Smithson 2007 Gala
Pictures from the Party
Lots of pictures... please be patient as they download!
In our rush to get out the door, we never did do an "official" night-of-the-party picture. So another attendee offered to take one of us. You can see the matching vest and tie I made for Bob (which I finished about an hour before we had to leave). I couldn't find the original pattern for his vest, so I traced the one I made for the 2004 gala. The vest was lined with black cotton sateen drapery lining; that's what forms the lapels.
The evening started with cocktails on the second floor of the Museum of American Art. We spread out inside and also took advantage of the lovely evening by strolling along a second floor balcony overlooking F Street, right across the street from the International Spy Museum. The museum closed at 7, which was when the cocktail party started, so people in fancy dress were filing in as tourists in jeans and shorts were filing out. It was an interesting juxtaposition.
If the evening's clothing had any particular trend, I would have to say "monochromatic". Most women wore solid color dresses.
There were also a LOT of sequins and sparkles, but not a lot of beadwork. More women were also wearing shorter skirts and there were a fair number of pantsuits as well.
Lots of black dresses, and many variations of black on black. The predominant silhouette was long and lean; pouffed skirts like these were in the minority.
Isn't this every woman's nightmare? These outfits weren't exactly identical, but they were close enough.
More black and white; this was one of the few high-contrast patterns.
And yes, the men were uniformly boring. The only exception to the standard black tux was one gentleman who wore a white (well, more like eggshell) tux.
At last! Some color. She said she had purchased this chinese-themed jacket from the Smithsonian online store.
Sitting next to her was a lady sporting the most gorgeous silk velvet shawl; I wish I'd gotten a picture. She told me she purchased it in Italy, after watching it being made. It was a "burnout" velvet, with a green and lilac floral pattern in velvet on a sheer silk ground. The scarves are woven two at a time, with the velvet fibers spanning the two silk pieces, and they are then sheared apart to produce two mirror-image scarves.
This was truly the only splash of combined color that we saw all evening.
The dress on the right was just exquisite in all respects: color, design and fit.
More monochrome. I loved the godet on the green gown.
One of the least formal outfits at the event. This ivory two-piece was knitted, and had the appearance of a very comfy fuzzy sweater all the way to the knees.
More short skirts, monotones, and pants. Spike heels were everywhere.
This pantsuit fabric kept changing color depending upon the angle and the lighting.
The gown on the right was one of the few "daring" styles. There were no plunging necklines or high slits this year.
More monochrome, long and lean.
And yet more long and lean monochrome. This was a very subtle damask-type jaquard.
The flashiest dress of the evening, worn by someone whose figure really did it justice.
Note, too, the sheer sleeve on the lady at left. There were quite a few outfits with this feature (including mine). A new fashion trend, perhaps? I don't remember seeing quite so many at an event before.
The Great Hall, where the dinner was held. As large as the room was, it couldn't accommodate all the guests, so tables were set all the way down the two hallway wings on either side of the main hall. We ended up on the next-to-last table on one of the wings -- no doubt because we had sent our RSVP in right at the deadline.
The tables had alternating floral arrangements: either very tall as in the front table, or low and puffy like the table behind it.
The first course, a very simple salad. The tables were beautifully set.
Enjoying dinner.
After dessert we went into the hall next door for the dessert buffet and dancing. Oh boy, were the desserts good: everything from a sinful chocolate mousse to some excellent cheeses and a coffee-flavored cheesecake.
At 10:30, we headed outside to retrieve our car from the valet parking. All in all, it was a wonderful evening -- as usual! And I look forward to yet another year of making a gown and sharing the process. Thanks as always for all the comments and suggestions!