OAA Dinner Dance Fundraiser Event - The Long Awaited Red Carpet Event - Dress Code

Dear Friends and Fans, I hope
you have started the summer off with lots of wonderful plans and social events,well I can tell you mine has started and I am very grateful to be part of these wonderful gatherings.

I have gotten quite a few emails regarding the dress code for the most anticipated Red Carpet Event of the Year "The OAA Dinner Dance Fundraiser" taking place July 7th 2012 in Greenbelt MD, oh how I can't wait for this night to come,we will be having a ton of fun but at the same raising money for our Great School "Achimota"


Ok, I could go on and on ,on how great this school is but I will stick to question at hand here...LOL...
Back to the question What is the dress code for this Event?
Answer; Strictly Formal (Black Tie) and formal Traditional wear.
What is a Black Tie Event?
So I did some research on one of my favorite sites (Wikipedia) and this is what it defined A Black Tie Event as;

Black tie is a dress code for evening events and social functions derived from Anglo-American costume conventions of the Nineteenth century. Worn only for events after six p.m., black tie is less formal than white tie but more formal than informal or business dress. It is also more formal than recent intermediate codes of “creative,” “alternate” or “optional” black tie.

For males, the elements of black tie are a suit, usually of black wool, in which the jacket lapels and trouser braid are of silk or other contrasting material, a white dress shirt, a black bow-tie, a waistcoat or cummerbund, and black dress shoes.

 Women's dress for black tie occasions has varied greatly through the years; traditionally it was dinner (ankle) or tea (below mid-calf) length sleeveless dress, often accompanied by a wrap or stole, gloves, and evening shoes. Today, cocktail (knee) length dresses are considered equally appropriate in most places.

Here are pictures of some of my favorite celebrities struting their stuff on the red carpet thanks to (Black Tie Blog) (Hollywoodreporter.com | Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)
I found that the trends in black tie seem much the same as with the recent Hollywood awards ceremonies. Namely, conservative interpretations continue to dominate as does the absence of waist coverings (and the resulting abundance of shirt navels peeking out beneath the dinner jacket’s button). In regards to neckwear, the elegant bow tie continues to battle it out with the pedestrian four-in-hand.
(zimbio.com | Bauer Griffin)

Thanks to Michael Kors for sharing this beautiful picture of my President and my first Lady as always looking amazing:



                The director and cast of “Killing Them Softly



                                        Director and cast of “Mud”.


                  (justjared.com) Cast of “Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted”.



(zimbio.com) Sean Combs at the premiere of “Killing them Softly”.


(zimbio.com | Bauer Griffin)  “The Paperboy” cast and director at the film’s premiere.

I 'd like to also include a few pictures of formal traditional wear from Bella Naija.com and gidilounge.com





So there you have it , I hope you enjoyed the pictures of these beautiful people and I hope I was able to answer your questions on what to wear. I can't wait to see all my beautiful people on the 7th of July



Oh by the way it's a Red Carpet event and and the camera's will be on you.

Lights Camera Action Ladies and Gents :)

As Usual

Love Always

From the DEbE Team
Ekua

Top Wedding Trends for 2012

Happy New Year Everyone!!!!!!
I know I have been quite for awhile,the reason being 2011 was a marvelous year and I already miss the amazing events and beautiful clients and vendors I had to honor meeting. Well enough said we are back refreshed, rejuvenated and ready to create and plan more deliteful events.

2012 will be a very interesting (and super gorgeous) year for weddings. We expect to see big glam, thoughtful themes, and lots of attention to detail.
Last year’s royal wedding absolutely influenced wedding dress trends. Thanks to Kate’s long lace sleeves, we will be seeing a greater variety of different necklines and sleeve lengths. Strapless gowns will take a back seat to one shoulder, illusion necklines, cap sleeves, and deep v necks. Dresses will be much more romantic and elegant than last year. This doesn’t mean that traditional “princess” gowns should be expected. Some will be long, fitted and sleek. Others will be in pale colors such as blush.

2012 bridal gowns by Manuel Mota

Monique Lhuillier Spring 2012 wedding dress, Candy

Above all, expect more glamour. For several years, we have seen a trend towards simple and in 2012 we will start to move away from that. From sparkly accents to faux fur shrugs, weddings will look more expensive and have that little extra “pop” of opulence. Bejeweled details will also be popular, such as cool brooches on bouquets, decorating candleholders, and adorning invitations.

The very popular food stations from last year will continue through 2012. Although, there will be more details to dress them up such as sleek matching signage and more emphasis on presentation. Many couples will choose to have a food station as their favors such as “make your own midnight snack” tables featuring popcorn, candies, and cookies. Dessert tables will be less about cupcakes and feature more bite-sized desserts and pastries, alongside a layer cake (let’s face it–the most crucial detail for any guest).

In flowers, big and lush bouquets are making a comeback. Expect lots of multi-textured bouquets with different hues. Centerpieces, although they won’t all necessarily match, will also follow this trend. Even couples who choose to use flower substitutes, such as paper flowers or food centerpieces, will be incorporating a lot of dynamic textures.
The vintage and rustic trends will still be huge in 2012, but will definitely be taken up a notch. Couples are realizing that not everyone can make DIY look like an Amy Atlas tablescape (seriously, who can pull that off?). However, they love the individualization and originality that DIY details can provide. Therefore, many couples will start buying their “DIY” details, and having florists and other artists complete their vision for them.

From the bridesmaid dresses to the boutonnieres to the centerpieces, 2012 weddings will have even less symmetry and cookie cutter layout (no matchy-matchy, ladies!) than before. Expect different dresses and shoes on bridesmaids, variations on details like table numbers and place cards, and different rented furniture for each area. Most of the time, all of these things will still be unified by some type of central theme or mood to keep it polished and stylish.
Couples are starting to think of their wedding as less of an impressive, but somewhat impersonal, event and more of an intimate gathering. Some weddings will have smaller guest lists to achieve this, while larger weddings will use communal dining tables and creating small spaces within the event room to have the feel of a more inclusive gathering.
The color palettes for 2012 are at seemingly opposite ends of the spectrum. Super creamy neutrals are very on-trend through most of 2012. However, extra bright pops of color will be present over the spring and summer, such as red-orange, lime greens, and royal blues. Black is also back in a big way as an accent color.
As great as the 2011 weddings were, we at Deliteful Events by Ekua can’t wait to see the real weddings and events this year!

As always

Love
DEbE

ref: Monique Lhuillier, One Wedding, WC