Beaux-Arts Ball 2010: Come as You Art

All dressed up with nowhere to go? Au contraire! You actually have someplace fabulous to go, and there’s no way you have anything near extraordinary enough to wear – yet.

Portland Art Museum invites art patrons and fashionable folks to join them for the 2010 Beaux-Arts Ball at the museum’s Kridel Grand Ballroom on Saturday, Feb. 6. The theme for this year’s masked extravaganza is Icon: Come as You Art. In other words, let your own art icons inspire your attire. Plus, one lucky Neat Sheet reader can win a pair of FREE tickets to the event (value $125 each, see details below).

Set up in the tradition of the original Beaux-Arts Ball at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, Portland’s ball will feature a masquerade parade through the whole museum – with fun surprises along the way. Expect entertainment from alternative band Morningwood and burlesque performer Lily Verlaine (right), plus interactive art and performances throughout the evening.

Because the event benefits Portland Art Museum’s art education programs, other downtown businesses are offering their support, too. Saks Fifth Avenue will dedicate five of its downtown Portland windows to the ball – featuring elegant evening wear and fantastical masks – and neighboring hotel The Nines will offer a $100-a-night Beaux-Arts Ball special overnight package.

For some, dressing for such an occasion might involve blue body paint, a bikini and a feather headdress (as evidenced in Anthony Pidgeon’s event photo above). But for most, it requires simply gorgeous evening wear with an elaborate mask, and we know just where to go.

Mystique, which opened inside downtown Portland’s Pioneer Place Mall last September, has the city’s best selection of fanciful handcrafted masks from nine different (and mostly-local) artists, priced between $28 and $500 – most in the $50-ish range. Shop for stunners from Maskerville, known for their work with Cirque du Soleil, plus colorful feathered finds from locals Connie Trapp, Diane Trapp (right), Goblin Art and more.

With such an attention-getting mask, you can get away with a more understated evening dress – if you want, that is. Saks will no doubt feature both understated and creative options in its upcoming Beaux-Arts window displays. Our top choice is this new graphic, black-and-white one-shoulder Diane von Furstenberg Carmona dress, which would look amazing paired with a bold mask in bright colors.

Locally, we love Idom Designs for playful party dresses, like this simple, sleek champagne cocktail dress (right); Bubble Boutique for unique European labels you won’t see on anyone else; and of course our go-to standbys from the designer collections at Mercantile and Mario’s – both of which soon will receive new spring shipments.

Or you could just go with the body paint, and truly come as you art.

Win a pair of FREE tickets! To win a pair of FREE tickets to Portland Arts Museum’s Beaux-Arts Ball 2010, just send an email with the subject title “MASQUERADE” to neatsheet@karenvitt.com or leave a comment on this post. We’ll pick a random winner at noon on Wednesday, Jan. 27.

Beaux-Arts Ball 2010 at Portland Art Museum
8 p.m. to 2 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 6
Kridel Grand Ballroom, Mark Building
1119 S.W. Park Ave.; 503-276-4302
$100-$200; purchase tickets here

Share on Facebook