Seventh on Sale
Thursday night was the first CFDA Seventh on Sale held in 10 years. For reasons unbeknownst to me, after a hugely successful event in 1995, raising $1.5 million for AIDS, the event was put to rest.
Happily, Vogue and the CFDA rekindled the soiree and in true Anna Wintour form, made it bigger and better.
Now I may be a trustifarian, but I don’t exactly have $3000 to plop down for a dinner ticket and neither do my commrads. Therefore we took the Plebian route and bought tickets to the dessert course of the evening.
Black tie was the dress code of the night so I did a Victorian frock coat, ascot number and Rod pulled out and dusted off his tux. We met Justin, who bought a Dior suit for the night, and his hysterical friend Ashley, who bought a new ball gown skirt, face and hair for the event, at Bottino for dinner.
Now my friend, if you ever would like to make a show stopper, dress in black tie, bring a stunning woman in a jungle red skirt with train with you and lead her into a dining room of a chic but mellow restaurant. We had the entire restaurant in silence. It was quite a scene, even the waiter got in on the act by gathering Ashley's train so that she would not get it caught under her chair.
Drinks were ordered and ordered and ordered and then we had dinner, which as always, was divine. As we leave to jump in a cab we all realize we have no idea where we are going. Who brought an invitation? We knew it was on Hudson Street somewhere...
Rod calls people, I call people, Justin doesn’t call people because he realizes he left his phone in the previous cab.
We finally find the joint and saunter in. As usual, who is at the door shivering in the cold and inhaling a cigarette but Chloe Severny. She gives her sexiest wink and welcomes us in. We are amazed.
Now I have been to some swank ones, but this really took the cake. Dear Ms. Wintour had the entire place turned into Narnia, a winter fairy tale. The floor was white and glittery as were the walls, tables and trees. All sparkling and cotton candy like. Life size paper mache rhino's, lions and tigers covered in glitter and borrowed from Disney, were laid all about the fairy dust.
Oh, I wish I still did acid.
Now this was a shopping event so there wasn't just socializing to do but buying. Too, too much for me in my present state.
We tour the place and see a who's who. Aerin Lauder and Linda Evangelista buying up baby clothes, Kenneth Cole cajoling with Diane Von Furstenberg, Lee Anne Rimes ogling candles. Jennifer Lopez, like Scarlet at Twelve Oaks was lounging with suitors surrounding her. Although her suitors were much chicer than Ashley Wilkes, there names were Dolce and Gabanna. Naomi Campbell was doing rings around the lot.
As Rod and I are checking out a white satin sleigh bed (bought by Damon Dash for his 6 year old daughter) I see Tinsely Mortimer. She comes dancing up to me and plants a firm one on my cheek. She is so excited about the shoes she bought. I ask if I will see her later at Bungalow 8 and she giggles, "of course silly!" "My husbands in China, so I’m out all night!"
Then we see Lauren Davis who I was in the Observer dancing with. She is amazing in a Herrera gown and in a shopping frenzy.
My favorite guests I meet was William Norwich, the society columnist for Vogue. He is so witty, and has been to some Marvelous Parties. I introduce myself and tell him that we have a mutual friend in London, Meredith Etherington-Smith. He is so excited to hear about her and I tell him stories of our trip to India together. He asks what I do and I tell him I too am a writer and he is a major mentor. He blushes and I give him a card. Later we see him again and he cant fid his date. Finally he calls out, "Blaine! Blaine!" and Blaine Trump elegantly glides over to speak. Always such a lady.
As the night is winding down Rod and I speak to Thom Brown and ask what he is holding, "Its my award I won tonight." He opens his award to reveal a clock, or is it an alarm clock? "Well we just blew our dessert ticket cover didn’t we, but hey Thom, if you keep that by your bed you will be reminded of your award every time the alarm buzzes?" I say. Thom laughs and we move on. I see Peter Arnold who I haven't seen in ages. He used to be the President of the CFDA and was with me when the towers fell in 2001. Since then I have always had a soft spot in my heart for him.
Rod and I go out for a smoke and run into Raoul, who is to thank for this white wonderland. We gush over how amazing the space looks and he starts spewing out how cheap all the dessert people look. "You can tell who only paid $300 for their tickets! Look at that girl and her cheap shoes? Why bother?"
Rod and I just roll with it and later laugh hysterically.
As I am heading to claim my two tiny candles I bought I see Ms. Wintour, who looks stunning in white satin bias cut Chanel. I tap her shoulder and ask where the bathroom is and laugh out loud.” Well, its right over there." she says dryly. And then I say, "Don’t you remember our Night of Stars joke two years in a row." Then she looks at me, and her frown turns upside down. Yes, I think she does remember those days, but maybe she is just trying to get rid of me. Whatever anyone says, I still think she is top drawer.
We tumble out with Justin and Ashley, who just twirled around in her skirt in front of its designer, Michael Kors. Rod heads home and Justin, Ashley and I head to Bungalow 8, society after hours club, bar none.
Water is in order and we dance on tables, sofas and stools until Justin and Ashley are passing out. I am still full steam ahead so I bid them adieu. Somehow in the mix Ashley asks me to wear her 3 diamond eternity bands for the rest of the night (Darling, I still have them and I am still wearing them!). As they stumble out of the door I find myself at the bar (yes, ordering water) with Dabney Mercer, Tinsley's sister. We are so excited to see each other we party until 4am. At this point she has already reserved a table at Cain with bottle service and is ready to go. I explain that I too am ready to go, go home.
And with that I kisss her and pop into a cab reeling from another wonderful New York night.
Happily, Vogue and the CFDA rekindled the soiree and in true Anna Wintour form, made it bigger and better.
Now I may be a trustifarian, but I don’t exactly have $3000 to plop down for a dinner ticket and neither do my commrads. Therefore we took the Plebian route and bought tickets to the dessert course of the evening.
Black tie was the dress code of the night so I did a Victorian frock coat, ascot number and Rod pulled out and dusted off his tux. We met Justin, who bought a Dior suit for the night, and his hysterical friend Ashley, who bought a new ball gown skirt, face and hair for the event, at Bottino for dinner.
Now my friend, if you ever would like to make a show stopper, dress in black tie, bring a stunning woman in a jungle red skirt with train with you and lead her into a dining room of a chic but mellow restaurant. We had the entire restaurant in silence. It was quite a scene, even the waiter got in on the act by gathering Ashley's train so that she would not get it caught under her chair.
Drinks were ordered and ordered and ordered and then we had dinner, which as always, was divine. As we leave to jump in a cab we all realize we have no idea where we are going. Who brought an invitation? We knew it was on Hudson Street somewhere...
Rod calls people, I call people, Justin doesn’t call people because he realizes he left his phone in the previous cab.
We finally find the joint and saunter in. As usual, who is at the door shivering in the cold and inhaling a cigarette but Chloe Severny. She gives her sexiest wink and welcomes us in. We are amazed.
Now I have been to some swank ones, but this really took the cake. Dear Ms. Wintour had the entire place turned into Narnia, a winter fairy tale. The floor was white and glittery as were the walls, tables and trees. All sparkling and cotton candy like. Life size paper mache rhino's, lions and tigers covered in glitter and borrowed from Disney, were laid all about the fairy dust.
Oh, I wish I still did acid.
Now this was a shopping event so there wasn't just socializing to do but buying. Too, too much for me in my present state.
We tour the place and see a who's who. Aerin Lauder and Linda Evangelista buying up baby clothes, Kenneth Cole cajoling with Diane Von Furstenberg, Lee Anne Rimes ogling candles. Jennifer Lopez, like Scarlet at Twelve Oaks was lounging with suitors surrounding her. Although her suitors were much chicer than Ashley Wilkes, there names were Dolce and Gabanna. Naomi Campbell was doing rings around the lot.
As Rod and I are checking out a white satin sleigh bed (bought by Damon Dash for his 6 year old daughter) I see Tinsely Mortimer. She comes dancing up to me and plants a firm one on my cheek. She is so excited about the shoes she bought. I ask if I will see her later at Bungalow 8 and she giggles, "of course silly!" "My husbands in China, so I’m out all night!"
Then we see Lauren Davis who I was in the Observer dancing with. She is amazing in a Herrera gown and in a shopping frenzy.
My favorite guests I meet was William Norwich, the society columnist for Vogue. He is so witty, and has been to some Marvelous Parties. I introduce myself and tell him that we have a mutual friend in London, Meredith Etherington-Smith. He is so excited to hear about her and I tell him stories of our trip to India together. He asks what I do and I tell him I too am a writer and he is a major mentor. He blushes and I give him a card. Later we see him again and he cant fid his date. Finally he calls out, "Blaine! Blaine!" and Blaine Trump elegantly glides over to speak. Always such a lady.
As the night is winding down Rod and I speak to Thom Brown and ask what he is holding, "Its my award I won tonight." He opens his award to reveal a clock, or is it an alarm clock? "Well we just blew our dessert ticket cover didn’t we, but hey Thom, if you keep that by your bed you will be reminded of your award every time the alarm buzzes?" I say. Thom laughs and we move on. I see Peter Arnold who I haven't seen in ages. He used to be the President of the CFDA and was with me when the towers fell in 2001. Since then I have always had a soft spot in my heart for him.
Rod and I go out for a smoke and run into Raoul, who is to thank for this white wonderland. We gush over how amazing the space looks and he starts spewing out how cheap all the dessert people look. "You can tell who only paid $300 for their tickets! Look at that girl and her cheap shoes? Why bother?"
Rod and I just roll with it and later laugh hysterically.
As I am heading to claim my two tiny candles I bought I see Ms. Wintour, who looks stunning in white satin bias cut Chanel. I tap her shoulder and ask where the bathroom is and laugh out loud.” Well, its right over there." she says dryly. And then I say, "Don’t you remember our Night of Stars joke two years in a row." Then she looks at me, and her frown turns upside down. Yes, I think she does remember those days, but maybe she is just trying to get rid of me. Whatever anyone says, I still think she is top drawer.
We tumble out with Justin and Ashley, who just twirled around in her skirt in front of its designer, Michael Kors. Rod heads home and Justin, Ashley and I head to Bungalow 8, society after hours club, bar none.
Water is in order and we dance on tables, sofas and stools until Justin and Ashley are passing out. I am still full steam ahead so I bid them adieu. Somehow in the mix Ashley asks me to wear her 3 diamond eternity bands for the rest of the night (Darling, I still have them and I am still wearing them!). As they stumble out of the door I find myself at the bar (yes, ordering water) with Dabney Mercer, Tinsley's sister. We are so excited to see each other we party until 4am. At this point she has already reserved a table at Cain with bottle service and is ready to go. I explain that I too am ready to go, go home.
And with that I kisss her and pop into a cab reeling from another wonderful New York night.