The final hours of 2008 necessarily call for a well-intended wrap-up of end-of-the-year events; emphasizing, of course, this glittery city’s best gatherings, galas, and the most glamorous of gamines and their gents. Of fashionable fêtes there were several to savor as the month’s wintry merriment brought forth bubbly, benefits, and fashion fodder.

With New Year’s exuberance ensuing, your scene queen strode from one stylish soiree to another during the merry month of December. What to remember? V.O.D., amongst the most stylish places to be, along with Crystal Charity and the splendid Stoneleigh. Not to mention fashion mecca Forty Five Ten and substantial sartorial site Barneys New York.

Thursday, December 4th turned out serious fashion flavor as V.O.D. darlings Jackie Bolin, Liz Thompson, and Elizabeth O’Mahony hosted designer Matthew Earnest on December 4th for a presentation of his spring 2009 collection for SARTEL.

Matthew showed pristine pieces with impeccable tailoring and subtle yet sumptuous details such as feathers and fur. A collaboration between Matthew and his friend and muse Lily Atherton Hanbury, the line’s simple yet versatile separates, leather accessories, and jewelry are perfect for day-to-evening transitions and are available at the SARTEL boutique in Highland Park with an edited selection to be stocked at V.O.D.

The evening rolled on with a soiree of serenity at the Spa at the Stoneleigh complete with antioxidant cocktails, mini-spa treatments and a special appearance by Mr. Howard Kaminsky, founder of BKamins Chemist and author of the New York Times Bestseller, Beyond Botox: 7 Strategies For Sexy, Ageless Skin. For those seeking focused and fashionable philanthropy, the Crystal Charity Ball, arguably the most prestigious benefit of the season, gave a reason.

A congregation of most proper people celebrated at the Hilton Anatole on the evening of Saturday, December 6th in the effort to aid and support children’s charities in Dallas County.

The gala has generated more than $82 million since the inaugural ball held in 1952 and has been an integral annual piece of the Dallas social pie. The evening of Tuesday, December 9th saw the fashion flock in perfect form at DIFFA’s Style Ambassador event at Barneys New York, a kick off for the 20th Anniversary Style Collection: Utopia event to be held in May of next year. Such stylish somebodies as fashion show producer Rhonda Sargent Chambers, Dallas socialite Angie Barrett, and style writers David Ninh and Jason Sheelman of F!D Luxe turned out amongst the veritable eye candy to enjoy sips, bites, and the special announcements of the Style Council Ambassadors and Legends of Style. The glittering gathering of the week ensued on Thursday, December 11th at Forty Five Ten, as the retailer ‘o resplendence hosted an evening of shopping and sipping to benefit the new Dallas Contemporary, with a special appearance by Kelly Klein for the signing of her gorgeous coffee-table topper entitled Horse. Forty Five Ten’s own Shelli Musselman and Brian Bolke as well as lovely larks Alli Davis and Melissa Toman meandered amongst the chic crowd, with Jay Billingsley, Guillame Couthellias, the Dallas Contemporary’s Executive Director Joan Davidow, and skincare specialist Renée Rouleau amongst the glamorous gatherers.

Let 2009 be divine, darling. Thy shalt like to look here for all scene scoop this New Year.