Seven hundred and fifty women!  A contingent of naked men! A special night for D.C.'s most prominent women, from members of Congress to leaders in the corporate and philanthropic communities, happening just once a year. Over 6.5 million dollars has been raised over 18 years. The evening was a celebration of the power of women to effect change for the most vulnerable women and children in our community.

Jill Sorensen, a former fashion model for the Elite and Ford agencies in Paris and New York, and her friend Cheryl Davis Masri, owner of a Washington, D.C. based advertising agency, founded Knock Out Abuse Against Women in 1993. Their vision was to create a nonprofit organization to build public awareness and financial support to eradicate domestic violence and the help women and children whose lives have been shattered by abuse, poverty and homelessness.

The Bethany House of Northern Virginia, Crossway Community, DC Volunteer Lawyers Project and Safe Shores are the beneficiary organizations.

St. Tropez Chic was the theme and dress for this year's event. Somehow this included Naked Men! The scantily clad male models were a big hit, posing with the patrons willy-nilly. Quite silly really, but a fun take on the St. Tropez Chic theme. Besides the male models, Honored Guest, The Honorable Anthony G. Brown, Lieutenant Governor of Maryland, was smothered by female fans. Not to be outdone, Clinton Portis of the Washington Redskins posed with the pretties.

Ann Walker Marchant, Execuctive Committee Chair, was as gracious as she is gorgeous, sharing a moment with Blacktie-DC in a video recorded at the event. Maggie O'Neill, O'Neill Studios, invited everyone to visit and browse the colorful DC focused fine art.

When asked to spell their names and give their titles, Clarice Walker and Ann Jordan, Clarice quipped, "Title us as 100 years old!" These were the two most elegant women present, but more importantly, they deserve an award for having a good sense of humour. Blacktie does notice how seriously many Washingtonians take themselves, so we were delighted to make the acquaintance of these wonderful ladies.

Younger ladies might consult City Girl Blogs, represented by Stef Woods. You'll enjoy her stories, perhaps be inspired to write one of your own. And, so you'll be dressed for the kill, remember Neiman Marcus, but you might not want to start at the top, where Martha Slagle, Vice President, General Manager, resides. We all want her job. While you are wishing, check out the The List, The Art of the Dress, Bold Gold and other such fabulousness.

Executive Committee members Ann Jordan and Cindy Jones were on hand to lend a hand. Estee Lauder, who Blacktie-DC will afford the quote of the evening (although actually said long ago, still true today), "The most beautiful face in the world? It's yours." Alison Morrison, another Executive Committee member, represented the beauty icon regally, a true testament that Ms. Lauder did, "...show as many women as I can reach, not only how to be beautiful, but how to stay beautiful."

Besides the naked men, many manly men attending Fight Night joined the ladies of Knock Out Abuse for the After Party. Anything can happen when men and women are in one another's company, and Blacktie-DC is certain things did. What happens on Knock Out Abuse and Fight Night, stays with Knock Out Abuse and Fight Night.

Mayor Vincent C. Gray was seen in the  After Party crowd, but Clinton Portis transfixed everyone when he stripped down to his shorts for the high bid of $6,000. Even in the basement of The Ritz-Carlton, the view was spectacular.

Our lips are sealed - and glossed, and painted and puckered, pouted and...poised for a good night kiss.