From Dallas to Divas

By Lisa Duncan

“The exciting thing about polo is the thunder of the horses’ hooves. You really feel it!” exclaimed Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, his unmistakable southern drawl exulting in the experience of Sunday polo in Santa Barbara. Spending part of the summer here while the Cowboys conduct training camp in Oxnard, the billionaire sports icon has become a temporary Montecito regular. “Polo is exciting to watch, and I should know – I’m in sports!” he laughed before adding. “About the first time they hit the ball, it came over and almost hit us in the head!”

Jones quickly became part of the festivities, throwing out the ceremonial first ball before returning to the terrace to enjoy the game with friends. 

“It’s just this beautiful symphony of the horse with the rider, making it all come together,” reflected legendary 1980s supermodel Kim Alexis. “The horse knows how to play. The horse makes the game. That symphony of working together is what fascinates me.”

For Alexis and her husband, Jeff Schwartz, who played polo in the past, the afternoon marked a personal milestone. Ten years ago – almost to the day – they met at a polo match and shared their very first kiss beside the fields.

“Today was symbolic for us because we met ten years ago,” Alexis smiled. “It was August 5th that we met in 2016 and kissed for the first time on the field.”

As she leaned over and kissed her husband beneath the Santa Ynez Mountains, the tears in his eyes said everything. Their return to polo wasn’t just an anniversary – it was where their story began.

Earlier that day, Alexis enjoyed visiting fellow supermodel Kathy Ireland, who joined Kim for “Inside the ‘80s Supermodel World,” a new episode of UnExpired: When Change Becomes Strength, Kim’s podcast celebrating resilience, reinvention, and life’s next chapters. “We’re very excited about my new podcast!” Kim said, inviting everyone to give it a listen.

“It was during Fashion Week… actually to kick off Fashion Week,” explained fashion devotee Jan Ray of where she found her dress, whose cream Carolina Herrera gown with oversized black polka dots turned heads. Jan discovered the striking dress during a special Carolina Herrera reception celebrating the new boutique’s opening in Palm Desert. Fresh from the desert with friends Natalie Axl and Michelle Nichols, Jan brought a touch of Carolina’s couture to an afternoon with fashionable friends Dr. Richard and Annette Caleel, who looked just as dazzling.

While style captivated the spectators, the action on the field was equally memorable as La Karina celebrated its win, with Jerry Jones joining onstage for the presentation. Football royalty, supermodels, high goal polo, and Carolina Herrera couture blended effortlessly into one quintessential Montecito afternoon.

As fans continued chanting “Jerry! Jerry!” and lined up with polo balls for his autograph, Jerry summed up his fun afternoon with a southern grin.

“Well, it’s unpredictable and a whole lot of fun. That’s what makes this so exciting. There’s a story here, and we’re following the story.”

On this particular Sunday, that story just happened to stretch from Dallas to Montecito – with a little magic in between.