'GLAMOUR' and 'green' are two concepts that don't seem like the most natural bedfellows: one speaks of fabulous excess, the other of frugality and self-denial. However, the gap between luxury and the eco-friendly lifestyle is closing fast: green fashion, food, household decor and cars have all become highly desirable in recent years.
Even black-tie parties, traditionally a riot of indulgence for the well-heeled middle-classes, are acquiring a conscience, it seems. On Friday evening, the Prince's Trust Scotland Black and White ball was black, white and green all over. Held at the
Sheraton hotel in Edinburgh, it was Scotland's first 'green carpet' event and billed as completely carbon neutral, with organisers offsetting the ball's carbon dioxide emissions by investing in an environmentally-friendly project in Tanzania, through a company called Carbon Accountable.
The main aim of the Black and White Ball is to raise funds for the Prince's Trust Scotland, which helps young people get into work, education or training. However the underlying theme was most definitely 'green', with guests reminded at every opportunity of the little ways in which the evening had been made entirely eco-friendly.
"The Black and White Ball is a great name for this event, because when it comes to both the Prince's Trust and the environment, there are no shades of grey," says Geraldine Gammell, the director of the Prince's Trust Scotland. "Helping young people to achieve their potential is a black-and-white issue, but this time, there was a bit of green thrown in as well. There's no reason why raising money for a good cause should come at the expense of the environment."
It all starts with the invitations, which inform guests that while the dress code is strictly black tie, ladies are invited to wear vintage couture. A bit of a stumbling block for me, since my wardrobe isn't exactly overflowing with 1950s Dior, however, the organiser of the evening, Amy Sieweke, assures me that a good alternative is to wear something I already own, rather than going out shopping for something new.
And so, wearing a much-loved and well worn little black dress by DKNY and a vintage clutch bag, I make my way along the green carpet into the Sheraton, where the 300 guests (this was a sold-out event) are welcomed with eco-cocktails mixed by Badaboom Bars. The crowd is a mixture of high-flying business types in sleek tuxedos and impeccable vintage couture, plus a sprinkling of the smartly turned out youngsters who've been helped by the Prince's Trust. It's the first of many moments during the evening when I realise that if I didn't know that the event had a green slant, I might not have guessed it, simply because there's no sense of compromise.
XFM presenter Heather Suttie, a supporter of the Prince's Trust and the founder of waste-reduction website Saynotoplastic.co.uk is resplendent in a 1950s Tracey Keir lemon-and-lime chiffon ball gown, but confesses that after a wardrobe malfunction earlier on, she had to be stitched into it. "Vintage clothing is glamour that is well made, classic and doesn't cost the earth – it's a good example of eco chic," she says. "Tonight's green slant sends a strong and powerful message that we all have to acknowledge our actions and what effect they have on our environment. It's not about making people feel guilty about their choices, it's about highlighting that there are good choices you can make."
As we're ushered into the main hall for dinner, there's not a hemp-clad guest in sight, and the ball is truly glamorous -– if a little different. Instead of cut-flower displays on the tables, there's an eco-friendly LED light sculpture on each one, while the menus (featuring a mouth-watering three course meal, organic and locally-sourced) are printed on plantable seeded paper so that guests can take them home, plant them and watch them grow. Organic wine is served and there are jugs of tap water on the tables instead of bottled mineral water.
As well as performances from some of the young people who've been helped by the Prince's Trust, we're treated to a great set by an 'eco-comedian', Abie Philbin Bowman, who's currently performing at the Fringe, with a green take on Gloria Gaynor's I Will Survive "At first I was afraid, I was petrified, I thought the world would be destroyed by carbon dioxide...".
One of the biggest treats of the evening is the auction which forgoes the usual flights for two to New York in favour of treats that are rather greener. Your own wind turbine, anyone? Or perhaps an exclusive dinner for two cooked by an eco chef? Bidding is frenzied, with the wind turbine proving a particularly popular lot. Gail Porter chips in enthusiastically, but gives up as the lot crosses the £1,000 mark.
"I suddenly thought: 'what on earth am I going to do with a wind turbine?' she tells me later. 'But I thought it was a fantastic item, so different. I love the strong green angle – this whole evening has been really well thought out and there's no sense that anything has been compromised to make it eco-friendly. I go to quite a few fundraisers and events and tonight really has made me wonder why they can't all be like this."
When it comes to attempting to stage a carbon-neutral event, one of the biggest hurdles can be the transportation of the guests to and from the event. Whether they're flying in from the other end of the country or just getting a taxi home, transport fuel accounts for one of the biggest chunks of CO2 emissions.
With this in mind, at the end of the night, weary guests clutching jute goodie bags filled with eco-friendly treats are offered a number of alternatives for getting home, from a hired bus to 'pedicabs' pulled by cyclists to walking guides, who lead groups of people home on foot (presumably none of whom have spent the evening on the dance floor in four-inch heels).
The evening's merriment hasn't been hindered in the slightest by the green 'restrictions'. On the contrary, it was enhanced. As guests leave, they chat about the success of the evening. Heather Suttie has earmarked a pot on her balcony in which to plant her seeded paper, while Gail Porter can't wait to plant hers with her daughter, Honey.
Is this evidence that the eco revolution has reached critical mass? That green living is now an intrinsic aspect of our lives? Recycling is becoming second nature to most of us; more and more of us are choosing to holiday in the UK and we all want to know where our food is sourced. These days, we won't even allow our parties to pollute the planet.
The full article contains 1163 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
