The New York Botanical Garden’s 2021 Winter Wonderland Ball

The New York Botanical Garden held its annual Winter Wonderland Ball, presented by Saks Fifth Avenue and DE BEERS and Veuve Clicquot, on Friday evening. Like almost every other high profile happening this season, it is back live and in person after a two-year hiatus. It may be scaled down but it’s no less spirited. In fact, it might be even more so.

This event is a fixture on the New York social calendar and one of New York’s holiday social season highlights since 1999. It was unseasonably balmy last night, but snow or no snow, it’s hard to argue with the magical setting. Dinner and dancing were preceded by a cocktail reception held under the twinkle of NYBG GLOW, a colorful 1.5-mile lightscape that illuminates NYBG’s historic landscape

With a mission of public education, scientific research, and stewardship of the landmark site, the event raises funds for the Botanical Garden’s renowned Children’s Education program, which serves thousands of children in the tri-state region.

Gala Chairs included Georgina Bloomberg, Lili Buffet, Charlotte Lebenthal Diamond, Olivia Palermo, Johannes Huebl, Gillian Hearst, Larry Ross Milstein, and Ariana Rockefeller. Among the 350 attendees were Jean Shafiroff, Victor dE Souza, Alexandra Lebenthal, Gillian and Sylvester Miniter, Timo Weiland, Trinidad De La Noi, Ivy Getty, Di Mondo, and Polina Proshkina.

This year’s show—presented in an immersive indoor winter wonderland adjacent to the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory—showcases Central Park, with its iconic landscape fashioned in mosses and hollies. Architectural treasures like Belvedere Castle, the Dairy, the Old Bandstand, the Angel of the Waters sculpture atop the Bethesda Fountain, and two graceful pedestrian bridges are arrayed alongside 175 famous New York landmarks, including the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge. Each model was created from natural pine cones, acorns, and seeds.

And speaking of trains, this is an event where guests really make an effort to dress up, and several women wore gowns with dramatic trains. The most dramatic was the silver paillette ensemble worn by Miss Claire Sullivan, a young designer who made the dress herself.

Jean Shafiroff wore a pale silver satin embroidered gown by Victor dE Souza. With its exaggerated bow in the back that ended with a long train. Jean resembles a stunningly wrapped Christmas gift.

In keeping with the festive time of the year, everything seemed to sparkle and shine, feathers were flying, and there was plenty of white, silver, gold, red, and green. Many guests were lit up like Christmas trees, and a few looked like Christmas tree ornaments — and that was just the guys! Di Mondo always finds ways to outdo himself and others. But quite frankly, he had a lot of competition this year. In fact, from a fashion standpoint, this was one of the most interesting Winter Wondaland Balls I have attended.

Miss J Alexander, a reality television personality and runway coach best known for his work on “America’s Next Top Model,” made quite an entrance in his striking silver and back damask pants and jacket. He accessorized it with an enormous brooch and a clutch bag.

The whole look was designed and hand-made by himself, except for the long gloves and sparkly Louis Vuitton slippers. Jerome Lamar opted for a pale silver tuxedo jacket, long skirt, and high neck top, accessorized with a yellow, green, and apricot maribou stole.

While a few creative guests used the event to show off their sewing skills, many more wore designer gowns. Among the standouts are Ivy Getty in white Valentino Couture, Polina Proskina in white draped jersey Givenchy designed by Clair Waight Keller (from her last collection), Alexandra Lebenthal in Bibhu Mohapatra, and Charlotte Lebenthal Diamond in a short black strapless YSL dress designed by Anthony Vaccarello.

The Winter Wonderland Ball is now in its 23rd year, which is apropos since that also happens to be the median age of the attendees.

Of course, I’m exaggerating, but it is hard not to notice that this event attracts a very youthful crowd. In fact, I was discussing this with David Kurtz and his wife Candace, whom I had just met.

I laughingly remarked that looking around the room brings “The Young and the Restless” to mind. Little did I know that the gentleman I was talking to is a film score composer who has won Daytime Emmy awards for his work on “The Bold and the Beautiful” and “The Young and the Restless.” What are the chances of that? As they say, “Only in New York!”