Shell Shocked
(NEW YORK) It's not tough to convince New Yorkers to trot up to Central Park---especially if Karl is involved. Last night, the Kaiser unveiled his Mobile Art exhibition (designed by Zaha Hadid, like you didn't already know) with an al fresco cocktail party. There were all the Chanel trimmings, of course--excellent champagne, plenty of cigarette-addled Europeans, Sebastian Jondeau.
"Oh no, we're late!" said Kate Bosworth, scrambling up the hill avec James Rosseau and into the fenced-off venue around the Rumsey Playfield. No worries. Slated to begin at 7:00, the fete was barely swiniging until 10:00--although the EIC set like Glenda Bailey, Linda Wells and Amy Astley made early cameos. Happily, they were spared from the long and winding queue to see the exhibit that manifested shortly thereafter. Stefano Tonchi was game to wait. "I don't mind it," he said jovially, accompanied by pal Suzanne Donaldson. "I have been waiting to see this!"
Indeed. When the Kaiser finally arrived, he was swarmed by Sarah Jessica Parker, Carine Roitfeld, and Franca Sozzani. "Thank you, thank you," he murmurred to the swarms of admirers before decamping inside the blessedly heated tent where an hour earlier, Fran Leibowitz recovered from a broken champagne glass incident. And in true Lagerfeld fashion, the event drew a delightfully unexpected mix of up-and-comers (Sophie Auster) and living legends (yes, Vidal Sassoon.)
As always, location was key. Given that Central Park is such a character in any New Yorker's subconscious, chic types were happy to share their favorite haunts. "Strawberry Fields, for sure," said Justin Giunta. "I used to do work in the Dakota building, and I often had lunch there. It's the only place in Central Park I've been more than three times. I'm still a virgin!" Daphne Guinness concurred. "Strawberry Fields--and the reservoir! I run around it all the time." As always, Tonchi took a delightfully unexpected approach. "My favorite spot in the park is not in the park, exactly," he mused. "It's a perfect view of the park, from a Fifth Avenue apartment of a friend."
"Bloody hell. I don't know. Anywhere is just fine," said Freja Beha. "The problem with America is that you can't drink in the park--that's what we do in Denmark. Everyone brings a big bag of beer and sits and drinks and does barbeque. You don't get to do that here. That's a bummer."
ASHLEY BAKER
