Passion for fashion

As the years pass, it's clear that Nashville and the Swan Ball have earned their fashion stripes. The lithe figures, the bronzed décolletages, the sleek gowns—people look close to perfect. Sadly, this is destroying any opportunity for us to gossip or gawk. Where did all the fashion faux-pas go? The too-tight gowns, the overflowing bustiers (okay, we did spot a few of those), the outright ugly—those are things of the past.

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Today's Swan Ball fashionistas are red-carpet ready. Full-force gorgeous, primped and preened from head to toe, they dress elegantly and chicly. And smartly. We found many a gown that had been repurposed and/or restyled, a savvy decision in today's economy.

Karyn Frist took home top honors for her newly tailored gown she wore 15 years ago at the patrons party when she co-chaired the Ball. With a bit of tweaking by Houri Barahimi, Karyn had a brand new dress—a one-shoulder, brown silk dress overlaid with brown tulle, accented with gray squares and trimmed with scallops. Word on the street is that her good pal Diane Sawyer has the same dress, and Karyn plans to send her a picture of the revamped version.

Clark Rose Bivens was the very model of resourcefulness as well as beauty in the sleek yet ethereal Monique Lhuillier dress she married in last year.

Carlene Hunt stole the prize for most exotic look of the night. She donned a pink sari she purchased five years ago to wear to a friend's wedding in India. Luckily, there's a You Tube video that explains how to wrap the sari.

Best of the walking wounded award went to Joyce Vise—although, Chuck Elcan deserves a shout-out for looking handsome sporting an arm brace from his recent shoulder surgery. Back to Joyce. She hopped around on crutches (pimped out by Sandra Lipman) that were festooned with ribbons matching her Oscar de la Renta emerald green sponge crepe halter gown. And, she took the extra step (well, actually, she wasn't exactly stepping) of wrapping the cast on her leg in bright green tape. That's attention to detail.

Nashville certainly loves Oscar. And for good reason. The man can make a dress. Case in point: Johnna Watson. Just one look at her stunning runway gown in champagne French tulle embroidered in pearls and beads with a sheer beaded wrap, and you were transported to a land of princesses and fairy tales. She looked breathtaking. Mary Carol Friddell was equally stunning in her Oscar ultramarine strapless crinkle chiffon gown cinched behind with a black bow. Both ladies found their dresses at Jamie.

Another fan of Oscar and repurposing was Barbara Bovender who wore a pink chiffon gown that she bought to wear to her son's wedding three years ago. Beautiful, light and breezy.

Em Crook followed the bridal theme, wearing the lavender silk organza Carolina Herrera she wore to her daughter's wedding 12 years ago. It still fit her perfectly and highlighted her golden tan deliciously.

Jana Davis was quite the vixen in a Pamella Roland ivory silk crepe halter gown with black embroidered waist detail. Meow. While she found the gown at Gus Mayer, we think maybe hubby Ansel chose the dress 'cause it was smokin'.

The Ball chairs both rocked their gowns with Frances in an Angel Sanchez v-neck gown in seafoam silk faille from Jamie and Kathy in a black silk crinkle Prada she found at Barney's New York.

Teri Worthington's Nicole Miller from the Cotton Mill was a show-stopper. The matte gold gown featured a light blue band and ruching. The Cotton Mill was certainly busy this year with many style mavens citing it as their source for gowns. Peggy Warner modeled a stylishly sleek Bagdley Mishka she bought there and looked smashing.

There were scores of ladies who just looked simply pretty. Among the lovely were Emily Zerfoss in a green Lourdes Chavez from Gus Mayer; Lake Eakin sporting a sexy, one-shoulder white silk Fiandaca; and, Dorothy Earthman in a one-shouldered coral number.

Finally, it wouldn't be the Swan Ball without Jane Dudley. The shining star of the Ball. She looked like a golden goddess, gilded from head to toe. When she walked in wearing a gold gown covered in seed pearl, beads and sequins and an aurulent silk and organza coat by Fiandaca, jaws dropped. Now, that's making an entrance. All hail Jane.

—photographs by eric england and susan adcock