Did he?

There are some invitations a girl can’t turn down…and there are others she must.

There are some invitations a girl can’t turn down.

It’s October 22nd, 2008 when my roommate invites me to be her plus one to Diddy’s private party in celebration of himself…specifically, his L’Uomo Vogue cover, shot by her employer, Mark Seliger, a celebrity and fashion photographer of note. I danced like Grandpa Joe when presented with Charlie’s Golden Ticket to the Wonka Factory. 

Diddy, née Puff Daddy, née Sean Combs, is famous for being famous, and, perhaps, for making others famous by association. “He’s a MUSICIAN,” you protest? Of course, he has won Grammy Awards, but so did Milli Vanilli and the Starlight Vocal Band. I can hum only two of his songs, and only because they rely heavily on samples from The Police and Led Zeppelin. He’s a celebrity’s celebrity, a Bon Vivant, a man most famous for throwing parties. Perhaps the event would be so overcrowded that people would be faint in the crush to get in and/or out. Perhaps there would be gunplay. Perhaps Diddy’s mere presence would magically transform me into Special K from Breakin’ while we improvise a Krump routine that would inspire onlookers to exclaim, “Damn, that white girl can DANCE!”  I hoped for the worst and expected the best.

I had one dilemma. What does one wear to a Diddy Party? Were this his famous annual White Party, I would have a clear direction, at least.
Mike Meyers, at the height of his Austin Powers fame, was refused entry to Puff Daddy’s Post VMA celebration because he did not adhere to the dress code. The invitation demanded that those invited  “Dress to Impress.” Clearly, he did not. With the help of my roommate, I decided upon a gold knit dress, gold suede heels and a belt with a tasteful but prominent gold Gucci logo buckle. I felt confident and, yet, slightly ridiculous…exactly how I would describe Diddy, so off we went.