Piece de Repugnance

There's an art to creating a smashing outfit. Balancing color, texture, accessories, hair, makeup — it's a Herculean task, and it's even more difficult for the ladies. Style icon Coco Chanel had a simple, yet effective rule she employed when dressing: Look in the mirror, then remove one accessory. The contestants in Clementine's Tacky Ball Gown Contest will trample that dictum into a bedazzled-and-chiffoned pile of rags. Just as the name implies, the worse you look, the better your chance of winning. Gentleman should dress to impress in the most dire and heinous way. Hideous colors, garish patterns, skanky fabric, the chintziest of jewelry, hemlines that result in the voluntary resignation of the current FEMA director — it's all fair game if you want to win the $250 cash prize for the absolute best of the worst. Sign-ups begin at 11 p.m. at Clementine's Bar (2001 Menard Street; www.clementinesbar.com or 314-664-7869), and official judging starts at midnight (peer judging begins as soon as you walk through the door, the same as always).
Thu., Jan. 31, 2008