Taigan Fetch Magazine by Taigan

When Brian Bolke and Shelly Musselman of Forty Five Ten celebrated the tenth anniversary of their store last week, it was not enough for them to throw a simple party. Instead, they put on an over-the-top, two-day event befitting a beloved high fashion landmark and benefiting a cause dear to their hearts.

The pair opened the 8000-square foot store in April 2000. (A third partner, Bill Mackin, departed to become merchandise manager of Neiman’s home and epicure department.) In the decade since, they’ve introduced such lines as Derek Lam, Rick Owens, and Waylande Gregory to Dallas, opened the T Room, a delicious café that spills out onto their back terrace, and generally made the world a far, far chicer place. In addition to being home to some of the most sought-after designers of men’s and women’s fashion, Forty Five Ten carries gorgeous coffee-table books, extraordinary items for the home, fabulous scents, and amazing jewelry. There is even a tiny section devoted to the stylish pet!

They’ve also earned a devoted stable of both clients and designers, most of whom were out in full force for the event. At the opening bash, held at the store on 4-5-10 (get it?), Houston socialite and noted clotheshorse Becca Cason Thrash and Dallas interior designer Jan Showers (whose book is among those sold at Forty Five Ten) mingled with Narciso Rodriguez, Thakoon Panichgul (a Michelle Obama favorite), jewelry designers Ippolita and Kimberly McDonald, and handbag designer Raven Kauffman. Very cool DJ Lucy Wrubel created an exclusive Forty Five Ten playlist (CDs of which were in the gift-bags of lucky out-of-towners) and vintage 2000 Dom Perignon, graciously donated by the vintner, flowed.

Most exciting of all, 10 designers created exclusive items in honor of the anniversary, the proceeds of which will benefit Two by Two for AIDS and Art. “Two by Two holds dear everything that Shelly and I support,” says Brian Bolke. “As the money goes to both the Dallas Museum of Art and to amfAR, it betters both our city and the world. Its annual fundraising event, one of the largest and chicest in the country, puts Dallas on the world’s stage in such a positive light. And as two Gemini’s, how can Shelly and I not love something called Two by Two!”

The anniversary pieces include: ten dip-dyed cotton shirts by Band of Outsiders, one Prouenza Schouler turquoise alligator clutch, five Doo.Ri chain-on-tulle necklaces, 10 pairs of Narciso Rodriguez runway shoes, four signature Koi “Nanda” tops in nude chiffon with black embroidery, 10 Yigal Azrouel patterned scarves, five Kimberly McDonald evil-eye bracelets with geodes, one Jan Barboglio nickel-plated champagne bucket, four sets of 10 Diptyque candles, and 10 one-of-a-kind Martin Margiela pieces from the Artisanal Haute Couture archives.

“Every designer we asked to design pieces for our anniversary editions immediately said yes, which was such a gift,” says Bolke. “We chose those who have always supported us and with whom we have had the longest relationships. Diptyque and Jan Barboglio were in the store the day we opened. We bought Band of Outsiders the first season he started his collection. We had one of the first trunk show’s that Jack and Lazaro from Prouenza Schouler ever did. Doo.Ri and Narciso have both done runway shows for us here in Dallas, and have helped support our local charities. We were humbled that so many took the time to be here and participate and celebrate. It is heartening to realize the importance of the specialty store to these designers in today’s ever-changing retail environment.”

Those who did make the trip were well rewarded. Dallas is a city of enormous philanthropic spirit, and not only did Brian and Shelly follow that tradition with their anniversary editions, they also chose to showcase some of the city’s most generous art supporters and collectors. The first night’s after-party was held at the art-filled abode of pop singer George Michael and gallery owner Kenny Goss. Brunch the next day was in the Philip Johnson-designed house of Henry and Patricia Beck (featured in last Sunday’s New York Times spring design magazine), followed by tours of the homes of contemporary art collectors Naomi Aberly and Larry Lebowitz, Marguerite Hoffman, and Deedie and Rusty Rose. The Roses and Marguerite Hoffman recently joined another Dallas couple, Cindy and Howard Rachofsky, to make an astonishing combined gift of their entire current and future collections to the Dallas Museum of Art.

The day wound down with cocktails at the Rachofskys’ Richard Meier-designed house, which is part of their gift to the museum as well as the venue of the annual Two by Two event in October. The final send-off was a Mexican dinner hosted by Shelly, along with her husband and their daughter Meredith, who has just returned home from Manhattan to run Forty Five Ten’s website.

As they milled about the Musselmans’ candlelit terrace, sipping margaritas benath a canopy of live oaks, even the most world-weary guests could not help but marvel over the activities of the last 24 hours. “I know they all went home with a completely different perspective of what Dallas really is,” says Cindy Rachofsky, who bought a fabulous double geode Kimberly McDonald ring at the opening birthday party. “For me it was a special evening because I have been a customer for 10 years and I know how grateful Brian and Shelly were to have so many vendors show their support and come to Dallas to celebrate. It was great fun for all the fans of 4510 to meet the designers we all love (and buy)!”

Soon there will be even more to choose from. Starting this fall, Forty Five Ten will add designers YSL, Balenciaga, men’s Balmain, L’Wren Scott, and Victoria Beckham to their already uber stylish stable. Looks like the 15th anniversary will be an even bigger blowout!

Pictured above, top row, from left: Sought-after Dallas DJ Lucy Wrubel; Narciso Rodriguez with boyfriend Thomas Tolan of Calvin Klein; designer Thakoon with Dallas decorator Julie Butler-Hawes.
Bottom row, from left: Howard and Cindy Rachofsky, who hosted Tuesday night’s cocktail party—Cindy is wearing the Kimberly McDonald ring she bought at the opening birthday bash; Meredith Musselman, daughter of owner Shelly Musselman and coordinator of the store’s website (and the Forty Five Ten TAIGAN homepage!), with her uncle Peter Clarac and Dallas oil and gas man Will Armstrong; owner Brian Bolke with interior designer Brant McFarlain.

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