Dazzlers & Dandies
Not only was the groaning board overflowing with goodness this Thanksgiving, but I was thankful to spy a few stylish Baltimoreans and visitors to the area as well. First up is Pam Babij of Guilford, who snagged a stunning original Missoni at the recent Best Dressed Sale (an annual event sponsored by the Women’s Board of the Johns Hopkins Hospital). Multi-colored vertical stripes and knife pleats cascade from the neckline almost to the floor. This is a dress with movement! Pam is also wearing black suede pumps by Adrienne Vittadini and jewelry by Stella & Dot.
Visiting friends in town from her home in Florida was Deborah Newell Tornello, a vintage fiend if ever there were one. On this day she was wearing a classic 1950s floral-print by Suzy Perette (the Perette company had exclusive rights to recreate for a middle-class clientele the designs of Christian Dior between 1947 and 1957), with mauve velvet Gucci pumps, a fuchsia clutch by Carlos Falchi, and hammered silver earrings and bracelet by Evander Preston of St. Petersburg, Florida. I think she cuts an appropriately elegant figure on the famous spiral staircase of the Peabody Library.
Charles Village resident Dawna Cobb was heading out to a black-tie event in a blue iridescent gown by Elie Tahari and sparkly necklace by J. Crew, mixing high and low à la Michelle Obama. Her look is clean and effortless, proving that you don’t have to clutter an outfit with complicated doodads or show lots of skin to turn heads.
Operatic sopranos Eugenia Garza and Tatiana Pavlovskaya also took a pared-down approach at their formal dinner. Garza is wearing a simple bronze sheath with spaghetti straps by Adrianna Pappell, while Pavlovskaya is channeling her inner ‘70s with a velvet burgundy pantsuit by – “I can’t remember!” she said. But, it looks very vintage Yves St. Laurent to me.
Not ones to let the ladies get all the attention, Tucson natives David Gilmore and Michael Baun were stepping out in dandy style. David is wearing a mustard-striped jacket he designed himself and had custom-made in Thailand – he says he gets a lot of clothes made there – and Michael is wearing a vintage-contemporary combo all in black. Both men are sporting cravats. The pork pie hat is one of Gilmore’s signatures, the walking stick a fashion fillip!
