Vibe Check: Overdress to Impress
#Slay.
It’s kind of hard to explain exactly why getting overly dressed up to drink Champagne and watch your friends participate in an amateur fashion show is so fun. But trust us—it is.
Of course, that’s exactly what the Saratoga Living team and more than 100 guests did Thursday evening at our second annual Overdress to Impress event, presented by Keeler Mercedes with cosponsors N. Fox Jewelers and California Closets. As attendees arrived at The Adelphi—some by way of an electric car service courtesy of Keeler—they were greeted with a glass of Champagne from Bocage, and quickly got to work documenting the evening with photos and videos (plenty of which flooded Instagram feeds in the last 36 hours).
The party really got underway when 2022 Design Issue cover star Andrea Zappone arrived with her crew; like last year, they’d pre-gamed at Bocage. Andrea came in a white and gold polka-dotted gown with a bedazzled lizard belt, while her mom, Ellen, looked striking in a hot pink jumpsuit and fascinator. Sara McCarthy, last year’s best overdressed winner, went with a plunging red gown with a slit revealing strappy heels, and Kate Clark and Gloria Ethier both rocked short dresses with big sleeves. “I wasn’t going to drink,” Gloria said shortly after arriving. “But now that I’m here…”
Other standout outfits included Kennedy Taylor and Hanna Volpe’s matching, all-white, feathery looks; Danielle Desantis’ sheer, floral dress accessorized with the tiniest of handbags that she put on her head for her turn down the runway; and Jenna Rochelle Hotaling’s knockout bodysuit that you had to see to believe. (“I live my life naked,” she explained.) There were even professionals among the crowd—two models in matching slinky green gowns were dripping in jewels, which you could purchase via QR codes temporarily tattooed on their forearms. Themes of the night included sheer fabrics (“Did you let the nips hang out?” one woman asked a friend in a sheer gown who responded, “They’re out!”); platform heels (“The shoes!” Buttonista Taylor Rao exclaimed as Carrie Zappone strutted her stuff in in a pair of highlighter orange heels); and bold textures like feathers, sequins, ruffles and tulle (“You know what they say,” Bocage co-owner and fashion show emcee Zac Denham said as Kennedy and Hanna took the floor. “Birds of a feather? They do flock together!”)
Speaking of Zac, he had plenty more one-liners. “Orange ya glad she didn’t wear yellow?” he said as a shiny orange dress with fringy straps came down the runway. “Sleeve her alone!” he cried as Gloria showed off her oversized sleeves. “She wants to be where the people are,” he said when Brittany Furman channeled her inner mermaid on the catwalk. (Update: In an Instagram Story posted Friday morning, Brittany cursed tequila and wrote “please bury me where no people are.”)
After narrowing the models down to the top eight, the judges—Andrea, Taylor and Joy Rafferty from California Closets—deliberated for a while longer before producing not one, but two victors based on both outfit and personality: Carina Rodriguez, in her black body suit, tights and glimmering shawl that she worked like a pro, and Drew Herrera Suarez, who rocked a multicolored suit jacket, white pants, orange suspenders, silver shoes and, of course, a cane. The winners split the grand prize, which was a magnum bottle of Besserat de Bellefon Champagne Rosé, a gift card to Bocage, design books donated by Andrea, and a perfectly over-the-top bouquet from Samantha Nass Floral Design.
Even before her big win, Carina was loving her life and the overwhelmingly supportive attitudes of everyone there—it really was good vibes only. Looking around the room at all the gorgeous women in attendance, I said to her that I couldn’t believe more men didn’t buy tickets. (About 13 brave male souls were in attendance—and smiled the whole time.) “Yeah, but I’m so happy they don’t come,” she said, referring to the men in her own life. “I don’t want to take pictures with my husband tonight.” Then she got to the problem at hand: “I don’t know how to pee in this outfit.” This was one party where no one dressed practically.
Stay tuned to see the official party photos by The Content Agency!
—Natalie
Quote of the Week
“Latham is the lunch capital of the world.”
—a Saratogian who works south of the Twin Bridges
Taken for a Ride
This weekend marks the last snow train of the season! Corinth Train’s 90-minute ride offers epic views of the southern Adirondacks. Leveling up to first class gets you table seating to encourage guests to bring a picnic lunch, and there’s even a vintage Pullman Observation Car that seats private parties of up to 10. Kids love riding these tracks that take off less than half an hour from town. Can’t make it this weekend for the last snow train? Spring rides are gorgeous, and tickets for the Easter Brunch ride and the Cottontail Express are currently on sale!
Sweet, Sweet Music
Music fans, rejoice—the Eddies take the stage at UPH on Monday. The fifth annual Capital Region Thomas Edison Music Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will honor eight legends of the local music scene during a night loaded with live music from revered acts such as Michael Eck, a 2022 inductee who will sing an homage to folk musician Wanda Fischer for her induction. Tickets are still available for the spectacular 6pm show.
This Week in Saratoga Living After Hours
On Monday, readers we challenged readers to be the king of the jumble.
And on Tuesday, we revealed what the @saratogasoooptrade Instagram is all about.