Daily Front Row

2011 November 4

Apollonian and Dionysian

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Lydia Siska, Junnie Lee, Carolina Herrera, Katelyn Bishchof, Jenny Swank, Celine Schira, Patricia Lansing
Billy Farrell Agency View Gallery

(NEW YORK) When, in the inevitable après-gala rundowns at bars and restaurants scattered about the UES, the discussion is strictly about who looked best, the aforementioned party must be considered a success. Such was certainly the case at Thursday night's Apollo Circle benefit for the Metropolitan Museum, which earns its style points entirely from Carolina Herrera, who sponsored the event for the fifth consecutive year. "Madame," as her design director Hervé Pierre adresses her, hosted a champagne toast in Englehard Court o greet the host committee, most of which was outfitted in one of the maison's splendid confections. It's one thing to take in the CH show at Lincoln Center, but it's quite another to digest the real-ish world appropriations of the clothes. From endless yards of billowing silk florals (Lara Meiland Shaw) to a demure long-sleeved leopard print number (bonjour, Sylvana Ward Durrett), the scope of this designer's work was on full, and glorious display. The Misshapes-helmed dance party going on next door, in the Temple of Dendur, that drew legions of the ultra-young social set? Almost secondary.

"I'm sorry to kiss both cheeks, but it's a French thing!" apologized Pierre, bestowing bises upon Lydia Fenet, Allison Aston, Arlenis Sosa, Julie Henderson, and everyone else within walking distance. The celebrity contingent was filled by the dapperly tuxedoed Seth Meyers and his girlfriend, Alexi Ashe. As the CH cognoscenti sipped (mostly) champagne, the raging next door began in earnest. Themed "Pop!", cheeky movies played against the wall while the ballgowns sashyed against one another en route to the bar, where champagne and other assorted cocktails were being served alongside—what else?—tiny Snowballs and Ho Hos.
ASHLEY BAKER