A few weeks back the ladies of Tennant decided that it was time we take a field trip to the lovely town of Suzhou. No, not because of its beautiful lakes and parks but because it's also known as the Ballgown Central. Formal gowns, coctail dresses, prom dresses, wedding gowns, and "themed costumes" (anything from Renaissance to space age made to order), are all on display in literally hundreds of tiny shops around the ball gown part of town.

It took about an hour from Shanghai with little traffic and by 10am we were ready to hit she streets. The very first store we went into had pretty much everything a person would need for the next ten years in various styles and colors. Ditto for the second and the third shop. By the fifteenth, we were starting to get overwhelmed...there was just too much to choose from.

Luckily at that moment Fern walked yet into another shop and found a gorgeous dress that fitted her perfectly. We were on a roll again. Next Peggy saw a gown that could be made for her and  I found two dresses that were almost identical except for color. Again, measures were taken and we were assured a dress would be ready in just three short days. Total "damage" for a tailor made ball gown? $40.

Lo and behold, three days later Peggy's driver picked up our dresses and voila, we were ready for a ball. A week later, we all gathered at the American Chamber of Commerce charity event for the Soong Ching Ling Foundation. 

Pictured with us Hente, Fern, Peggy and Dennis.