Prez Ball 09

Every year the Country Club throws a big ol' bash called the "President's Ball" which is ostensibly to honor the incoming president (this year it's Terry Powell! Yay! A woman!) and also any other old presidents who might still be hanging around.
But actually it's mainly a night for everyone to get all dressed up in their jewels & furs & what-not, to drink ice-cold martinis made in an ice-cold bar carved out of ice-cold ice, to eat a fabulous 6 course meal, and to dance the night away to a mediocre band. I came home with my toe bleeding. Someone always steps on me. Two years ago I actually had a toe broken on that dance floor. So if anyone knows where I can get steel-toe stilettos, please let me know.
This year was a year to cut back, we all know that. Many of us went shopping in our own closets and retrieved something we'd worn in years past. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
And there was black. So much black. A sea of blackness. A huge, black hole of black dresses and pantsuits and other black things. Plus it was cold outside. Icy-cold. As cold as that martini bar. So I think a lot of women went more casual, with more pants and jackets than usual, just to stay warm.
Ok, so there wasn't a ton of style to see, but here are a few highlights:
Terri, looking bright, shiny, & slinky in this cocktail dress that shimmered between black and silver. Great layered silver necklace & sequiny little evening bag, too.

Terri's Manolo Blanik's--fabulous, velvety, embroidered vintage pumps courtesy of E-Bay! Love it.

Cindi wore bright Christmas red in the Black Sea--a flowing, tiered chiffon. Loved her pearl & some-kind-of-stone (opal?) choker necklace & oversized earrings. From my favorite shop in town--the Gift Shop at Memorial! Smart.

Sorry--here's that dang ugly carpet again! Sally had on the most elegant black satin D'Orsay pumps with gold embellishment. Manolo Blaniks again (these Schaake ladies have good taste) BUT she found them for half-price, how lucky is that? She said she bought them on a trip when she had forgotten her bag. I'm gonna try that next time I go somewhere....