Damn Yankees: Hartford, 2012

Hello Darlings!  Greetings all from the Land of Steady Habits.

We packed our fur coats and our pearls and headed to Connecticut for the North East's grand gala, billed as the Last Significant Event of the Year, blah, blah, blah. Ah, New England.  Where the hospitality is as warm as as the weather.  Where the men are men, and the moose are scared.  We saw some killer outfits over the weekend.  Below are some of the highlights.

Best Dressed

 Crash:  Vinny Veliaro from Baltimore- the most popular ex-prince in the country wearing a sharp black three piece suit with coordinating blue accessories.  Saturday's theme was "blues", and Vinny hit the mark with his trademark style.

Burn: Snaps! The hat, the tie, the pocket square! Even his hair was coiffed (for more pics, contact us privately *wink*) just so. Oh Vinny, such a huge improvement from just a few months ago! Tres bien! With all that style and panache showing, we must, we utterly must name you Beau of the Ball!

 Crash:  Joseph Hanover, Ventrue Primogen of Blackhawk County is the dashing Tony Stark of clan Ventrue.  Night one he looked more like James Bond in his dark suit and tux shirt.

Burn: I would totally bite that. Meow!!! 

Crash:  Sabine Reya, Tremere Primogen of Westchester County, NY has no idea how hot she is in that too-short LBD, but be assured, Oz Stevenson, Toreador Primogen of the same domain does.  Oh sweet baby Jesus, he does.

Burn: I believe those dresses are colloquially called "Why Bother?" dresses.  Ahem!!  Love the neckline and the heels, as well as the adorable tussled up-do. The whole look reminds me of a Patrick Nagel print. Snaps, my dear. Snaps!

 Crash:  Classically elegant, Zoe, Toreador Keeper of Scranton, PA.  The long sleek black drapes beautifully off her shoulders, and the carelessly gorgeous upswept hair completes the image.

Burn: Sweet. Modest. Nice earrings. Lovely scarf. Ho-hum. Bored now.

Crash: Lillian Kinney, Malkavian Primogen of Westchester County, NY heard "blues", and interpreted that as vintage-inspired classy dame.  You must all know by now what a sucker I am for vintage style, but I just can't help myself.  I'd paint her and those million dollar gams on the side of my B-17 any day.

Burn: Great arms, great dress, great hair. Very nice but I would have loved a bit of color for the shoes. 

Crash:  Mystery Woman in Yellow!  Or was it the Yellow Mystery Woman.  This gorgeous creature was a ray of sunshine amidst all of the somber black.

Burn:  Oh, this lovely Kindred knows how to have a good time! I appreciate the effort but I think this dress in an emerald or ruby red would have been more effective than lemon yellow.  Still, lovely backless dress and nice pearl bracelet! 

Worst Dressed

 Crash: Julius Cole, Toreador Prince of Philadelphia.  That damned hat.  Again.  I know it's your trademark and everything, but you really should think about what "corset laced top hat" says to the world.

Burn: Prince Cole, just put down the velvet. Put it down and no one gets hurt.

 Crash: Galina Petrova, Brujah Primogen of Hartford, CT (at least at the time the drawing was made).  Don't let that sexy smoulder fool you.  She skinned a Muppet.  And she wants you to know you're next.

Burn: Damnit, Crash! I wanted to say the Muppet line this time! Ahem. Galina, darling, if don't end up dead in the near future, keep the fabulous hair but do ditch the coat.

 Crash: Lillah Ashford, Brujah Anarch jezebel from Connecticut doesn't believe in clothes.  She decided instead to wear leather "skirt" (belt with delusions of grandeur, really), and a feather collar.  Gerard St. Clair, Ventrue Prince of Westchester County, NY dubbed it the "Feather-and-Leather Ensemble".

Burn: I have a cat that would love that outfit.

Burn:

 Crash:  Quinn, the Assamite from Hartford, CT who was named Anya's occult chief decided to wear this quilted sack in a bizarre interpretation of "formal wear".  It has button-on straps and an applique in the front that looks like the horror of high school home ec.

Burn: If this was that horrid Northern Virginia event -- Nonclave or some such -- this would have been fabulous there. At this event, my dear, my dear, you look like you are wearing a blanket that belongs on a couch.

Gossip

James Norton, Toreador Primogen of Hartford was channeling Hef with his silk PJs in public Saturday night and lipstick on his cheek.  He hosted a steamy after-hours party supposedly in the honor of the late Victoria Rowlands.  The party involved scantily clad luminaries of the Camarilla, top shelf booze, cigars, and strip poker.  C&B has exclusive details on who was there, and what went on.  Drop us a line if you're interested.

Mr. Norton also hired an impressive belly dancer that had the crowds enthralled.  Even Archon Caia "Fanny Pack" Wickham joined in.  Could the key to the end to Tremere/Assamite hostility be in the sexy swivel of her hips?

Mr. Norton lorded over what was one of the most spectuacular performances of the American Camarilla "season".  Bought and paid for.

In other news, William Harkness, Tremere Sheriff of Portland, ME was promoted to Seneschal by Prince Andrea McDermott (who was notably absent from the gathering, more on that later...) while he was out of town. The locals had yet another poker game (ho-hum, seriously, people, is there a script for these events? Massive problem that requires all the Kindred to band together to save the world, check, Princes meeting, check, poker game, check... At least have some originality and play Monopoly or Scrabble next time!)  Ahem. Where were we - oh yes, Poker game. Vinny Velario won.

And now the real scandal. Apparently a certain someone was PMSing and does not play well with others (I wonder who that could be! Feel free to play "Blind Item!" in missives to us!) -- and that caused all of Maine to not even show! Prince Andrea McDermott and Prince Alexander Keefe apparently really needed to wash their hair. Together. Ahem.

We heard that the princes of Maine wanted to host one of the nights of the event in Maine. A certain prince of Hartford thought that was a dumb idea, and put her foot down. Guess we know who's Queen of New England.

Well, my loves, it is the End of the Year! You know what that means -- SHOES! Oh yes, the Shoe issue is approaching. We will totally take submission photos (Shoe pics do not break the Masquerade... save for some poor terribly unfortunate Gangrel) for fabulous shoes worn at Major Events. Name of wearer required.

And we might even have a Christmas Surprise for you all as well!!
Kisses!
Crash and Burn

PS. Some juicy tidbits happened at NEE! Contact us for a subscription to Burn Notice to get the deets!


(OOC note - We know, we know! IC, we're bitches! Out-of-Character, we love and adore your outfits and your costuming! Please don't take any offense OOC to anything we say.)