Ralph Lauren, winner of a lifetime-achievement award, left the stage to a standing ovation from the black-tie crowd.

To his dismay, almost none of the faces in the black-tie crowd of 500 matched the names underlined on the press release.

Others in the black-tie crowd may have extraliterary worries as well, if they've put their money down on one of the authorial racers.

The black-tie crowd of 1,500 booed loudly.

The evening began with champagne and shopping as a black-tie crowd stormed the cavernous space where 12-foot-high paper chandeliers dangled.

And the black-tie crowd had fewer fancy banquets to go to.

"I've got to get out of here," he added, eying the black-tie crowd.

In all, the black-tie crowd raised about $450,000 for PEN.

But I have bumper cars full of the black-tie crowd, sometimes two or three parties a night.

His black and white abstract shirt and checked pants, which he designed, were standouts in the predominantly black-tie crowd.