Angelina on Rue de Rivoli is known for the best hot chocolate in all of Paris – just ask CFDA chairman Diane von Furstenberg – but on Friday night, it became the hot spot for a different reason: the best fashion crowd in town.
Kendall Jenner, Joseph Altuzarra and Vogue’s Selby Drummond hosted a cocktail party to fête this season’s Americans in Paris, which is proudly underwritten by TUMI – and everyone from Karlie Kloss and Gigi Hadid to Aymeline Valade, Devon Windsor, Atlanta de Cadenet, Vanessa Traina, Leandra Medine, and TUMI creative director Michael Petry joined the celebrations.
The eight designers showing their collections at Espace Commines through March 7 are Jonathan Simkhai, Becca McCharen, Chris Gelinas, Thaddeus O’Neil, Raul Arevalo and Bradley Schmidt, Aurora James, Rio Uribe and David Hart. Throughout the night, it was hard to miss the sense of camaraderie that developed among the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund designers: Cadet’s Schmidt snapped a photo partner Raul with Gypsy Sport’s Uribe; Brother Vellies designer James posed with Chromat’s McCharen, and O’ Neil was catching up with Simkhai. When two trays of petit fours arrived, the designers gathered around in sheer excitement; the champagne followed and a communal sound of joy erupted.
Irene Neuwirth, Greg Chait, Shane Gabiers, Juan Carlos Obando, Jennifer Fisher, Christopher Kane and Erdem Moralioglu were also on hand.
As the evening progressed, the Instagram photo booth replete with floral backdrop became a popular spot for group shots and GIFs, attracting the likes of Gigi, Kendall, Aurora and Becca. Even co-host Altuzarra couldn’t resist the temptation. “I will find some people,” he said, “and migrate to the booth.”
