by Alice on 17 February 2012
What a night! In hindsight, it was almost boring how to plan everything went.
The girl who did my nails was 16 at most and told me it was only the second time she was doing a French manicure – which is exactly how it looked. She was so sweet, however, that I decided not to freak out and wear long gloves instead.
My next stop was the hairdresser. That woman is a hero! My hair looked stunning and came down it soft curls that lasted all night. I had been scared of her backcombing (which creates volume even with my hair) but it brushed out so easily despite the ton of hairspray…incredible.
She worked on my head for a really long time, almost an hour longer than scheduled, so I had only 40 minutes left to have a quick dinner, put on make up and get dressed. I skipped dinner and was ready just in time for Mr A picking me up with a taxi at 8.10pm.
On our way to the Hofburg we passed through Heldentor – I already felt like the princess mentioned in my last post.
Since we’re not part of the haute volée, we were not permitted to enter from Heldenplatz, but the “back entrance” at Josefsplatz. We explored the Redoutensäle on our way to the Festsaal were the opening ceremony with the traditional polonaise by the debutants committee took place and were impatiently listening for the magic words “Alles Walzer” (“all waltz”) that officially open anyViennese ball.
We waltzed, had a glass of champagne, we salsaed, we went upstairs to the Dachfoyer-discotheque, came back for the midnight’s special and the following quadrille (which was so much fun), had Sacherwürstel next to the ball-icon Thomas Schäfer-Elmayer and on the way out I even received a lady’s gift (a bag full of coffee, tea, a magazine and a few other lovely things), before the taxi took us back home.
What a night.
by Alice on 9 February 2012
Just like every girl on this planet I am of course well aware that I am a princess and shall be treated like one at all times. Since I also live in reality and not the wonderland I sometimes regularly wish myself to, I realise that not everybody believes in this. Tomorrow, however, they will.
Because tomorrow is the day I’ve been dreaming of for years. I am going to a ball. A real ball. Not a school’s prom or a gschnas (masquerade) but the 55th Wiener Kaffeesiederball that is taking place under the motto “Melange of Elegance and Joie de Vivre” at Wiener Hofburg and the Redouten Halls tomorrow night.
It is one of “the” and apparently among the most beautiful balls in Vienna. Traditional, old-fashioned and simply wonderful, with roughly 5.000 well-dressed participants.
I secured 2 tickets as early as last November and what more than happy when Mr A agreed to accompany me.
I’m very excited! My grandma added a few centimetres of length to the gown I wore for my prom: a (now) floor-length, dark blue dream of a satin dress that fits me perfectly (because grandma tailor-made it for me all those years ago). I also bought black suede latino dance shoes and talked a beautiful black devoré-pashmina off Mum.
My boss agreed I leave work early tomorrow (at noon) and I’ll have my nails done (still had a voucher from Groupon) before an appointment at the hairdresser’s, after which there’ll be enough time to relax at home, have a snack, get my makeup on, get dressed and do everything else necessary to make sure I look stunning at night.
The official opening ceremony will take place at 9pm so I guess we’ll be planning on arriving around 8, 8:30pm to secure a spot from which we can follow the polonaise.
If I’m especially lucky, there may even be some dancing for me – keep your fingers crossed! In return, I’ll make sure Mr A takes a couple of pictures for you to participate in our evening at the Ball.
