Tuxes and dresses

Just wanted to run a quick appology by you all, since I have really missed two Wednesdays in a row now blogging! I’ve been very busy preparing for the big event (see below) and then I got some kind of flu. Have been out like a light since early this week, and am still so and so, but really wanted to get this text out there asap.

Some of my current assessories

So now we have actually survived our first ball in Singapore! And it was truly gr8! The last time I was at a ball was during my senior year at A-levels; the dress was actually sown up, but by one of my friends’ big sister. I had found the fabric myself on sale and I can still remember the strong odor of a specific glue, since it was one of those disco-ball-fishnet-creations, with glittering confetti-like features. The latter were glued on and hence the dress had to spend several nights on the balcony, before it was suitable for the salons of the Main Hotel in Jonkoping, Sweden.

Not too much smell of glue in this one I hope!

When we were invited to the Midwinter Ball hosted by the Swedish Business Association in Singapore, the main thing one focuses on is of course what to wear. I was baffled when I realized how many alternatives there were for a bloody tux; buttons here or there, folded like this or that, fabric with quality from that or another country and so on.

Jonas at Roy’s in his new tux

I asked around where would be the best alternative to find a nice dress, googled on costs and how fancy the dress actually had to be (since ‘black tie’ can be slightly shady), as well as vacuumed the entire scene for good tailors and seamstresses. It actually took some time, since you don’t really want to be under-/over-dressed nor spend an absolute fortune and want it to be done rather quickly by someone where communication is OK. 

Overall, it was easier than in Japan (most nice dresses that I’ve liked in the past go up to ca size 32 in Tokyo, which is not really my scene), but it still took some digging. I of course wanted Jonas to like it too, since it’s actually an event where you get dressed up together. I ended up trying almost 50 different dresses until I found ‘The One’ in a tiny start up boutique focusing on sowing copies of original runway ensembles. Unfortunately it was a cocktail dress, but who said it had to stay that way?

Preparing the ball room with decor and counting how many people would be placed at each table, since default was set to eight or ten settings per table

Then it was all the smaller details for both of us: shoes and what height of heels, handbag, neck tie or bow tie, jewelry, pleated or non-pleaded shirt, gloves or no gloves, room for watch in the sleeve or not, scarf or shawl or maybe bolero, hair and so on. I am now so grateful we did a small wedding.. It’s great fun to plan things like this if you have the time and an unlimited budget, but it’s slightly stressful when you’re unsure about both the outcome and the time frame.

Some of the other preps included me writing all the placement cards for the ball..

The final decisions fell on buying half a dress and adding lengths and extra fabric at the seamstresses Mama&Misse at International Plaza on Anson Rd for me. I finally went with a black pearl necklace, no gloves (since I was literarily sweating in between my fingers as we were leaving despite the AC) and a black satin clutch. Jonas decided on Roy’s Tailor in Holland Village and a classical tuxedo with a black bow tie, with a modern collar cut. Both places have been really great to deal with and we already feel comfortable staying there as clients in the future, IF the clothes survive the next six months or so.

Some of my accessories

The night itself was filled of very nice activities such as welcome champagne at the sun deck by one of the pools of the 5-star Goodwood Hotel, very classy table settings sponsored and designed by Style Nordic (Victoria, you really have an eye for this!) at the even more fancy ballroom and a superb main course.

The morning weather fortunately picked up during the day and we had a lovely evening

 

So did some of the morning hair

Handsome man in progress!

Posing 1: trying to show off the dress, which was hard

Posing 2: trying to show off the hair, which didn’t really work out either, lol!

One of the entrances to Goodwood Hotel

The ball was held in Windsor Ballroom

The only negative for me, unfortunately fell on some members of the serving staff. Since I’ve been working serving tables and being behind a bar desk on and off since I was a teen, I was actually quite astonished regarding the level of skills displayed, along with some of the attitude. Situations like leaving my plate alone while I’m still eating from it, does seem like a no-brainer.

However, the flow of wine was very eminent, the music really captured the mood and entertaining group SOLO was fab. The atmosphere was very high, there were so many absolutely beautiful dresses, tuxes and hairdos and the speeches were very much to the point. And there was a lot of dancing going on; we even had to move our table! The light setting was magical and the program in general was very well thought through regarding enough time between courses to catch up and become hungry again as well as pauses for getting ‘fresh air’. We also had a very amusing event where my better half got dragged up on stage by one of the very fancy female artists; he really gave us a good show, even though slightly embarrassed!   

Jonas on stage with parts of SOLO

All in all, this is definitely something I’d like to do next year and thank you all for a night to remember!