Liza is out of town so I am going it alone on my favorite fashion picks from the Swan Ball 2010.  I took a quick look at the post we wrote last year entitled, “Oh, the beautiful gowns,” to note the difference a year makes in fashion choices.  Since this year’s ball was held in May, the gowns were not as light and airy as in June 2009; many gowns this year had a definite boldness to them.  I have coined the gowns worn by the Swan Ball chairs, Sissy Wilson and Collie Daily,  “Fire and Ice.”  They both looked exquisite.  And, I am sure they’re happy to have Swan Ball 2010 behind them.

Many gowns were intense in color with palettes of deep corals, midnight blues and rich teals.

Our photos are taken from The Tennessean’s website.  And let us add our compliments to Jae S. Lee, The Tennessean photographer who captured the evening beautifully. I ‘m only sorry that Liza and I both had to miss the evening, not only because of all the style present, but also because we’re both huge Al Green fans.  I, myself, have made not one, but two, pilgrimages to Al Green’s church.

Here are some of my favorites in no certain order.  I started with the most intense colors and ended with the gowns that were more subtle. Drum roll, please.

Swan Ball Fashion

Sissy Wilson in an Oscar de la Renta red silk organza gown. Collie Daily wears a Dolce & Gabbana fuschia sequined gown

Sally Shepherd looking gorgeous in a coral pink gown by Catherine Regehr

Elizabeth Dingess looks regal in her gown from Muna Couture

Nancy Cheadle in Carmon Marc Valvo Signature with a Judith Leiber clutch

Johnna Watson in Monique Lhullier

Tara Widener, gorgeous in a perfect ball gown

Patsey Reed, elegant and sophisticated

Dana Atkins in a Pamela Roland, love the neckline

Laurie Eskind in a gown by Shawn Ray Fons

Beth Molteni in a gown from Haven by Trelise Cooper

Chrissy Hagerty in a stunning Carolina Herrera gown

© 2010, StyleBlueprint. All rights reserved.

Thoughts from the night: a lot of black…more so than usual.  And, a whole bunch of happy people.  It was such a fun and giddy place to be.  I think we all just needed the excuse to put on a great dress, have our hair done, and be surrounded by good friends.

Here are Elizabeth’s and my favorite dresses straight from the Tennessean website:

This picture doesn't do the dress justice, but Kate just exudes a modern yet timeless elegance

Llew Ann King wear Teri Jon. Both Elizabeth and I love this dress. It's exudes SUMMER and has an effortless energy to it on a night when a lot of effort went in to to everything!

Terri Frost glowed in this Monique Lhuillier gown. Happens to be the same designer I wore Saturday night and I always love Monique's collections. The detail is etquisitte although this picture doesn't show that detail off. You'll just have to believe me:-)

This Oscar De La Renta Runway gown, worn by Johnna Watson, made both Elizabeth and I sigh. It's like a fairytale- but in a good way. She just shines. I hope she stayed until 3:00 a.m. just to keep wearing that dress!

In a sea of black and solid colors, Sissy Wilson's Oscar de la Renta stood out. I hope no one stepped on her train!

This Pucci dress was perfection on Laura Sims. Her hair, makeup, and accessories were flawless. This is my favorite look of the night.

We both just gushed over this dress. The floral gown is floral in a undersated way. It still stands out as it was not black and not solid. But, it does so in a quiet elegance that make you continue to look again.

Kristen Greer gets our nod for best of the Late Night Party. Like Llew Ann King's dress from the Big Ball, Kristen's has a summery lightness that begs for a light breeze. This is a beautiful dress!

© 2009 – 2010, StyleBlueprint. All rights reserved.

Please give a brief description of your background as it relates to your career.

I’m from the small town of  Sheffiield, AL and always wanted to be a floral designer.  My father was horrified and promptly sent me to military school.  My parents did not agree on this tactic at all.  I wanted to go to Michigan State because of their fine horticulture school and finally did.  There I met a Professor Don Dunbar who influenced me greatly.  Upon graduation, I was hired as creative director for the Dole Company, at the time the largest flower grower in the world.  The job required a tremendous amount of travel and after the death of my son, I called it quits.  I needed a job and my wife gently prodded me by stating. “I didn’t marry for lunch”.  I was a founding owner of the Tulip Tree and opened Ilex for Flowers in 2000.

Name an early mentor in your career.

Certainly Professor Dunbar.  But when I was 8 or 9 years old, I would ride my bike to the barbershop located inside the Sheffield Hotel.  In addition to the hotel,  there was a florist shop owned by Sam Carter.  He was my earliest mentor.

Ilex is one of the loveliest shops in Nashville; what make the store so unique?

Unquestionably, the employees.  We are like family and each bring something different to the table.  Most have been here forever, but most important, they know what is pretty.

What is the greatest trend you see in your business?

I love that we are getting more young customers and they are sophisticated and know what they want.  Most brides today are older and working professionals, they come to the table with a sense of style and savvy that’s refreshing.  Also, I see more event planners involved in weddings and parties.  Their job is to see that the customer’s vision is realized.

From my understanding, you have been chosen to oversee the Swan Ball design this year.. tell us some of your thoughts about this project in light of a tough economy?

The chairwomen this year are incredibly talented and realistic about the challenges they face.  They see and have seen what has happened to other events that thought they may be bullet proof  to the economy.  With that being said, I love that they are recreating a sense of “volunteerism” and plan to use the talent and resources of Nashville in the spirit of Roberta Lochte.  We are blessed with incredibly talented and creative people–there is such a sense of camaraderie among all of us.  We help each other.  The Swan Ball is going to be lovely this year.

What or who gives you inspiration?

Always my customers.  My family keeps me grounded as if to remind me to ” get off your high horse and get over yourself”!

What is the most common mistake people make when adding flowers or accessories to their homes?

Not hiring a decorator when they need one.  Trying too hard.  Making things too fancy and overdone when a gorgeous vase of fabulous roses or 30 stems of lilies would do.  They add too much and over do it.  Nothing is more beautiful than the simplicity of focus and color.

Give us one of your favorite personal extravagances that just makes you happy?

Taking a cruise where no one can reach you.  It’s a little bit of heaven to open your stateroom door to sunshine and the sea, put on your khaki shorts, stroll on deck and eat fantastic food.

Can you tell us a funny story perhaps something ludicrous that has happened to you in your career?

Two stories come to mind both funny in retrospect.  A client created a magical party, outside, with urns and votives.  The top of the  urns were covered with plywood and candles were placed on top.  The client didn’t like the look of the glass votives and instead asked for simple tea lights to be placed directly on the WOOD.  Not a good idea.  No counseling on my part would change his mind.  The plywood did catch on fire and the urns were heaved in the garden to put the fire out.

On another occasion, I was planning a wedding and suggested to the Mother of the bride that we consider a rain plan.  She decided that it wasn’t going to rain.  Well, it was a gorgeous August day until about 5PM and it started raining torrential rains.  Well, we’ve never seen that chuppah since.
(Reader’s note:  A chuppah  is a canopy used in Jewish wedding ceremonies)

Name the three things you simple can not live without? (Exclude family and friends!)

Ilex for Flowers
4548 Harding Road
Nashville, TN  37205-2102
(615) 383.7020

Thank you,

Elizabeth and Liza

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