Truly a Tropical Splendor for the Hats in the Garden Event

Hats in the Garden is the Spring Event of the season at the Naples Botanical Garden with its much-coveted tickets selling out months in advance. On Wednesday, March 30th, they hosted over 600 attendees!

Hats, dresses and jewelry were all haute and coutured, and this year’s Tropical Splendor showcased the Garden’s vibrant colors of reds, oranges, yellows, pinks and white with the calming background of its surrounding natural beauty.

2019 was the last year Hats in the Garden was held. For the 2022 event, it was time to think whimsical, ornate, one of a kind, romantic, chic, creative, and traditional - if there is such a thing. It was Easter Hats, Kentucky Derby, England’s Ascot and Central Park Conservancy, where local and international couture milliners used their art to magically capture and match the Garden’s Tropical Splendor.

“We are thrilled to be back together,” echoed the Garden’s Board Chairperson, Kathleen Kapnick and President, Donna McGinnis. They expressed gratitude to the dedicated women of the Sustaining Leadership Council (SLC) “for nourishing the garden in good times and hard times.”

For Linda Koehn, Hat Chair of the 2022 Event, it took two years, four months and two days to prepare for this event. She wanted to feature the tropical beauty of the Naples Botanical Garden; “bright, sultry, exotic and seductive.” 

The Best of the Best Hats and the Winners were:

Most Chic Hat: Kathy Woods

Most Creative Hat: Heather Dockweiler

Best NAEEM KHAN Ensemble: Linda Koehn

Linda Koehn was also honored with the Jane Purdy Berger Distinguished Service Award. The award was given previously by the SLC to Jane Berger herself to recognize exceptional leadership.

Naeem Khan, a fashion designer based in the heart of the fashion district in New York City, made his inaugural spring debut at the event with 42 of his runway fashions showcasing some of his Fall 2022 collection. Khan did not disappoint with portions of the proceeds from this event to be donated back to the Garden.

And who can miss the Van Cleef and Arpels jewelry collection, that has long been synonymous with French luxury and haute jewelry.

For the third year in a row, William Raveis Real Estate was the presenting sponsor for the event. The program sponsor was Premier Sotheby’s International Realty.

According to a press release provided by the Naples Botanical Garden, the annual affair is coordinated by the Garden’s Sustaining Leadership Council (SLC) , a group of 45 philanthropic women who advocate for and support the organization. Formed in 2009, SLC provides philanthropic leadership of the Garden, promotes awareness of its collections and programs and fosters a greater understanding of the mission of the Garden.

Proceeds support the Garden’s multi-faceted mission, which includes serving as a regional leader in plant conservation, ecological restoration, and environmental education, and setting a standard for horticultural excellence. The Garden’s 170 acres welcome more than 230,000 visitors a year, who enjoy tropical themed gardens, expansive aquatic plant displays, and 90 acres of Southwest Florida native habitat, offering a taste of the wilderness just miles from downtown Naples.

An additional Fund-a-Need drive held during the luncheon will benefit the Garden for All program, which strives to remove financial, linguistic, and cultural barriers that may prevent Southwest Florida residents from visiting the Garden. This year, the program focuses on offering complimentary access for the region’s educators in the hopes of inspiring nature-based lesson plans, providing educational resources, and simply giving hardworking teachers a chance to recharge.

The event goal of $1.2 million was met!

Please Save the Date and Don’t Miss Out - 2023 Hats in the Garden, March 29, 2023.