Publisher's Letter

You want to be fashionable at this season’s events, and we’ll give you some fabulous tips on that in a moment. But, first, have you ever been ready to leave for a party and suddenly experienced a wardrobe malfunction? Or, once having arrived at a black-tie gala, come face-to-face with someone wearing the very dress you have on?

We thought a little Fashion Emergency 101 might come in handy and sought the help of some of the area’s most seasoned party-goers. They agreed to share their war stories and advice on getting through crises with ease and grace. I promised not to reveal their names.

Our first fashion victim was traveling by car to an event wearing her short, new Valentino knock-off when the zipper on her dress split open. The zipper wouldn’t move up or down, she explains. And, to make matters worse, she says, "I didn’t have a slip or panties on!" She returned home quickly, handed her husband a pair of scissors and had him cut her out of the dress with a few adroit snips. Ten minutes later, she had whipped on a long gown from Marissa’s and set out for the gala again, looking, her husband said, like a "vision." Pretty smooth work. And just two weeks later, a replacement knock-off arrived, ready to be trotted out for her next gala event. She’s wondering, she says, if "the second time around is better."

Sometimes you can fend off a fashion emergency through force of will. That’s what got a woman we’ll call our Spanx Lady through one event without anticipated fuss and bother. We all know how Spanx does wonders to make you look your best in form-hugging gowns, and we all know the difficulties in wrestling them on and off. Our Spanx Lady, not wanting to endure such stress on trips to the ladies’ room, vowed to hold her water for as long as necessary. Twelve hours later, she arrived home happy from the event and successful in her mission. It was only when she wriggled out of her Spanx that she noticed—way too late—a convenient opening in the panties of the hose. Where there’s a will, sometimes there’s no need to use it.

Our next case involves two women attending the same gala, each knowing she is wearing a very expensive, one-of-a-kind gown. Naturally, when they meet, they see they are wearing identical gowns. One bought hers in California, and the other got hers in Naples. When it was clarified that they had not been sold the same dress by the same fashion retailer, one of them graciously left the ball and changed into something else. Their lesson: Two Wangs don’t make a right.

Tragedy struck our next gala victim at the registration table for the much-anticipated Magnolia Ball. She had bought the perfect gown from Saks more than a year ahead of time. It was a beautiful red and crème Carmen Marc Valvo halter. Just minutes after she and her husband arrived, she felt a tug on the back of her dress, and in a matter of seconds, she says, "my dress was ripped away, leaving a big hole." Her husband, unaware, had been standing on the train of her gown. Fortunately, the lining of the gown remained intact, so she coolly held her glass of wine in one hand, the back of her dress together with the other hand, and somehow got through the cocktail reception without further ado.

Now for the promised heads-up on gala dressing this season. Our fashion director, Derek Warburton, tells me that first and foremost—skin is in. Whether it’s strapless, scoop or wide neck, or open back, gowns will reveal plenty of flesh. Another trend can be found in the color and fabrics displayed in the ballrooms. Jewel tones as well as metallics and taffeta are hot, and black is back in a huge way—embellished with stones in many colors. And Derek says that short dresses are also big this season. You’ll be inspired by a symphony of colors, materials and shapes in this issue’s feature on gala fashion.

Enjoy our fourth annual Charity Register and the upcoming gala-giving season!