Daily Front Row

2009 February 20

A Wooly Fete

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Mary Kate Olsen
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(NEW YORK) Barney's Julie Gilhart may have a packed schedule during fashion week, but that didn't stop her from wrangling an impressive set for the opening of The Smile, a mixed use concept store and cafe by Carlos Quirarte and Matt Kliegman. The fete was also in support of Wool and The Gang, a brand of knitwear and knitting accessories. "The store is all about mixed use. We have a cafe by Melia Marden, products by Wool and The Gang, C.O. Bigelow, and many others," said Quirarte.

Mary-Kate Olsen showed up in an outfit of vintage and Elizabeth and James on the early side and was greeted warmly by gatekeeper Wass Stevens who was drawn away from his usual perch at Marquee. Kirsten Dunst was also in attendance and in wooly spirit, having taken in the Rodarte show in one of the brand's signature knit dresses. Other A-list guests included Michael Stipe, Sam Shipley, Jeff Halmos, Thakoon Panichgul, and Maria Cornejo. Colette's Sarah Lerfel, who has a concept store of her own, joined guests in drinking the various St. Germain cocktails along with hors d'oeuvres and desserts courtesy of Marden.

While the affair was not exactly the dinner that The Daily had imagined, the imaginative surroundings made for interesting cocktail fodder. Halmos was overheard commenting on the wall filled with wool picture frames including photos of various individuals including President Barack Obama. The downstairs space was packed with a small bar and became the rowdier locale for the party. Normally the space will house a tattoo parlor by noted artist Scott Campbell. "You'll have to come back and get a tattoo!" Gilhart was overheard telling various guests. Only if you go first, Julie...

ADAM P. SCHNEIDER