estate.

Junior Committee Co-Chairs Diana C. Minshall, Kendall A. Vincent, and Elizabeth A. Wilson.
A party that has truly come full bloom!