Nearly 400 of New York's chicest society staples made the annual trek up to the Bronx for a festive, fashionable evening last Friday night.

Every year the New York Botanical Garden's Winter Wonderland Ball marks the simmering of the season, when the mad rush of pre-holiday parties comes to a peaceful pause and the city slows down until the New Year. As the last big soirée on the social calendar, the grand fête is the perhaps the most fun party of the year as everyone gathers, dressed in their most stylish ensembles, to go out with a bang!

The black tie affair, sponsored bySaks Fifth Avenue, De Beers and Veuve Clicquot, began with a sophisticated cocktail hour stroll through the Holiday Train Show, a magical maze of plants and trains and iconic city landmarks created out of pine cones, acorns, seeds and more.

With each partygoer seemingly desperate to leave no individual unchatted, dinner, which was held in the Garden Terrace Room, began about an hour after schedule.

Alas, who needs food when you've gossip to catch up on?

Social sustenance!

Considering the schlep, no one dips out of this party early. And why would they? This event is consistently the only high society function where people actually dance! DJ Mei Kwok had the dance floor filled to the brim with twirling gowns late into the evening.

Care to see who was the belle of the ball?

Click through for an inside look at the beautiful evening, including who wore what!

[Photos courtesy BFA]

Ivy Getty, Timo Weiland

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