Unexpected invites to formal affairs send most women into a mild panic. The attire, the hair, the entire ensemble... it can all be a bit overwhelmin when you're caugh off-guard.  Thankfully, a post I discovered by lovely Diane Dorrans Saeks, has me eagerly anticipating my next elegant fete. She spoke to fashion designer Karen Caldwell and displayed some of the most glamorous - and surprisingly easy to wear - gowns I'd seen in a long time. These evoke images of days past when movie stars looked the part. A dress that drapes on the body as these do might just require you to have a Cary Grant on your arm.

Lest you think for a moment these would feel the least bit cumbersome to wear, here's an expert from the post at The Style Saloniste:

“I have such fun creating these gowns,” Karen told me. “I travel all over the country to find the best fabrics and then drape them on the body. And the linings and inside are as carefully made and shaped as the gown itself. We also introduce very custom-made finishing touches like special buttonholes and hidden zippers. I often add jeweled buckles, shoulder ornamentation, and vintage jeweled embellishment.”

“I make each gown to order, and each is fitted several times until it is perfect,” noted Karen, who is in negotiations to sell her collections at a Los Angeles fashion store, and a top San Francisco retailer.

I can think of few joys in life as great as looking like a modern day Grace Kelly and feeling comfortable in your own skin. I am certain a dress that fits this well and is made with as much attention to detail will have you feeling - and looking - the belle of the ball. For more information on Karen's craftsmanship and order placement at karencaldwelldesign.com. Be sure to visit Diane's blog for the rest of her wonderful interview with the designer herself.