The Alchemy and Masquerade Ball: A Princely Affair
The wine was flowing and the night was full of both mystery and frivolity at the Avant Garde Magazine headquarters, for it was All Hollows Eve or, as is commonly known, Halloween. The occasion was the first annual masquerade ball, Alchemy and Masquerade, given by the magazine in collaboration with internationally renowned fashion designer Sue Wong. (The theme of Ms. Wong’s fashion show this last October was also Alchemy and Masquerade.) The costume theme for the ball was Marie Antoinette meets Phantom of the Opera. There were no tricks; however, there was a treat as we who attended were guests at an affair to honor the Schaumburg-Lippe family of Germany.
The night was also full of anticipation as Sue Wong mounted a fashion installation with gowns from her latest fashion show, and what a stunning display of her designs it was! I simply cannot use enough superlatives to describe her latest offering to the fashion world. Her models were on pedestals and changed to a new gown every 20 minutes, so there was ongoing excitement.
The royal family was in the country for several social events and this masquerade ball was thrown in their honor by Michelle Long, CEO, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Avant Garde. To acknowledge this honor, Prince Mario-Max, the son of Princess Antonia and Prince Waldemar, presented Ms. Long with an award and, ever the danseur, performed a princely dance de bonne grace and gave out flowers to each model.
H. R. H. Dr. Princess Antonia Schaumburg-Lippe is a German princess from the founding family of Hamburg, Lubeck, and Kiel. Her husband, Prince Waldemar, is the son of H.R.H. Princess Feodora of Denmark and the cousin of Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark; he has a royal family lineage dating back more than 1,100 years. He is related to 25 monarchial heads of state, through their mutual ancestor King Christian IX. The couple’s son, H. R. H. Prince Mario-Max Schaumburg-Lippe, is a multi- award-winning TV host, actor, and entertainer. The official website of the family of Schaumburg-Lippe-Nachod is: http://www.schaumburg-lippe.org .
The evening’s entertainment came in the middle of the bacchanalian merriment, and featured bravura singing performances by Maria Elena Infantino, Nick Palance, and Blake Fullmer.
Celebrities in attendance were Sue Wong; the Schaumburg-Lippe family; Andrew Lane, multi platinum producer; Max Ryan, Sex and the City 2; Vincent De Paul, actor and producer; Moniqua Plante, actor in the Nashville TV series; Lord John Michael Capaldi, celebrity psychic; Robert W. Caball, Broadway producer; Michael Peer; and Rocky Gathercole, celebrity designer.