Daily Front Row

2009 March 9

Chic Must Go On...In Paris!

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Jason Wu and Andre J
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(PARIS) The Franco-American crowd at La Paiva last night marked the best of both designer worlds, with Vanessa Seward and Bruno Frisoni cocktailing alongside Elise Øverland and Victoria Bartlett. The Daily and Jason Wu hosted a dinner at the new Champs-Élysées hotspot  to celebrate Fashion Week and the general notion that despite the malaise, Chic Must Go On! "I have his music on my iPod!" said Roopal Patel after meeting Bertrand Burgalat, Seward's husband and a prominent musician who draws legions of fashion fans at every Azzaro presentation.

The civilized crowd of early Wu adopters Linda Fargo, Patel and Ken Downing admired the laser-cut LYCRA bodysuit worn by Andre J., in town for his first Paris Fashion Week. Patel asked if he had a favorite fairy tale. "Oh, honey, I feel like the Wizard of Oz at this party," he said. "Except I don’t want to tap my shoes and return to Kansas anytime soon!"

Anne Slowey and Joann Pailey arrived after the Givenchy show and settled in for some pumpkin purée, beef carpaccio, roasted chicken and braised cod. "I originally came to Paris just to basically relax, but I’ve found that to be impossible. I’m all booked up here," said Wu. "But at least I’ve eaten like six macaroons in a row today. My return luggage will consist of only Ladurée boxes!"

Marco Giacometi, the CEO of Tod's USA, talked shop with power lawyerette Betsy Pearce, while writerly type Alexandra Marshall discussed Montmartre cuisine with Seward and Armand Limnander as well as discovering that Andre J.'s rather Rodarte-esque leggings ensemble came courtesy of Laquan Smith. As James Scully caught up with Gustavo Rangel, Allison Aston lusted after one of Øverland's leather jackets. "I’ve just returned from Norway where I rediscovered just how natural cross-country skiing is to my nationality," Øverland said. "Now, I'm getting accustomed to urban environments at the Ritz after all the snow."

By the time dessert arrived, everyone was feeling rowdy. "Now this," said Bartlett of a chocolate eclair before trotting off to Regine's, "might just be the most suggestive pastry in Paris!"
ASHLEY BAKER and VALENTINE UHOVSKI