politi-couture for the urbane sophisticate
Michelle Obama will donate her monstrous diaper and toilet paper-inspired inaug dress to the Smithsonian Tuesday. Flanked by the designer Jason Wu, the FLOTUS will be entering her dress in the First Lady’s Collection at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of History next week.
It was a night of art for all ages. The Smithsonian American Art Museum’s ARTrageous gala was fun for both seasoned art historians as well as young attendees just beginning their collecting experience. Wide-eyed and dressed to the nines, ARTrageous guests brought out their most artistic accessories, like funky jewelry, bedazzled ties, pastel-dyed feather boas, sequined headpieces, and everything in between.
The centerpiece was a fabulous glass form of a dress, created by Karen LaMonte. “Reclining Dress Impression with Drapery” was the perfect piece for the evening’s blend of art and fashion. Guests swilled designer cocktails and ate delicious decadent bites while dancing around the illuminated piece.
Nick Verreos of “Project Runway” fame was also one of the VIP guests, doling out fashion advice as though he was one of the many perky attendants offering up Champagne everywhere you turned. Verreos took pictures with starstruck guests, who prodded on his take over following seasons’ contestants and the beauty of LaMonte’s sadly unwearable beautiful glass dress.
The evening concluded with a kicky DJ spinning everything from pop to techno to old frat house throwbacks. It was an evening replete with every form of art and fashion to span all ages and tastes.
Images courtesy of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, photo by Tony Brown/Imijination Photography.
Spend an ARTrageous evening at the Smithsonian American Art Museum!
Purchase tickets at the ARTthusiastic Sponsor level ($1,000) and attend an exclusive dinner and discussion with Project Runway contestant Nick Verreos and artist Karen LaMonte, whose artwork Reclining Dress Impression with Drapery will be featured.
Tickets to the gala reception ($150) include live music by Blues Alley; a dinner buffet and open bar; and late-night dancing with DJ Menan.
7:00–9:00 p.m. Special Dinner with artist Karen LaMonte and fashion designer Nick Verreos
8:00–11:30 p.m. Gala Reception with live music
Smithsonian American Art Museum
8th & F Streets, NW, Washington, D.C.
Purchase tickets below, or call (202) 633-4550 for assistance.
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Kate Moss in a fabulous Swarovski 1920s-inspired dress
Perhaps in denial of the tanking economy, organizations have been capitalizing on the booming economic culture displayed during the Roaring Twenties. So seems the case in two very successful galas that adopted this as their theme in downtown DC.
The Washington Performing Arts Society Annual Gala, as well as the Smithsonian Young Benefactor’s Gala, made use of opulent 1920s décor to take attendees from the harsh realities of today’s financial crises to the thriving and exciting times leading up to Black Tuesday.
The Washington Performing Arts Society (WPAS), which boasted a guest list of over 600 and auctioned fabulous items and packages for the black-tie-attired, brought in saucy female models dressed in chic flapper costumes. These ladies bounced along with the jazz instrumentalists during the reception, and mingled with attendees to offer even more 1920s ambiance to the crowd. The celebrity guest Wynton Marsalis also added star-power with his fabulous bebop trumpet performance.
The 1920s style is almost automatically glamorous, with its bright red lips, tight finger curls, and drop-waist dresses with trimmings as creative as plumage and paillettes. The original inspiration for the 1920s flapper was the newfound power and money that Americans had after the end of World War I. Women were able to wear clothing that allowed greater range of motion. This era also saw the appearance of the first all-in-one lingerie, so liberated women were throwing out their restrictive corsets in favor of these sassy new pieces. Of course, the logical result was fast (and, sometimes, loose) dancing.
The Young Benefactor’s Gala at the Smithsonian, like the WPAS, had a Roaring Twenties theme; however, the younger crowd seemed to embrace the more imaginative aspect of this era. The décor of the beautiful Donald W. Reynolds Center featured a more creative approach, with fluorescent pink and yellow feathers, boas cascading out of martini glasses, and a saucy title to the evening: “All That Jazz.” Attendees accessorized with faux slender cigarettes, highly rouged lips and cheeks, and feather-adorned headpieces.
If you’re feeling down and out about your economic standpoint, try out any of the defiant fashions of the 1920s. It’s an inexpensive way to give yourself a mental boost and put yourself in the shoes, or rather, T-strap heels, of a wealthy flapper.
As written for Examiner.com.
