Reese “learned everything she knows about Southern hospitality from her company’s namesakes: her grandparents Dorothea Draper and William James Witherspoon,” writes Amy Maclin in the latest issue of O, The Oprah Magazine. To celebrate the one-year anniversary of Draper James, Reese threw a Southern luncheon that would make her grandparents proud. And she invited O magazine along for the ride.
Several Draper James Ambassadors (close friends of Reese’s and the brand) joined Reese and O editor at large Gayle King to sample some of Dorothea Draper’s iconic recipes like fried chicken, biscuits, and corn salad. Naturally, each guest dressed for the occasion in head-to-toe Draper James.
See the story here; shop all the looks here; and scroll on for some behind-the-scenes outtakes from the photo shoot.
A proper Southern woman would rather die than show up at a party in the same outfit as someone else. We made sure that wouldn’t happen by setting up fittings beforehand with stylist Kelly Hill. Here, each woman’s Draper James look is laid out for her to change in to before the shoot.
Not only was every woman outfitted in DJ, but she was also properly accessorized with handbags from our spring collection.
One of Reese’s oldest friends, Heather Rosenfield also serves as Director of Design Development for Draper James. Here she is getting ready to model our Belmont Striped Collection Romper, one of her favorite pieces from the collection.
Founder of skincare line Nyakio Beauty, fellow Southerner Kio Grieco grew up in Oklahoma. She was drawn to our Maxicat Silk Dress for its vibrant print and breezy silhouette.
How lovely to attend a luncheon where they do your hair and makeup for you! Here, guests Kio Grieco and Candace Nelson get ready to get primped at Reese’s pal Shannon Rotenberg’s house, where the luncheon was held.
Twinning! From left: Jessica Reagans (who works at Pacific Standard, Reese’s production company), Kio Grieco, Mary Alice Haney (founder of luxury fashion line Haney), Candace Nelson (founder of Sprinkles Cupcakes), and Reese’s pal Sarah Moritz.
O Creative Director Adam Glassman was on-hand to help Gayle, Reese, and everyone else get styled just right.
The table is set for lunch, with plenty of Draper James tabletop pieces to round out the decor.
It takes a village—or at the very least, impeccable lighting—to get a photo shoot just right.
The buffet-style menu featured grandma Dorothea’s recipes, including fried chicken, buttermilk biscuits with honey butter, corn salad, and butter lettuce salad.
Reese and Gayle—who, it turns out, was born in Chattanooga, TN—share a laugh.
Gayle (in our Ottoman Stripe Knit Shift Dress), Sarah Moritz (in our Tennessee Tweet Dress), and Reese (in our Lemon Orchard Love Circle Dress) whet their appetites with mint juleps before the meal.
Dressed in our Oak Hill Vine Love Circle Dress, actress and model Molly Sims happily helps herself.
Have you noticed how our Draper James Lemon Plates match Reese’s dress?
The DJ-dressed guests sit down to eat.
Loads of desserts made the affair even sweeter.
Reese never misses a chance to sample her grandmother’s famous coconut layer cake.
Say “cheese”! (Now here’s an outtake you won’t find in O.)
