It's not even Christmas yet but already hosts of angels have been descending. Not the winged sort of course but the party-going, revelling kind that flocked to the Brown Thomas Angel Ball, in UCD's O'Reilly Hall last night. The highlight of the night was the extravaganza of swish evening wear designed by Peter O'Brien for Rochas Paris. Both he and Alain Jolly, president of the fashion house, were there on the night to oversee proceedings and commandeered four tables to entertain the gaggle of French fashion press. Not to be outdone by such Gallic elegance, the Irish women had all put on their best party frocks. Angel Quest founder Deirdre Kelly was wearing a stunning silver number by Lynn Mar, Sonia Reynolds was doing the Gaultier thing while her friend, Blathnaid Behan, had commissioned a Ben de Lisi dress at two days' notice. Other folk enjoying the angelic evening were Gavin O'Reilly and Alison Doody, Renard's Robbie and Martina Fox; designer Marc O'Neill; PR Caroline Kennedy; Debenhams director Terry Greene who flew over from London; Hamish and Karen McAlpine; Minister of State Liz O'Donnell and her husband Michael Carson; singer Phil Coulter and his wife Geraldine Brannigan, and Image magazine editor Jane McDonnell.