black tie report
Feb. 26th, 2005 11:41 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
quietannWell, that was interesting. In a good way, too.
I am going to make my obligatory "Child Free" comment right up front -- I am very pleased to note that the only children among the 2000 or so guests at this event were the two "tween" daughters of the curator for the exhibit, who were extremely well-behaved (and the younger one is drop-dead-gorgeous.) Whoever these people are (mostly a variety of MFA donors and people from Merrill-Lynch, which is a sponsor of the exhibit), they get the idea that certain settings are *just not appropriate* for children.
Ben informs me that there was a "Children Welcome" event for high-level donors this morning. Perhaps that gives people enough of a hint to leave the kiddos at home for the black tie evening event where lots of free booze is served.
I think I'll let Ben comment about the exhibit itself, beyond saying that the cars are absolutely gorgeous -- definitely works of art. Also, I will note that on the last Thursday evening of each month (March, April, May, possibly June), the MFA will open the hoods so the gorgeous insides can be seen, also. And that would be the best way to see the cars.
I got the makeup thing figured out -- subtle works for me. Eye shadow (3 different brands -- brown used almost as eyeliner (I can't use real eyeliner), taupe shimmery creme stuff, and a little bit of blue "fairy dust"), mascara (waterproof, but I still hate it), concealer for the 3 most noticeable zits (and it stayed put all night!), pressed powder, blush, and the lipstick that is the same color as my lips. The overall effect was "me, only better" which is what I think makeup is for. I do have a rather heavy crease in each eyelid I hadn't noticed before, but oh well.
I didn't have a leg strap for my insulin pump, but discovered that it stays put just fine in the pubic area when I am wearing "firm control" underwear. Of course, pressing the buttons to give myself a bolus of insulin required a trip to the bathroom, because it looked like I was fondling myself :)
One definite impression from this event: rich women tend to be taller than average. I was decidedly short of stature in this crowd. Also obviously I was fatter than average, but I was expecting that. Luckily, there were only a few downright anorexic-skinny women.
Overall, I was underdressed *on average* for this event, but not enough to feel totally out of place. Black would have been better than deep teal, though I was happy with my dress overall. I would say that 90% of the women were wearing black, ranging from flapperish dresses with lots of dangling beads to ballgowns to shimmery things. Many more wore long dresses than short, with the ones wearing short tending to be younger and have really fabulous legs. Cleavage -- and the occasional obviously enhanced breasts -- is in. Also, black "evening pants" with a nice dressy top are appropriate for a black tie event.
Of course, when "everyone" is wearing black, the real standout outfits tend not to be black, as this list of memorables shows:
My black velvet flats from Zappo's were extremely comfortable -- a good thing, since I was on my feet most of the evening. I saw plenty of other women wearing flats, mostly older women. I also saw a lot of women wearing really uncomfortable looking shoes. I don't know how they do it.
We stayed at the Sheraton. They gave us an upgrade -- to a gorgeous corner suite on the 24th floor, but the room had had a smoker in it. We got moved to an only slightly less nice room on the 25th floor, and they gave us a huge discount for our trouble. So we splurged on a taxi to and from the MFA.
The security guards at the hotel were leafletting and causing minor traffic delays outside. Had *I* been driving, I would have given them a "I support you" honk and a kiss.
There seemed to be absolutely no ticket-checking. This would have been a very easy party to crash. I'm almost tempted to get a group of friends who like to dress up together, and try to crash a future event.
One of Ralph Lauren's sons has a mohawk :)
I am going to make my obligatory "Child Free" comment right up front -- I am very pleased to note that the only children among the 2000 or so guests at this event were the two "tween" daughters of the curator for the exhibit, who were extremely well-behaved (and the younger one is drop-dead-gorgeous.) Whoever these people are (mostly a variety of MFA donors and people from Merrill-Lynch, which is a sponsor of the exhibit), they get the idea that certain settings are *just not appropriate* for children.
Ben informs me that there was a "Children Welcome" event for high-level donors this morning. Perhaps that gives people enough of a hint to leave the kiddos at home for the black tie evening event where lots of free booze is served.
I think I'll let Ben comment about the exhibit itself, beyond saying that the cars are absolutely gorgeous -- definitely works of art. Also, I will note that on the last Thursday evening of each month (March, April, May, possibly June), the MFA will open the hoods so the gorgeous insides can be seen, also. And that would be the best way to see the cars.
I got the makeup thing figured out -- subtle works for me. Eye shadow (3 different brands -- brown used almost as eyeliner (I can't use real eyeliner), taupe shimmery creme stuff, and a little bit of blue "fairy dust"), mascara (waterproof, but I still hate it), concealer for the 3 most noticeable zits (and it stayed put all night!), pressed powder, blush, and the lipstick that is the same color as my lips. The overall effect was "me, only better" which is what I think makeup is for. I do have a rather heavy crease in each eyelid I hadn't noticed before, but oh well.
I didn't have a leg strap for my insulin pump, but discovered that it stays put just fine in the pubic area when I am wearing "firm control" underwear. Of course, pressing the buttons to give myself a bolus of insulin required a trip to the bathroom, because it looked like I was fondling myself :)
One definite impression from this event: rich women tend to be taller than average. I was decidedly short of stature in this crowd. Also obviously I was fatter than average, but I was expecting that. Luckily, there were only a few downright anorexic-skinny women.
Overall, I was underdressed *on average* for this event, but not enough to feel totally out of place. Black would have been better than deep teal, though I was happy with my dress overall. I would say that 90% of the women were wearing black, ranging from flapperish dresses with lots of dangling beads to ballgowns to shimmery things. Many more wore long dresses than short, with the ones wearing short tending to be younger and have really fabulous legs. Cleavage -- and the occasional obviously enhanced breasts -- is in. Also, black "evening pants" with a nice dressy top are appropriate for a black tie event.
Of course, when "everyone" is wearing black, the real standout outfits tend not to be black, as this list of memorables shows:
- Older, grey haired woman with excellent posture wearing a beaded turquoise long dress with a matching jacket. The color matched her eyes *perfectly* and she had great presence.
- Younger woman with a good figure and tiny waist wearing a black sleeveless dress with a wide waistband and "tea length" gathered skirt with crinoline. She had the waist for it.
- Older woman wearing a very well-fitted midnight blue evening gown with silver sparkles. She had a very nice rear end, and knew it :)
- Woman wearing an "ethnic" coat, black with rust and orange embroidery that went well with her hair, over a black taffeta dress.
- A very, very, very tall youngish woman, probably 14 inches taller than me and weighing much less, in a long black dress and pink-with-black-trim Chanel sweater. She was in the bathroom at the same time as me, and when I was at the sink "primping" she stood behind me and primped without me blocking her view in the mirror at all. She was *that* tall.
- Blonde woman, probably my age, gorgeous curly hair, wearing a creamy gold "flapper" gown with very nice beading.
- Young woman wearing a strapless black gown with crystal butterflies embroidered along the bustline -- and one in the back, that looked like it was winking :)
My black velvet flats from Zappo's were extremely comfortable -- a good thing, since I was on my feet most of the evening. I saw plenty of other women wearing flats, mostly older women. I also saw a lot of women wearing really uncomfortable looking shoes. I don't know how they do it.
We stayed at the Sheraton. They gave us an upgrade -- to a gorgeous corner suite on the 24th floor, but the room had had a smoker in it. We got moved to an only slightly less nice room on the 25th floor, and they gave us a huge discount for our trouble. So we splurged on a taxi to and from the MFA.
The security guards at the hotel were leafletting and causing minor traffic delays outside. Had *I* been driving, I would have given them a "I support you" honk and a kiss.
There seemed to be absolutely no ticket-checking. This would have been a very easy party to crash. I'm almost tempted to get a group of friends who like to dress up together, and try to crash a future event.
One of Ralph Lauren's sons has a mohawk :)
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no subject
Date: 2005-02-27 10:27 pm (UTC)On your Child Free Note: Most kids, mine included (who *in general* is quite well behaved), would be *bored stiff* at one of these events. The BT events I have been to with my MIL have *not* included kids, so we have gotten babysitters or made other arrangements for Talis. It makes for a nice Mum & Dad's night out, which come all too infrequently for us.
One of Ralph Lauren's sons has a mohawk :)
Date: 2005-02-28 07:08 pm (UTC)Oh, glad the dressing-up worked out well!
Re: One of Ralph Lauren's sons has a mohawk :)
Date: 2005-02-28 08:53 pm (UTC)One interesting thing: RL and his family are all rather short. Not as short as I am, but definitely below average height.