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Updated Sunday, September 23, 2007 0:00 am TWN, By Brian Asmus, Special to the China Post



	Evening gowns and black tie were de rigueur at the ECCT’s 2007 Gala Ball. Themed ¡§The Devil Wears¡K,¡¨ the glittering event was held in the grand ballroom of Taipei’s Grand Formosa Regent ... Enlarge Photo

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ECCT gala ball: A night of haute couture

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Evening gowns and black tie were de rigueur at the ECCT’s 2007 Gala Ball. Themed ¡§The Devil Wears¡K,¡¨ the glittering event was held in the grand ballroom of Taipei’s Grand Formosa Regent Hotel.

The theme, a play on the high fashion that inspired “The Devil Wears Prada,” could not have been complete without a fashion show. Last night, the latest Autumn collection of Taiwan designer Shawnyi was unveiled to the oohs and ahs of the crowd. Participants were also given makeovers by a team from Lancome, while Elle magazine transformed some into the cover stars of famous fashion magazines. This was followed by dance performances and a grand raffle of European luxury goods and airline tickets.

Dinner was prepared by Silvio Salmoiraghi, chef instructor of Alma — Italy’s most famous school of haute cuisine. Salmoiraghi flew in especially from Tuscany for the occasion. Also attending the gala was Baron Francesco Ricasoli, the 32nd Baron of the Ricasoli dynasty, Italy¡¦s oldest winemaking family (over 950 years). Guests delighted in a full range of Ricasoli wines.

Singers Mandy Gaines and Zorina London brought the house down with a duet, returning later to entice guests to the dance floor with finger-snapping, foot-tapping jazz and R&B tunes.

ECCT Director Guy Wittich had rich words of praise for the evening¡¦s major sponsor DaimlerChrysler as well as Gold sponsors Carrefour and Robert Bosch. In addition, he singled out silver sponsors ING and Nestle for their generosity. “It was a true European ball,” said Wittich with a laugh, “even the British turned up!”

Also elated was fellow ECCT member and former board of supervisors, Guillaume Thery, CEO of Louis Vuitton Taiwan. “It was a great occasion. We were able to help our Taiwanese friends discover European culture and have fun together.”

The ECCT, the foremost organization promoting European business interests in Taiwan, said Thery, is critical to organizations such as his. “The ECCT is instrumental in helping us and other European companies on projects as well as raising our exposure and promoting our brand awareness.”

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