Last night at Midtown Loft, an intrepid mob of sartorial somnambulists gathered for the Dewar’s Master-Disaster FSHN DL IV: UNDEAD BALL, curated by Refinery 29.com.

Following a brief elevator ride, guests were welcomed into a loft-space that glowed blood-red. There have been rumours that the party’ glowed red because a haunted river of blood flowed behind the venue’s walls; others attribute the crimson halo to red gels placed over eight old office lamps. There’s no way to be sure.

credits: Igor Smith

We love your bloody lips

Like a fat kid loves cake.

LVHRD members explored the space slowly, as zombies often do, enjoying drinks, getting their portraits taken by Eric Luc, and settling down with Alex Almeida & Virginia Bradley - two makeup artists who bruised, bloodied and butchered as many audience members as their consciences would allow.

As more and more undead guests filled the space, their cries for couture competition began to swell.

Entertainment explosion Dave Hill valiantly took to the stage, offering a philosophical dissertation on the merits of every single sponsor. The zombies moaned loudly, and he wisely started the duel.

credits: Igor Smith

Dave Hill with Eventide and The Lake and Stars

Dave will get on your shoes if you let him. Keep a wet wipe handy.

Two design-duos - Sarah Spratt and Christian Stroble of Eventide, and Nikki Dekker and Maayan Zilberman of The Lake & Stars - worked in the round, designing for a grim future where the total deforestation of our planet had led to the zombification of mankid, and rendered paper the rarest medium for couture dress makers.

credits: Igor Smith

They were The Lake and Stars

That means they cover all the bases.

Intricate, faux-woven patterns began to take shape with The Lake & Stars; Eventide’s texture manipulation led to voluminous bows and buttresses. All of this on stage, under hot lights, surrounded by an intensely curious crowd of cannibals and demons. Kudos to the models.

credits: Igor Smith

Eventide designs their way out of Purgatory.

Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetle---nope

Following an hour of design, judges and audience alike leered towards each garment in it’s final state - scrutinizing their every detail. Flash bulbs popped, murmurs tumbled from the back of the room.

Of course, the only true way to measure an outfit is to watch the way it moves - so the models did what models are born to do: THERE WAS A WALK OFF.

credits: Igor Smith

Judges Steve Alan and Aya Kanai

LVHRD: throwing judges for a loop since that bass fishing competition in '97.

Bounding like Gazelles, their outfits wiggled elegantly, competitors got a glimpse of their opponents work for the first time. Ooo’s, Aah’s, and BRAINS! errupted.

The gowns made of tape and magazine paper stuck together. Aya Kanai, Steven Alan, Jeff Madalena and Louis Terline, posited their verdict before Dave turned the decision over to a audience vote via applause - no easy feat considering many guests were clutching flasks graciously provided by LVHRD annual supporter Dewar’s.

Following four measures of generous cheering from the audience, Sarah and Christian from Eventide were named the champion’s of LVHRD’s fourth FSHN DL for their Marc Jacobsian macbre.

credits: Igor Smith

Eventide's winning design

You could rock this out to dinner and it costs approximately six dollars.

DJ Woodman kicked it into high gear, trumpeting the victory with his usual mix of perfect dance music and perfect-ass dance music.

credits: Igor Smith

Geisha love at FSHN DL

We walked by this girl 57 times, thinking oh how sweet, a geisha. Then: ta-dow!

Thank you to Brooklyn Brewery, Zipcar and Fred Water for supplying three kinds of juice that make the world go round, and to everyone who crossed the river Styxx to party last night.