Dîner en Blanc 2019 x Orlando

It all started with a phone call…

I was meandering through my current home in Orlando and my fashion soul sister Joan reached out to me. She casually asked me if I wanted to partner with Dîner en Blanc as fashion media for the event and I uncasually screeched in excitement with a resounding “YES!.” I had recently attended the DEB NYC event which was cancelled due to inclement weather ***Le Sigh*** I was ready to experience the much anticipated worldwide event in it’s full glory in Orlando.

The outfit planning began that very moment and I wanted it to be no less than perfect. As a closet francophile, I yearned to represent Dîner en Blanc in a way that would make François Pasquier proud. I envisioned the ultimate elegance and opulence of French royalty with the ethereal magic of the heavenlies. My fashion partner, Joan was the more feminine counterpart of the duo, in a floor length dress by Florida Fashion Designer Maya @TheMermaidCanCatwalk . She paired the dress with a beautiful saint’s crown as her headpiece made by yours truly. I was the more masculine half of the fashion pair. My outfit for the evening consisted of a white pant suit, a custom designed headdress I made for Dîner en Blanc Orlando, and a hyper-feminine organza bishop sleeve shirt filled with white roses as a symbol of purity and grace.

As the big day approached, I had the nerves of a school girl on her first day. I was tortured with excitement and anticipation for a chance to experience the event in its fullness. I couldn't believe a dream of mine to attend one of the most exclusive, secretive and sought after events in the world was coming to life in a way better than I imagined! C'est Magnifique!! It was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to highlight all the creativity and passion of Orlando DEB-onairs and I would not be disappointed.

November fifteenth had arrived, and as fashion media for the event, we were released the location earlier than the DEB Orlando guests. My partner Joan and I were lead into the heart of Winter Park, and greeted by heavenly harpist Jan Jennings, an electric violinist and NuLook dancers and ballerinas. Chandeliers and white draping billowed in the cool breeze as the guest poured in. The day fell into the evening and Winter Park West Meadows teemed with creative energy as the guests lovingly began their table settings.

The Dîner en Blanc white linen serviettes were raised and so were our appetites. It was indeed a night of Bon Appétits as the champagnes and wines from Chateau Ste Michelle flowed and Président fromages paired perfectly with the light banter of new friendships.

As I walked up and down the rows of DEB’s finest arrangements, choosing only ten tables for the best settings was beginning to feel like an impossible feat. I was struck in awe and wonder at the love, dedication and personality of each table. From the ultra elegant to the extremely eccentric, table upon table, I gasped in delight as I studied the trimmings and centerpieces.

The night began to transition into a true fête as hundreds of sparklers ignited the opening of the dance floor. Well-dressed guests hit the dance floor for a Belly Dancing lesson from Carrara and Vanja. Performances by Friends featuring Lynn and Tonya Philips Staples soon followed.

For the DEB Orlando guests that were inclined to move to the beat of their own drum, the photo lounge was decked with a Rolls Royce, a #DEBORL marquee sign fit for a movie premiere, a romantic white swing, and a crescent moon for an out-of-this-world photo opportunity.

The night simmered to a bittersweet end, however, the friendships and connections made were just the beginning of something unexplainable. Dîner en Blanc is not a party, it’s a fertile ground for unity and connectivity, where seeds can be planted and relationships and communities start to blossom. I made up my mind that night that Dîner en Blanc is tradition I wanted to be a part of of for many years to come. It became less of an event to look forward to and more of a movement that brings joy to people’s hearts and reminds us of the beauty of human connection.

xx,

Stephanie Le Blanc