Pratt’s Black & White Party

As soon as the Pratt Contemporaries announced its “A Night in Havana” theme last fall for its annual Black & White Party, 25, got to work in planning her outfit. The Belair-Edison resident wanted to stand out, so she started an online search for the perfect dress and accessories. “It’s hard to find something that isn’t color that has a Havana theme. So I was looking for something floral and had movement. … Then, I played it up with the headpiece, earrings and blue eye shadow,” she said. A psychology graduate student at Loyola University Maryland and a metadata specialist at the Johns Hopkins University, Barnes said she’s become well-schooled in finding cool pieces in thrift shops and online. “I go for a lot monochromatic outfits. And I wear 4- to 6-inch heels everywhere I go. They usually match what I’m wearing, like burgundy ankle strap heels with a burgundy high-waist pencil skirt and burgundy cropped sweater with burgundy belt,” she explained. “It’s unexpected,” she said, with a twinkle in her eye. Black-and-white lace appliqued gown featuring a bodycon mini dress under white satin tie-over ball skirt from tbdress.com. Top Line black strappy heels, gold tassel earrings and crystal encrusted evening bag with peacock clasp — all from amazon.com. Headpiece she created using $6 headband from amazon.com and items she found at Dollar Tree – “I just hot-glued everything. I’m very into DIY.”

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