The Colby Echo

Issue date: 10/28/08 Section: Features

At this year's Wizard of Oz-themed Fall Ball, ruby red wasn't the only jewel tone glittering under the spotlights. The ball, one of the College's two semiformal events, is an annual excuse for the dashing lads and ladies of Colby to cast aside their North Face fleeces in favor of scandalously short dresses and sharp schoolboy blazers.

The prime choices for the evening? Short, slinky cocktail dresses in solid, jewel-toned colors. The Wadsworth Gymnasium, itself dressed up to resemble Oz, was a virtual treasure trove of sapphires, garnets and, fittingly, emeralds. Satin, high hems and low necklines were also favored that night; an ensemble best used to complement raging hormones. When it came to waistlines, however, there were few daring to wear a dress with any sort of a tapering or form. While it's no secret that babydolls and empire waists are universally flattering, the lack of adventurousness in silhouettes and shapes sometimes led one dress to meld unremarkably into the next.

There was no shortage of the ubiquitous "little black dress," although fans of this classic choice often found themselves outshone by those wearing the same silhouette in a brighter color. It's a novice mistake to believe that black-usually associated with "chic"-will by itself create a standout piece. A few wise dressers on the dance floor corrected this easily with the following rule: when choosing a black dress, opt for one with unconventional details-a scalloped neckline, an avant-garde silhouette, or a hint of lace does the trick.

In fact, it was the unconventionality displayed by Annie Wilson '11 that caught my attention. In what seemed to be a sea of deeply-colored and essentially similar dresses, Wilson's blush-pink, '50s-inspired a-line number was a well-constructed throwback to a different era. I was personally surprised at how much I liked it, with my taste being more inclined toward the modern and minimal. With a well-fitted bodice and peep-toe pumps to complete the look, Wilson's dress was proof that though tastes may differ, good fashion and sense of style is universally recognizable.

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