Southern Women of Style at Alys Beach

The table is set for Southern Women of Style on Alys Beach, Florida’s Central Park Lawn.

Guests are greeted with cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and tea sandwiches as they arrive.

Panelists Barrie Benson, Haskell Harris, and Elaine Griffin discuss everything from personal style to growing up in the South and what it means to be a Southern woman today.

Attendees sip champagne during cocktail hour.

A Covey Rise Farms arugula and kale salad with roasted squash, whipped feta, pickled pearl onions, benne seeds, and white balsamic vinaigrette is served as the luncheon’s first course.

A group of Alys Beach residents gather for a photo.

From left: Tracee Louthain and Caroline Boone enjoy the luncheon.

The meal’s main course is a fire-roasted gulf shrimp dish served with Carolina Gold Rice “grits,” snap beans, French sorrel, and she-crab.

From left: Celia Tucker and Cindy Krutz.

During the discussion, the featured speakers read excerpts from Southern Women and take questions from the audience.

Guests revel in the panelists’ stories about Southern roots and design practices. 

After lunch, guests have their copies of Southern Women signed by Barrie, Haskell, and Elaine.