Friday Fête: Frieze Week Kicks Off in L.A., Hermès Hosts “Heurêka!,” and More

On Monday night in New York, fashion brand Amiri partnered with Bergdorf Goodman to host a cocktail event in the store’s second floor Goodman’s Bar. Amiri’s founder, Mike Amiri, joined other guests like Darcy Penick, Luda Weigand, Michael Tommasiello, and Tim Slotta for an intimate toast to this season’s New York Fashion Week.

Later that evening, Spring Place opened a three-night takeover with Michelin-starred restaurant Mirazur. For the pop-up, the members-only club hosted the restaurant’s Chef Mauro Colagreco in the space’s recently refreshed bar and restaurant, where he created a 9-course tasting menu. Spring Place members and their guests were treated to Chef Mauro’s fresh signature blend of sea, mountain, and garden flavors, accompanied by a special list of wine pairings.

Also on Monday but in Los Angeles, NeueHouse Hollywood reeled in the opening of Frieze Los Angeles 2020 with landscape artist Lily Kwong and Executive Chef Anne Thornton. The duo hosted an intimate dinner for attendees like Nick Kroll, Ali Wong, Albie Alexander, Josh Wyatt, and Drew Love. Guests gathered at the private workspace and cultural hub to enjoy a plant-based dinner conceived by Kwong and Thornton, which highlighted the flavor and benefits of mushrooms through dishes like cremini “escargot” and oyster mushrooms, and a chocolate pecan ganache tart topped with lion’s mane mushroom whipped cream.

California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) launched its alumni artist-led initiative—50+50: A Creative Century from Chouinard to CalArts—on Tuesday with a party hosted by Ravi Rajan, Karen Hillenburg, and Jill Kraus. Alumni and guests from the art community (including Sarah Arison, Sigrid Burton, Kelly Nipper, Allen Ruppersberg, Dashiell Manley, and Joan Abrahamson) were invited to REDCAT Gallery to celebrate 50+50, and got a first look at a presentation of alumni commissions by 10 artists—including John Baldessari, Joe Goode, Carrie Mae Weems, and Barbara T. Smith. The evening was complete with a special performance by CalArts alums Kayla Johnson and Dion Pratt, which was directed by Rosanna Gamson.

Wednesday in L.A., Phillips marked the start of Frieze with Urban Zen. The pair held a casual night of sips at the West Hollywood boutique, hosted by brand founder Donna Karan, CEO Helen Aboah, and Phillips L.A. Director, Blake Koh.

Also that night in L.A., art patrons gathered to celebrate an exhibition opening. At Melet DTLA—a new project space by Bob Melet, and the non-profit Serving The People (STP) founded by Lucien Smith—guests welcomed “Fear Eats The Soil.” The show is the first solo exhibition for the initiative, featuring new works by Smith that refers to today’s generation’s relationship with escapism through technology. The title of the show also refers to Smith’s anonymous handle on social media.

And back in New York, Christian Cowan held an intimate evening at The Times Square EDITION to commemorate another season at New York Fashion Week. The designer invited friends and family like Yovanna Ventura, Zoe Lazerson, and Orville Peck for cocktails, surrounded by the lush greenery of the hotel’s Terrace Restaurant & Outdoor Gardens.

Last night, our schedules were full of events on both the East and West coasts. First in New York, Hermès welcomed attendees to its soon-to-be 706 Madison Avenue boutique (due to open in 2022) for a night surrounding the brand’s 2020 theme “Innovation in the Making.” Entitled “Heurêka!,” the space was transformed into a creative laboratory where guests were greeted with a sonic playlist by Playtronica, whose music came to life by electrifying found objects like pineapples, riding stirrups, and a Kelly bag. Attendees (like Martha Stewart, Indre Rockefeller, Ezra William, Naomi Campbell, and Sophie Elgort) explored the four floors and six installations, which was populated by the iconic Hermès grooms-people, as they discovered installations and activations including Lab 212’s gravity-defying swaddle swings, a live filmmaking craft by Michelle Anne de Mey and Jaco Van Dormael, and a mechanics workshop focusing on bag closures from Jean Simon Roch.

Concurrently, Dior launched its new SoHo menswear boutique with a cocktail at the intimate on Greene Street. Partygoers like Coco and Breezy, Logan Lerman, Adam Bartoshesky, and Deon Hinton sipped on cocktails and Moët & Chandon champagne, enjoyed hors d’oeuvres, and danced to throwback hits from DJ Isaac Likes.

In Los Angeles, Birkenstock and MatchesFashion launched the first 1774 at Frieze with stylist Leslie Fremar. Attending the debut were names like Bettina Korek, Charlize Theron, Usher, Jeremy Scott, Chloe Grace Moretz, and Hans Ulrich Obrist—all previewing the new unisex designs alongside a special installation and photography experience of Dignity by artist Amalia Ulman.

Afterward, Ben Gorham’s Byredo opened its first West Coast storefront with a cocktail that saw brand friends like Rosie Huntington Whiteley, Chris Stamp, Shay Mitchell, Lykke Li , and Jason Statham. For the new boutique, the brand worked with Swedish architecture firm Halleroed, who focused on creating a location inspired by a gallery setting that doubles as a social space. Gorham also commissioned Martine Syms to create an exclusive artwork for the location.

And tonight, Circoloco will celebrate the close of New York Fashion Week with final bash at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. The highly anticipated evening will feature performances by Marco Carola, Tale of Us, and Mike Servito, welcoming guests for a late night of dancing and entertainment.