Glitter and Gloom 2013

My dears, my dears, it is time for the Best Dressed Event of the Season - yes, my Darlings, we are talking about Glitter and Gloom!

Just what is it about Baltimore that makes all the Kindred bring out such fashionable fashions? We almost didn't have any Worst Dressed Entries! (Almost, darlings, almost!)

Dear Mid-West - this how you do a theme!  XOXO love, Baltimore!

Seriously, darlings, seriously. This is how you do a theme for your party. Not crappy Ren Faire but with style. Oh Baltimore, how we love you so. Seriously. Your sense of style and fashion warms our cold, undead hearts. Friday Night's theme was "Clubs Throughout Time" and it was delicious. So many people in truly fabulous club wear through out the ages. Saturday was the Black, White and Silver Screen Ball. To say the fashions were divine is an understatement!

Truly, dear sweet Kindred, look no farther than Baltimore to know how to dress for a party!! We had a plethora of amazing things to bring to you, it was so hard to chose! It was not hard, however, to find Worst Dressed - as we had so few contestants. We did find a few for your viewing pleasure, of course!!


Best Dressed

Crash: This guy had it going on in with is bowler hat, walking stick, french cuffs, and wild west style. It's hard to pull off a walking stick.  Most of the time, people just end up looking like rejects from the set of Lord of the Rings, but  Solomon Bawler, Nosferatu, Harpy of Philadelphia  was simply smashing.

Burn:Gentleman-style! A truly smashing affair. The whole look was perfect, down to the accessories. Love the tie!! Hip hip, cheerio! (That's Victorian for snaps!)

Crash:  Lilah's been real hit or miss this past season.  This year's event in Baltimore was more of the same.  Saturday night, this kitten sported a sleek black dress with a faux leather corset feature that had little black rubber spikes on the shoulders and the front panels.  Just the right amount, too.  With the 50s Marilyn Monroe hair, and the amazing framing on that neckline, Ms. Ashford was elegantly, if dangerously dressed.

Burn: The oh, so lovely Anarch, Lilah Ashford. This amazing dress and corset number totally shows off her assets. Ahem. Love the spike details on the shoulders as well!

Crash: Olivia, Brujah from Hartford had this sweet rockabilly thing happening with her Friday night outfit.  The fabric was inspired by 50s horror comics, and though not captured in the sketch, she had bits of cherry red crinoline peeking out from under that epic circle skirt.  The hair and the earrings frame her face beautifully, and with those strappy shoes, she stood almost six foot four.  Say what you will about tall ladies, but they should never be afraid to rock out with their Amazon selves, and wear heels as high as they want.  Any man who says otherwise has something to compensate for.  I love me some tall ladies.
  
Burn: Look at those earrings and the hair! I love the swooshy skirt and the colors of the dress. The Jacket just *makes* the outfit. Gorgeous and fun.

Crash: Oz Stevenson, Toreador Harpy of Westchester County, NY might easily have been mistaken for the Wizard.  (There was an entire homage to the cast of the 1939 film running around - more on this later).  He looked dashing in his classic black tie with the enchanting lady in green, Ms. Lilyan Townsend, Toreador  of .. oh wherever she lives now.  Maybe Annapolis.  That emerald satin gown is effortlessly classy with its origami-inspired floral details in matching fabric.  THIS is how it done, people.  THIS.

Burn: Green is apparently Ms. Townsend's color. I love the little accents with Mr. Stevenson's attire, the white pocket square just makes this outfit. Really, Crash, while they look perfectly lovely, compared to the fabulousness and fun outfits of the evening, I am less impressed.

Crash:  Rook, Toreador Prince of Annapolis on Saturday night looking rather sleek, modern and cut in his black and white ensemble.  This guy makes white look both elegant and easy.  Reclining in a board room chair overlooking the stylish Fell's Point in Baltimore, Prince Rook has it down.

Burn: This makes up for the horrible Hawaiian shirt at Nonclave 2012 event. Seriously! Prince Rook, such a hottie in this gorgeous white jacket. I am going to swoon here.

Crash: Simple, classic strapless dress, with a sweetheart neckline and a fishtail hem draped so beautifully off of the frame of Archon Victoria Hunter.  Take notes, class.  Take notes.

Burn:  Snaps, Archon Hunter!! All of your compatriot Archons who attended were wearing the most boring of suits. You brought some well-needed style to the Archon ranks. Seriously stunning.













Worst Dressed

Crash: Is it Madonna? Is it Lady Gaga?  Nope, just Lena!, Brujah former Prince from Cedar Rapids? in an 80s-inspired ensemble with little lace gloves.

Burn: Oh Lena!  We know you can't see yourself in the mirror, but seriously, hire some ghoul stylists so that you don't make this mistake again. This outfit is like a cross between Holly-Go-Lightly and Pretty in Pink.Seriously! We are officially removing that exclamation point at the end of your name until you learn how to dress better!!! No exclamation points for you!

Crash:  Lilah Ashford, Brujah Anarch from Hartford seems to have something against pants.  Friday night, she wore, um, no pants.  This sequined magenta spandex one-piece paired with 5 inch heels with a one-inch platforms certainly showcased her assets.  Ahem.


Burn:  Lilah, darling, you did so well the next night but Friday club night - woah. Just. Um. Wow.  The hair and the top are divine -- but shortie shorts and stiletos??

Crash: Jane Woodward, Nosferatu from Westchester County, NY in a tangerine orange strapless mermaid gown, hipster glasses, and that ridiculous hat.  Remember what we said about trade marks?  This was not what we meant.

Burn:  The hat... the orange gown? Gawd.Jane, Jane, Jane. Please, for the love of all things, ditch that hat. It's worse than Julius Cole's terrible topper.

 Worst Dressed (and Best Dressed!)- - Our hats are off to the Court of Baltimore -  Tin Man (Samantha Hart - Seneschal), Glenda the Good Witch (Alicia Knight - Keeper), Dorothy (Mercy  - Harpy), but, seriously, Prince Luther Rommel of Baltimore - a "cowardly" medal necklace for your Cowardly Lion costume!! For SHAME. BOOO!!!! This was your super fabulous party! At least put in an effort! The rest of your court went above and beyond to match the Silver Screen theme and looked fantastic. We are sure you could have stolen Prince Tommy Truelove's fur coat and worn that as a costume! Boo!! 

Best Hair

Shoes were so 2012!

This year, my sweet dark things, this year, we will focus on the best hairstyles of the Season - with the big reveal at the end of the year. So far, we have a number of utterly lovely contenders:

Crash: Thick, beautiful twisted interpretation of the simple bun.  The dangly hair sticks add an element of interest.

Burn: I love the elegance of this up-do. Just perfect and shows off that lovely neck and tattoos of hers. Sif Wulfsdottir, Toreador of Baltimore - hats off! :)

Crash:  Faux bangs, Bettie Paige style accented with a little floral fascinator.  Very nice.


Burn:  This lovely Rock-a-billy style is being sported by Olivia, Brujah from Hartford. Love it.

Crash:  The deep burgundy curls of Juliette, Toreador Seneschal of Westchester County, NY fall beautifully around her cheekbones in this carelessly elegant updo.  Bravo.


Burn:  This dramatic upsweep with the stray lock is a show-stopper! Love the color! Snaps!












Gossip!


Darlings! While the fashion at G&G was fabulous, that Debbie Downer, Elias Beecher, did some very bad things - and we are not going to give him one more ounce of ink. No more.

It is actually quite hard to focus on Glitter and Gloom, children - entirely because Archons from the Ventrue and Gangrel Offices have completely reset the news cycle!!  Seriously! Seriously!  Did you hear that Archon Luigi Falcone  paid over 120 boons to spend the night with Archon Cecilia Stills?!?  OMG. That must have totally reset the boon market!!

Okay, back to G&G - Darlings! The delicious and apparently irresistible Ventrue Ryan Easley of Portland, Maine, received not one but TWO marriage proposals at Glitter and Gloom! Pompeii Maxius  and Prince Eleanor Deers are going to have to battle it out for Ryan's heart - as Ryan turned them both down!!

We're always looking for submissions. If you saw something great (or something greatly unfortunate) send it out way. Also, in light of the recent silence... We hereby offer to put your party announcements, public cries of outrage and other such things in our humble publication. Hit us up by the usual means.

 Darlings! That is all we have for now! Look for more juicy gossip soon!

 Kisses!
XOXO
Crash & Burn