Watts' Big Up!

(NEW YORK) Fashion Week festivities kicked off Tuesday night for the opening of Ben Watt's first solo exhibition in New York called Big Up! at Milk Studios. Mazdack Rassi and MAC brought together revelers like David Schwimmer, Damon Dash, May Anderson, Sean Avery and Tracy Taylor right after Labor Day for a look at his show. "Mazdack [Rassi] put the whole thing together, so I feel very flattered and privileged to enjoy his hospitality," said Watts. "This city mainly is my inspiration and a lot of the pieces in this show were taken in this city, and if they weren't they were inspired by the city. I'm very hungry!" Host John Demsey commented on the art, being a collector himself, saying, "I love the raw energy. They're very reminiscent of Richard Avedon from the early '60s and '70s. He's such an emerging talent. My personal perspective, being a photography collector and heading up a company like MAC, is always going with creative spirits with unique voices."

Taylor, sporting a fabulous tan from her summer on the beach, spilled about the artist: "He makes the same jokes over and over again. There's like a playlist of Ben-isms like 'Who's your daddy' and  'It's your birthday.'  We used to fight like cats and dogs--he's like the older brother I never wanted but am so glad I have," she said.

After cocktails downstairs, VIP guests moved to the loft for a private dinner hosted by proud sister Naomi Watts. "He was always an artist," she noted. "He was always drawing and painting and making things. I was always quite intimidated by his artistry. He makes me feel very relaxed in front of the camera, which you would think you'd feel awkward with your brother trying to be all glam and sexy, but he manages to relax me so anything sexy comes out of a natural place." Joshua Jackson made a late appearance, sans girlfriend, just in time for his entree and the congratulatory toasts for the man of the hour.

Apparently the rest of the night was all about stealing accessories: Anderson cozied up with Dash after dinner and snagged his red baseball hat to pose, with while Angela Lindvall stole Watt's sunnies before dinner. The pair recently became friends.  "I just worked with him recently for the first time for Victoria's Secret," Lindvall said. Any preparations for Fashion Week? "I do go vintage shopping just to get a few new pieces. It's the time of year I can reward myself because I'm like, 'you're gonna go to work and make money!' I try not to shop so much these days."
BIANCA POSTERLI & NOLA WEINSTEIN