Earlier this year, I was delighted to attend the annual Cartier-sponsored Black & White Ball honoring Mitzi Gaynor as Nevada Ballet Theatre’s 2013 Woman of the Year.  The grande dame of Las Vegas philanthropic affairs, at the Black & White Ball the attire is formal, the accessories are dazzling, and the atmosphere is effervescent.

Mitzi (the woman) was – in the words of RuPaul – “looking good and feeling gorgeous!”  What’s more, the event’s Honorary Chairman was Gaynor’s longtime friend and costumer, the legendary Bob Mackie – and he just couldn’t have been kinder.  What a guy!  Upon meeting him, I was giddy, telling him how one of my dearest friends, Billy Erb, had seen his exhibit on display at New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology, some years ago, and had been so taken by it that he named his new New Wave band Beadz On Nude Illusion (after the name of a fabric used by Mackie in one of his glittering confections).  As I’d hoped, Mother Mackie took this as a terrific tribute.

Also in attendance (and wearing vintage Mackie) was Pia Zadora.   Teensy enough that I wanted to fold her in half and slide her into my pocket, Zadora was as cute as the proverbial button.

Unfortunately, I was suffering from a torn muscle and broken rib (as a result of the horrendous coughing fits I’d been plagued with, as part of that horrible flu that sidelined me for most of January), and as the VIP Cocktail Reception was about to flow into the ballroom where the other attendees were perusing the silent auction, someone elbowed me in the ribs, causing me to double over, lose my breath, turn grey, and very nearly vomit all over the immaculately dressed Diana Bennett and Scott Menke (at whose table I was sitting).  As a result, I missed what I’ve been told was an absolutely sensational evening.

On the plus side, I can now wear the sensational Yohji Yamamoto dinner jacket that Jacob had procured for me, again, without being called-out for “repeating” (maybe at Keep Memory Alive’s annual Power of Love gala, on April 13th?).  Stay tuned!

Mitzi Gaynor honored as 2013 Woman of the Year
Nevada Ballet Theatre – Black & White Ball
Bellagio

Get into it!