Balmain Black-Tie Affair: A Night in Taipei

I just attended an incredible black-tie event in Taipei – one of the biggest events of the season. The most influential society couple in the city (and in Beijing for that matter) hosted, so everyone on the guest list has been on edge in the weeks leading up as they prepared to go out in their best. I went with a full-length black gown – that’s always guaranteed to impress, but I wish I had wore this Balmain maxi (on NET-A-PORTER for $5,865) instead! The draping is truly gasp-matic. The thing is that it wasn’t my party and it would be rude to upstage the hosts (plus, the price tag is a bit hefty for something I’d wear as a guest). A girl can dream, though! While red is the most festive color in Chinese culture, you don’t want to show up in Chinese lantern red – it’s old-fashioned. This errs on the side of magenta, making it the perfect choice.

Balmain showed the silk-blend satin skirt on the runway with a high-neck ruffled blouse and wide belt, but that’s not my style. I would dress it down with Donna Karan’s lace-trimmed top (on NET-A-PORTER for $850) and minimalist jewelry – Alessandra di Tomasso’s Baroque and Lava Skull earrings (on Luisa via Roma for $467) would intrigue without upstaging. This lets me go wild with the things I love most – shoes and bags! Gold is the way to go in Asia, so Charlotte Olympia’s Gwendolyn boots (on NET-A-PORTER for $1,595) would satisfy and shine. Then I’d add McQueen’s killer Raso Seta knuckle box (at Neiman Marcus for $5,825). This bag is the mother of excess, and I love every last sumptuous stitch and bead. Sure, it’s another high price, but this is a collector’s piece – throw caution to the wind!