Life is like a Masquerade Ball

Ever since Eye's Wide Shut, I think attending a ultra chic masquerade party, has been lingering in the back of everyones mind. Though I wasn't able to find one in time for this years NYE, Gilt Groupe is featuring Art of Elysium Designer Masquerade sale on December 30, and so far it looks absolutely fantastic! Heres some background;

"Last October, Gilt enlisted 12 A-list designers — including Catherine Malandrino, Tory Burch, Peter Som and Behnaz Sarapfour — to create one-of-a-kind, Venetian-style masks for celebrities to don at a masquerade gala in Marfa, Texas. The event benefited the Art of Elysium, a non-profit organization that works with children battling serious medical conditions. Now, you have an exclusive chance to snap up these extraordinary designer creations; a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Art of Elysium."

Backstory

Founded in 1997, the Art of Elysium works with accomplished artists, musicians and actors, who volunteer their time to participate in creative workshops for children battling serious medical conditions. The organization has helped thousands of children learn everything from singing to painting to fashion design, and garnered a long list of celebrity supporters along the way.

Heres a preview of whats to come! If you're not a member of Gilt Groupe please enjoy the invitation below, this is one of the many sales, featured daily at sample prices!

Gilt Groupe Invite

New Years Party Definitions

With New Years Eve just around the corner, event invitations can get quite confusing. While my rule of thumb is, its better to be over dressed than under dressed, you still want to be appropriate. Not only for New Years Eve celebrations, but all social events in the coming year. I found this helpful guide on about fashion.com, and its gives a pretty clear outline on party definitions;

A Black Tie invitation calls for formal attire. Men wear tuxedos, women wear cocktail, long dresses or dressy evening separates.

Formal usually means the same as Black Tie, but in some trendier cities like New York or Los Angeles, it could mean a black shirt, no tie with a tux. Women wear cocktail, long dresses or dressy evening separates.
 A White Tie or Ultra-forma invitation requires men wear full dress, with white tie, vest, shirt. Women wear long gowns.

Black Tie Optional

A Black Tie Optional orBlack Tie Invited gives you the option of wearing a tuxedo or formal dress, but it should clue you into the formality of the event, meaning a dark suit and tie would be your other option. Women wear cocktail long dresses or dressy evening separates.

Creative Black Tie

Creative Black Tie leaves room for trendy interpretations of formal wear. He can go more modern with a tux -- maybe a black shirt, no tie. She wears long or short dresses or evening separates.

Sometimes, themed parties call for dress codes like Texas Black Tie or other variations ofCreative Black Tie. In that situation, you can have more fun with it, choosing a dressy look with a theme (for him, it could be a tux with boots and for her it could be a long dress paired with Southwestern style silver belt and jewelry).

Semi-Formal

Semi-Formal or After Five means that tuxes are not required, nor are long dresses. An evening wedding (after 6 PM) would still dictate dark suits for him, and a cocktail dress for her. Daytime semi-formal events mean a suit for him and an appropriate short dress or dressy suit for her.

Business Formal is the same as Semi-Formal for him, but for women it suggests that women opt for more tailored dressy suits and dresses (nothing too slinky or sexy).

Cocktail Attire

Cocktail Attire means short, elegant dresses for her and dark suits for him.

Informal

Informal is often interpreted as the same as Casual but it actually calls for the same dress asSemi-Formal -- dark suits for him, short dresses for her -- especially when associated with a wedding or special event.

Festive Attire

Festive Attire is usually seen around the holidays, with the mood of the party being Informalor Semi-Formal. For her, it means to choose looks with a bit of sparkle or holiday bent (i.e. a beaded sweater with black pants, a red silk blouse with a black skirt).

Casual

Dressy Casual calls for dressed-up versions of casual looks. For him, it could be trousers and a sportcoat, for her a dressy pants look. Jeans, shorts, T-shirts and other casual looks are not appropriate for Dressy Casual.

Casual generally means anything goes.