Fashion on Pointe

Washington Life and Saks Fifth Avenue partnered the perfect pas de deux with The Womens’ Committee of the Washington Ballet on September 20 for a night of fashion, dance and martinis to celebrate the season opener: Septime Webre’s “Carmen/Nine Sinatra Songs / Serenade,” running November 2-6 at the John F. Kennedy Center. Sinatra was the theme of the evening— his music, his hip joie de vivre, and his sophisticated style that Washingtonians and the “Rat Pack” alike adore. The holiday fashion preview was modeled by company dancers, board members, womens’ committee volunteers and their spouses and children. It was a night with all the right moves for the Washington Ballet.

OUR HOLIDAY HIT LIST
For an evening at the ballet, or a night on the town.

1 ANYTHING VELVET
Black and rich jeweled tones as tuxedos, pants, blazers, gowns, skirts, shoes, boots and capes
2 THE COCKTAIL DRESS
Channel Sarah Jessica Parker in a full, flirty knee length dress that has motion and screams “let’s dance and have a martini!”
3 THE EMPIRE STRIKES
Empire, goddess gowns that drape and flow or sensuously hug the body in ruched curves.
4 COLOR WATCH
Black is the new black—again; Browns and bronze; Gold on its own or as accents and as accessories; Purple, eggplant and the Bordeaux family of colors
5 FUR: REAL AND FAUX
Coats, collar, capes, capelets and woven throws
6 OPULENT JEWELRY
Real or faux Jet beads, gold, tassels, glamorous gems, oversized cocktail rings and exotic chandelier earrings—but watch the proportion of necklace to earrings!
7 EVENING BOOTS
Who knew boots would be heading for cocktails? Wear a hot new croc, snakeskin or velvet boot

Company Dancers AARON JACKSON AND MORGANN ROSE Morgann in Martin Grant black cocktail dress and Chanel pearl belt and shoes. Aaron in Dolce& Gabbana Brocade blazer; Armani tuxedo pants, and Zegna French Cuffed shirt and black silk tie.

The models take a final walk down the runway	RAFAEL ALFONZO Jeté Society Steering Committee, wearing Favourbrook wine velvet tuxedo and black wildabout- cashmere turtleneck.

DEBORAH SIGMUND Washington Ballet Board, and Womens’ Committee member, in Melinda Eng Peacock blue chiffon gown, white mink capelet and Stuart Weitzman sandals.	DONNA PITTSENBERGER Womens’ Committee member in Carlos Miele purple silk print halter dress and Prada mules escorted by twin sons,	SHERI ROSENFELD 2005 Ballet Gala Chair, in Carmen Marc Valvo Black velvet strapless gown with pink tulle trim and Prada black suede platform pumps.

MARY HAFT Washington Ballet Board member, in Naeem Khan gold goddess gown with crystal embellishments and Gold Manolo Blahnik sandals. LAURA HAFT who attends the Maret School and the Washington Ballet School, in Cynthia Steffe Boho chic velvet dress and gold Manolo Blahnik flats.	SHIGEKO BORK Women’s Committee member, in Carlos Miele purple chiffon gown and fur and silk shrug with Isaac satin heels.	MARGARET DUDAS Womens’Committee member, in Armani black velvet dinner jacket and cashmere skirt with Stuart Weitzman black satin heels.

KACZMAREK Washington Ballet dancer, in Melinda Eng burgundy tulle dress and Gucci horsebit patent pumps.	FARIDA WOZNIAK President of the Women’s Committee, in Wayne Clark bronze taffeta cocktail dress and Prada mules. Husband, BOB WOZNIAK in Canali tuxedo, Saks Tuxedo shirt, Carrot and Gibbs vest and Brioni silk tie. Son, FARID WOZNIAK, in John Varvatos pinstriped slacks, dress shirt, and Corduroy tuxedo blazer with Gucci boots.

SEPTIME WEBRE, Artistic Director of the Washington Ballet and KAY KENDALL, president of the Board of the Washington Ballet. Septime in Armani velvet tuxedo and Favourbrook black ruffled dress shirt. Kay in Oscar de la Renta tulle and sequined cocktail dress with Manolo Blahnik gold sandals.

SAVE THE DATE
Washington Life is proud to sponsor this year’s Washington Ballet’s NUTTY OR NICE BALL featuring a gala reception with dinner and dancing immediately following the opening of Septime Webre’s The Nutcracker at the Willard Intercontinental Hotel on December 2; with chair Gahl Hodges Burt.
And, reserve tickets now for The Nutcracker, December 1-24. Visit www.washingtonballet.org or
by phone (202) 362-3606 ext. 11

SPECIAL THANKS TO SAKS FIFTH AVENUE
for their gracious and fashionable hospitality: Catherine Bartels, General Manager; Andrew Blecher, public relations and fashion director; Brian Dire; Susan Neimann and Ridgewells for catering the evening. Also, special thanks to Armani Cosmetics for models makeup; Mary Bird, assistant director for the Womens’ Committee; all the volunteers who made the show so memorable; and Heidi Schroder, Special Events Director of the Washington Ballet.

By Barbara McConaghy - Photographed by Zaid Hamid