For Wyatt, philanthropy starts with passion Photo of Molly Glentzer Molly Glentzer March 23, 2016 More Comments Print 18 1 of 18Lynn Wyatt wears a Jenny Packham top and Chanel evening pants at her home in Houston.Photo: Gary Coronado, Staff 2 of 18Sir Elton John, from left, Wyatt and Philip Glass at the Houston Grand Opera 50th anniversary Golden Jubilee in 2005.Photo: Dave Rossman, freelance 3 of 18Lynn Wyatt and Gary Tinterow at the La Perla Houston Boutique Opening Champagne Reception at Wyatt's home last September.Photo: Dave Rossman, Freelance 4 of 18Houston Ballet artistic director Stanton Welch escorted Lynn Wyatt to the dance floor for a special performance when the company honored her at its 2013 gala.Photo: Gary Fountain, Freelance 5 of 18Alley Theatre artistic director Gregory Boyd and Lynn Wyatt at the Alley Ball in 2010.Photo: Dave Rossman, Freelance 6 of 18Lynn Wyatt was the belle of the ball at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston's Black and White Ball in her honor last October.Photo: Gary Fountain, For the Chronicle 7 of 18Wes Anderson, from left, Lynn Wyatt and Tilda Swinton at the Rothko Chapel Visionary Award Gala in 2014.Photo: Gary Fountain, Freelance 8 of 18Sir Elton John, from left, Wyatt and Philip Glass at the Houston Grand Opera 50th anniversary Golden Jubilee in 2005.Photo: Paddle8.com, Photographer 9 of 18Sir Elton John, from left, Wyatt and Philip Glass at the Houston Grand Opera 50th anniversary Golden Jubilee in 2005.Photo: Paddle8.com, Photographer 10 of 18Sir Elton John, from left, Wyatt and Philip Glass at the Houston Grand Opera 50th anniversary Golden Jubilee in 2005.Photo: Paddle8.com, Photographer 11 of 18A vintage 1980s tartan plaid ballgown by Emanuel Ungaro is among the haute couture pieces from Lynn Wyatt's collection being auctioned at Feb. 15-29 on the website Paddle8.com to benefit the Rothko Chapel.Photo: Paddle8.com, Photographer 12 of 18A 1980s ballgown by Valentino from Lynn Wyatt's collection is among the haute couture pieces being auctioned at Feb. 15-29 on the website Paddle8.com to benefit the Rothko Chapel.Photo: Paddle8.com, Photographer 13 of 18One of several 1980s Yves Saint Laurent haute couture ballgowns from Lynn Wyatt's collection being auctioned at Feb. 15-29 on the website Paddle8.com to benefit the Rothko Chapel.Photo: Paddle8.com, Photographer 14 of 18Lynn Wyatt performs a dance choreographed by Stanton Welch with dancers from the Houston Ballet.Photo: Gary Fountain, Freelance 15 of 18(For the Chronicle/Gary Fountain, February 16, 2013) Honoree Lynn Wyatt performing a special dance choreographed by Stanton Welch, with 17 dancers from the Houston Ballet,Photo: Gary Fountain, Freelance 16 of 18Oscar Wyatt, from left, Liza Minnelli, Lynn Wyatt and Billy Stritch at a Trees of Hope Gala. FULTON DAVENPORT PHOTOPhoto: FULTON DAVENPORT 17 of 18(L to R) Robert Thurman, Visionary Honoree, Spirituality and Lynn Wyatt, Gala Chair at the 40th Anniversary Celebration of the Rothko Chapel at the Houston Country Club on Wednesday, May 18, 2011.(Alan Warren, For the Chronicle)Photo: Alan Warren, Freelance 18 of 18Cornelia Long, from left, Lynn Wyatt and Rich and Nancy Kinder at the public unveiling of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston's expansion plan by Steven Holl Architects.Photo: Jenny Antill

Lynn Wyatt, the grand dame of Houston society and one of the world's most glamorous women, has a philosophy about entertaining:

"You've got to throw a good party. My theory about anything that hasn't been done before is, you'd better go all out because you only have one chance. One kiss at the pig. And if it's not a good kiss, they're not going to come back," she said, unleashing her famously throaty laugh.