Night of Diamond Darlings
(NEW YORK) Chanel may have its roots in France, but it proved to be ultimate Big Apple host Wednesday night when it commandeered The Plaza Hotel's legendary Grand Ballroom and treated 300 guests to a decadent feast--a first for the venue since its multi-million dollar facelift--celebrating "Nuit de Diamants."
"It's culture shock to be back in a high heel," laughed Allison Sarofim, fresh from a barefooted Hawaiian holiday. "It's like a back-to-school party for the new term and the gang's all here." An eight-month pregnant Celerie Kemble agreed, happy that her first post-vacation fête was mere steps from her apartment. "Only my eyeballs got cold tonight," she grinned.
A Jean Cocteau fantasy awaited Victoria Traina, Shoshanna Gruss, Hana Soukupova, Margherita Missoni, Dayssi Olarte de Kanavos, Gucci Westman and David Neville, Jennifer Creel, Candace Bushnell, Julia Stiles, and Marie-Josée Croze, who described the evening as "mythic," as they wandered through glass vitrines, enclosed by gilded branches, that showcased the U.S. debut of 20 one-of-a-kind pieces from the Chanel archives and the Vendôme collection. "I grew up watching Home Alone so I gasped when I walked in tonight," smiled Blake Lively. "We're at the Chanel ball!" And in keeping with the evening's encouraged dress code, Helena Christensen, Liya Kebede, Julia Stiles, Josh Lucas, André Balazs, Barbara Bush, and Samantha Boardman all wore their best black and white. Tory Burch, however, opted to go against the grain. "I wanted to wear a little pink in a sea of black and white," she said of her Chanel cocktail number. "Why not?"
Inside the ballroom, a pair of silk gauze-wrapped chandeliers that flanked four dramatic Murano light pieces delicately hung from the ceiling as a white glove dinner of white goat cheese salad, grilled filet mignon, and black cod--topped off with Eloise's mini sundae with petits fours and cookies, natch--was served on silk velvet tablecloths. The space certainly garnered Bill Cunningham's seal of approval. "It's good to be back," said the shutterbug of the iconic institution. "It hasn't changed, really, except for maybe it was given a bath."
"Pampering, pampering, pampering--I'm too bohemian for this," laughed Isabel Toledo, as Paul Sevigny, Stella Schnabel, and The MisShapes took turns deejaying from the stage. "Living here, I'd think about having children. After all, isn't that what life at The Plaza was made for--lots of children and diamonds?" Her husband, Ruben, was equally as enamored. "How could you not love it?" he asked. "The romance, the park, the view, the address!"
Conversation over at other tables turned quickly to--what else--Lauren Davis's wedding this weekend. "I just moved apartments today and now I have to unpack to pack for Colombia," said Dr. Lisa Airan. Others, however, had fewer worries. "I'm wearing Hervé Leger for the rehearsal dinner and a cha-cha dress by Zac Posen for the party," stated Zani Gugelmann. Even still, some sought to focus on the present. "I wanted to send a message to The Plaza," said Jamee Gregory of her sequined cigarette-strewn Chanel blouse whose back spelled out "No Smoking" in bright red letters (The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center spring gala will be held at The Plaza). Marjorie Gubelmann also delivered a message, but this time she let her jewels--a pair of Chanel Fine Jewelry diamond earrings and her own sizable canary yellow diamond ring--do the talking. "It's time for the '80s to come back!" she roared. "There's nothing wrong with a little excess." Nevertheless, a guest or two still fancied themselves distracted by other pressing engagements. "I've got to find out the Rangers score," said Amy Sacco as she rushed out in between courses. "I can't get a signal in here."
After scurrying up three flights of marble steps lined in oversized hurricane votives, Ellen Pompeo and Chris Ivery playfully doted on their love affair with New York by the bar. "I got married here at City Hall and now I'm having dinner at The Plaza--my life is truly a fairytale," said the Grey's Anatomy star, who channeled '20s elegance with her Chanel Haute Couture. "I'm sort of selfishly taking advantage of the writer's strike to be here, but as an actor, any chance to play dress up, I go for it. I'm a modern girl; I want it all."
Nearby, another fashionable pair took in the grandeur of their surroundings. "It's so apropos for them to pick the chicest place in New York," said Christy Turlington as she held onto her hubby Ed Burns. "Being here tonight feels like a new beginning."
The healthy get-together of industry and society friends even managed to draw the most reticent of starlets. "I always try and keep a low profile, but I consider Karl Lagerfeld a friend," said Selma Blair. "After all, he did make my dress--and my relationship with Chanel fared far better."
JIM SHI
