R S V P / ORANGE COUNTY : Romancing the Stones Pays Off at Black-Tie Bash for Symphony
Orange County women emptied vaults and jewelry boxes to don their best gems for the Symphony of Jewels ball.
“Jewels of the World” was the theme of the black-tie benefit for the Pacific Symphony, which drew more than 450 guests Saturday to the Hyatt Regency Irvine. The $175-per-person dinner-dance was expected to net more than $100,000 for the orchestra’s artistic and educational programs.
Gem of an Evening
While the foyer was packed with men in black tuxedos, women provided color, thanks to the jewel-colored gowns and glittering gems that sparkled on necks and wrists. If ever there was a time to bring out the eye-poppers, this was it.
Jo Ellen Qualls, event cochairwoman (and vice president of ball underwriter, Tiffany & Co. at South Coast Plaza), sported a stunning platinum and diamond brooch with a black opal center--part of Tiffany’s Fireworks collection.
“Brooches are very important now in the fashion world,” Qualls said. “You can wear them any way you want. I chose to wear mine to keep my jacket closed, but when I take the jacket off, I’ll move the brooch onto my dress.”
The brooch matched Qualls’ dress, a Tiffany blue ball gown made by her mother, Amy Paquette.
“This has always been my favorite color, long before I worked at Tiffany,” Qualls said.
Event cochair Pamela Bobit wore an emerald and diamond bracelet and marquise-cut emerald ring with her sea-foam green satin gown.
“I’m a jeans kind of person, but this is the night to dress up,” Bobit said. “I feel like this is Mrs. Bobit’s opus.”
When they weren’t ogling each other’s fine jewelry, guests admired the Tiffany Jewelry Collection worn by models clad in couture gowns from Nordstrom. The collection, which included a bib necklace of cabachon emeralds and a diamond and platinum cuff bracelet, was worth more than $1 million, which explains why sharp-eyed guests spotted security guards keeping close watch.
Tropical Oasis
Party organizers dazzled guests with a ballroom that sparkled. Towering above each table were centerpieces of giant white magnolia blossoms and pale pink Ecuadorean roses, donated by the Black Iris of Laguna Beach. Each massive bouquet stood on a Roman column hand-painted with 24-karat gold accents and entwined with strands of gold and crystal beads. Paul Ecke, co-owner of the Black Iris, imported the roses and raided his yard for some of the magnolia blossoms.
Guests dined on international fare: seafood timbale with caviar and truffles, petite filet and Chilean sea bass with Parisian vegetables and miniature bow-tie pasta. For dessert, chef Steve Tresvik paid tribute to orchestra music director Carl St.Clair by concocting a Signature St.Clair Jewel Box: an edible chocolate gold box filled with tiramisu and fresh fruit.
Party-goers danced the night away to romantic tunes played by Horace Heidt Jr. and his orchestra.
Among the guests were John-David Keller, master of ceremonies; Lou Spisto, the orchestra’s executive director; William Dultz, founder and president of Travcoa, the gala’s honoree; Bill Merrill, co-owner of the Black Iris; George and Arlene Cheng; Vesta Curry; Marcy Mulville; Mike and Ellie Gordon; Rondell and Joyce Hanson; Peter and Mary Muth; Joann Bechtold; Jim and Barbara Glabman; Irv and Gloria Gellman; Jon Madison; John and Teri Kennady; Thomas and Anne Key; and Len and Madeline Zuckerman.
