Frocktails to Die For

I looked forward to Frocktails all last week. Off the huge success of Mollies’ first Frocktail fundraiser in 2009, this promised to be a night of sheer fabulosity.

This year local interior and fashion designers collaborated to transform Mollies suites into six different worlds, which guests were invited to explore:

• ‘Folk’ Greenwich Village Coffee Shop in the 1960’s

• Wild at Heart

• Alice in Wonderland

• Bordello Chic

• Gentleman’s Club

• The Boudoir Lounge

 Basically, it sounded incredible.

We pulled up not so fashionably early, but thankfully it meant that we managed to secure a park before the street became clogged by European cars and expensive looking people movers. The exterior of Mollies was decorated with fairy lights, and at the door were 2 geisha girls, greeting guests.

Inside, Mollies had been transformed.

Guests mingled around the main areas, the terrace bar – which was for the night a Folk café from the 1960’s –filled with flowers, littered with fairy lights and smelling of clove and orange. The “Worlds” we were told would not open for 45 minutes, but it didn’t stop people from showing themselves around – we followed a trail of guests upstairs only to discover that it was the models’ hair styling room!

MCs Samantha Hayes (TV3) and Antonia Prebble (Outrageous Fortune) welcomed everyone and saluted the nights cause. They invited the owner of Mollies onstage, who was greeted by her very wet kitty cat, who had obviously come in from the rain to explore why her home was filled with people! A fashion show proceeded, where the most enthusiastic applause went to an unsuspecting waiter who was evidently restocking the bar with champagne, and had unwittingly chosen the runway as his chosen route through.

Then the individual worlds finally opened.

I couldn’t wait. Sera Lilly’s Alice in Wonderland suite was our first port of call. My husband hadn’t eaten and was very keen on the idea of canapés, but it seems that he was not the only one! As we walked into the suite, a waiter walked out with a tray that was empty save for a sprinkling of alfalfa sprouts! Culinary disappointments aside, the room was stunning. Candle lit, as were most of the suites – and decorated with huge bouquets of flowers. A tower of teapots were displayed on the table top, and complimentary cocktails were served in fine china - a personal fantasy of mine! Several girls in cream full length, romantic Sera Lilly dresses mingled and lounged on the couch. The door to the Premier suite’s bedroom had been closed when we first arrived in the Alice in Wonderland room, but at some stage it opened. Almost immediately guests started making their way into the bedroom for a nosey at the bathroom. Not because these rooms were decorated in Sera Lilly’s Alice in Wonderland theme – they weren’t. Really, I suspect that people wanted to get a glimpse at what the bathroom looks like in a suite that costs upwards of $800 a night. Frankly the rather regal looking bed is what sold me. Ricky is under strict instruction that should we ever be in the position where we are able to book a room at Mollies for the night, the premier suite is the only way to go!

On the trail to find food for Ricky, we wandered down the hall towards the Gentlemen’s Club. Sera Lilly’s Alice in Wonderland girls were in the hall just ahead of us, and managed to get the last of the canapés off an incoming tray of food. Foiled again! Ricky pondered that perhaps we were travelling in the wrong direction as the food seemed to be running out just as we arrived.

The gentlemen’s club with designer Michael Pattison was our next stop. This room was a rich combination of grand armchairs, cigars and moody lighting. Here we met DJ Dan Auks, who gave Ricky the last serving of mini burger and fries. Success! With Ricky’s hunger satisfied we trailed outside to a courtyard with an open fire and beautiful French looking garden furniture. It was a very cold night and had been previously raining, however everything looked so ethereal it seemed like something from A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Mollies certainly know how to throw a party.

From there we made our way to the Boudoir Lounge, where an artist was painting a very French masterpiece as guests mingled with more cocktails. Models lounged in their gorgeous 1920’s satins and pearls. Here another group of people mingled in the bathroom, exploring the facilities of the beautiful suite out of personal interest.

Our last visit was to the Bordello Chic suite, and what a laugh! Greeting us were several particularly fabulous looking, rouge lipped women, who I got chatting to, before noticing my husband’s slight discomfort and realizing that the room was filled with scantily clad men holding peacock feathers (to tickly guests with as I found out) - wearing only tight boxers with the NZ Flag on them! Unsurprisingly, Ricky was keen to move on.

We sat down with our drinks back in the main Folk area; where there was live music playing, and had one last visit to the Alice in Wonderland room before deciding to call it a night. Poor Ricky was designated driver as he had work first thing on Sunday morning – I bet he regretted making that decision! It was only 10pm but what a sensory overload. I was absolutely buzzing. Such a fantastic night!

I wore:

• Black Lucky 13 Dress with Red ribbon bows around waist and halter neck. Old faithful!
• Red nails.
• Red lips.
• Gold glitter eyes.