Perfect Gentlemen
(NEW YORK) "It's a sea of suits!" one guest exclaimed as she clamored her way through the Edison Hotel's lounge last night during GQ's Gentlemen's Ball, the second annual gala benefiting a myriad of charities including UNICEF, Oceana, The Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation and the Pat Tillman Foundation. Packed with supporters of the cause, revelers balanced their Ketel One vodka cocktails as they dodged elbows, careful not to get mauled by a pair of cufflinks. Indeed, the venue was swarming with handsome, sharp-lookers like Ashton Kutcher, Adrian Grenier, and Mark Wahlberg, all of whom are Gentlemen's Fund Ambassadors. Josh Lucas, Sebastian Stan, Italo Zucchelli, Jamie Burke and other celebrity friends all slipped on their slickest duds for the cause. And where were the femmes of the evening, you ask? Although suits dominated, the women also came in droves, including Demi Moore, Emmy Rossum and Chanel Iman.
The term "a perfect gentleman" is bandied about, but the affair begged the question, so, what really makes a true gentleman? Publisher and vice president of GQ Peter King Hunsinger demystified this term, explaining, "We want to put a stake in the ground and reclaim the word 'gentleman.' It has zipped off in a couple directions...sometimes even associated with gentlemen's clubs. We really wanted to establish the modern gentleman as a having sharp sense of style but an even bigger sense of social responsibility." Light-years from a seedy night club, Hunsinger's party proved to be a civilized, banging success. He paused to add, "A guy I know who emulates this style is Michael Bastian." Bastian, within earshot, smiled graciously, in true gentleman form. The designer explained what makes a real class-act. "It's about making sure no one is ever uncomfortable. If somebody comes to your apartment, they can put their feet on the furniture...they can even burn the place down! It's your job to let it roll off your back."
Flanked by a crew of shaded, broad-shouldered men, Akon coolly observed the madness, collecting himself before his performance during the dinner. "I'm excited! I just finished an entire collection for my upscale menswear line, Alaiune, which will launch in 2010. It's looking good." He laughed and popped his lapel. "This is it!" he said, motioning towards his crisp jacket and white oxford. The snappy-dressing rapper had to dine and dash. "I'm off to Canada for my new album, Stadium Music. No hanging out here this weekend."
One of the debonair faces of the evening, Grenier, stayed true to his earthy, eco-savvy sensibility, chatting with dinner guests about Whole Foods. Keeping his composure (bien sur!) Grenier was all smiles. "I am thrilled to meet all of the very generous and loving gentlemen here who are putting their efforts towards good things." He paused for a moment and added, "Me? I wasn't always a gentleman; I grew into it. My mom had to teach me for many, many years!"
GQ Creative Director Jim Moore sang the praises of Grenier and company. "Charity involvement is the ultimate test of a gentleman. It's not all about a well-tailored suit or a slick tie!" Moore rattled off his ultimate gentleman list. "Barack Obama, Johnny Depp, Paul Newman. There are so many!" Undoubtedly, there were too many dignified chaps to choose from. The girls fiercely batted their eyelashes, and rightly so. Rossum, who was chatting with fellow actor Stan, revealed, "I like to be taken to the theater." She continued with her modest list of requirements. "A gentleman is kind and never plays games...and he opens your door!" Designer and gentleman Bastian rounded off the evening with a crucial piece of advice. "Always have a handkerchief in case a lady is crying or you need to lay it down for her on a subway seat." What is Bastian's handkerchief of choice? "Oh I don't carry one. This is just a pocket square!"
EMILY POPP
