As the economic news gets darker, those who still can afford it are saying no to the quicksand of gloom by keeping up appearances. In more cases than not, even if the occasion would allow for a long dress, such as the annual gala for The New York City Ballet, the best-dressed opted to wear short lengths. Less is more? Yes, true, but also with red-carpet starlet overload approaching as we enter cinema and television awards season, where long is uniform, short looks modern and independent. Here, proof that pretty is better than punk, Sarah Jessica Parker takes time to smell the roses at the ballet.