Parties, galas, fêtes, get-togethers—whatever you want to call them, they’re integral parts of Hollywood, the fashion world, the arts, and society in general. Events are venues for fundraising, opportunities to drum up buzz around new initiatives and projects, and, above all, a fun reason for fancy people to get dressed up and have their picture taken. Of course, when the pandemic hit, parties were the first thing to go—and their absence was particularly poignant during digital-only fashion weeks, awards shows and art fairs. But with vaccinations on the rise, IRL events—albeit usually masked to maintain safety—are starting to populate the cultural calendar once again. In an effort to make up for lost time, we’re keeping track of the best parties happening right now. Check back often to stay updated on what your favorite celebrities, artists, socialites, fashion plates, and public figures are up to as they emerge from many months of staying at home.
“I knew I wanted to do something radical on the red carpet from the beginning. I grew up watching Joan Rivers and Steve Kmetko host the E! Red carpet when things were really weird on the red carpet,” Schiaparelli designer Daniel Roseberry told us Tuesday evening inside the brand’s new store space inside Manhattan’s iconic Bergdorf Goodman. “The stylists and the stars who have gravitated towards the house are the ones who have wanted to shake things up and push boundaries.” Mission accomplished. This year alone, Schiaparelli has been responsible for statement-making outfits worn by the likes of Bella Hadid at Cannes, Lady Gaga at Joe Biden’s Inauguration, and Jeremy O. Harris at the Tonys. So, the opening of the boutique, Schiaparelli’s first store outside of Paris since the house was re-launched in 2012, felt like something of a victory lap.
Stars like Paloma Elsesser, Julia Fox, and Richie Shazam came out to fete the opening on Tuesday night. The space itself was designed by Roseberry and the architect Daniel Romualdez with nods to both current house codes and Elsa Schiaparelli herself. “The brief was sort of a surrealist salon,” said Roseberry. “We referenced the old Jean-Michel Frank that he did for Elsa: white plaster, wood floors, Schiaparelli gold, black lacquer.” Much like in the clothing, golden representations of the human body (eyes built into clothing racks, a giant tooth place in front, and a bust of Roseberry’s frequent model muse Maggie Maurer on a shelf) are placed throughout.
“We’re just thrilled to have a permanent home for the collection here in the U.S.,” said Darcy Penick, President of Bergdorf Goodman.
Lee Pace and Moses Sumney, dressed by the house, joined by Matthew Foley, Maurer, and Anh Duong, were amongst the VIP guests in attendance.
As did Cleo Letan, Olympia Letan, Gary Robinson, Andre Walker
An intimate dinner at Emilio’s Ballato in Soho on Thursday, September 16th continued a tradition started at Palm Heights, an all-suites boutique hotel in the Cayman Island: Mambo Italiano. Essentially a celebration of two little pleasures almost everyone loves — karaoke and Italian food — guests dined on pasta while being treated to an intimate performance by musician Okay Kaya. The Jagjaguwar-signed musician then opened the floor to anyone who wished to sing. Renditions of “Like a Prayer” and “Jolene” followed.
Fresh of his New York Fashion Week show for his line Luar, designer Raul Lopez, joined guests. His new Ana bag was also spotted amongst the crowd before finding its way onto the arms of Dua Lipa the next week. Photos of the night were captured on a disposable camera by the photographer and director Danielle Levitt.
Jake Brodsky, the executive chef of the resort’s restaurant Tillies, played defacto emcee for the night. Other guests included Chloe Wise, Marjon Carlos, Eric Wareheim, and Pierre Serrao of Ghetto Gastro.
On Sunday, September 19th, Gabriella Khalil, founder and creative director of Palm Heights, hosted an edition of “Habibi Nights” in Brooklyn. A silent auction raised funds for the Lebanese Food Bank, while guests were entertained by Sudanese musician Alsarah and Lebanese drag queen Anya Kneez. Above, guests Maryam Davani Hosseini, Miski, and Noor Elkhaldi celebrate.
Susan Alexandra, one of Instagram’s favorite handbag designers, attends Palm Heights’s Habibi Nights event.
Chloe Wise, Brianna Lance, and Brooke Wise attend Palm Heights’s Habibi Nights events.
Dan Levy, Lily Collins, Mercedes Abramo, and Finneas celebrated the launch of the Clash [Un]limited collection and Clash de Cartier exhibition with an intimate rooftop dinner and performance in Los Angeles on August 24.
Finneas, who was Cartier’s creative collaborator on the project, performed at the event.
Ella Balinska at the Cartier party.
Real Housewives of Beverly Hills gem Kathy Hilton and Dan Levy at Cartier’s dinner.
Billie Eilish at the celebration for her new album, Happier Than Ever, on July 29, 2021 in Los Angeles.
Jaden Smith wore a stack of pearls and multicolored beaded jewelry at Billie Eilish’s party for her new album, Happier Than Ever.
After this photo was taken, Eilish wrote in lipstick on the mirror, “Nobody saw me in the lobby, nobody saw me in your arms”—lyrics from “Billie Bossa Nova,” off her new album Happier Than Ever.
Olivia Rodrigo attends the “Happier Than Ever: The Destination” celebration, presented by Billie Eilish and Spotify, for Eilish’s new album on July 29, 2021.
Dove Cameron at Billie Eilish’s “Happier Than Ever: The Destination” party on July 29, 2021 in L.A.
Willow Smith and Tyler Cole
Matt Damon and David Schwimmer pose together at the after party for Stillwater, director Tom McCarthy’s second feature since his Academy Award-winning film Spotlight, on July 26, 2021 at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York.
Detective Stabler—aka Christopher Meloni—attended the premiere and after party for Stillwater, Matt Damon’s latest blockbuster, on July 26, 2021 at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York.
Tommy Dorfman and Lucas Hedges got cozy at Cinespia’s Josie and the Pussycats screening on July 23, 2021 at The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles.
Coco Rocha, Jonathan Cheban, and Ellen von Unwerth attend the World Influencers and Bloggers Awards on July 12, 2021 in Cannes, France.
Megan Thee Stallion performs at Hakkasan Nightclub on July 11, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Jeremy O. Harris, Mamie Gummer, and Mark Ronson attend the Gucci and Saltzman family’s celebration of the opening of the house’s East Hampton boutique on July 10, 2021 in East Hampton, New York.
Tyler Mitchell and Satchell Lee attend the Gucci and Saltzman family’s celebration of the opening of the house’s East Hampton boutique on July 10, 2021 in East Hampton, New York.
Drew Barrymore attends the Gucci and Saltzman family’s celebration of the opening of the house’s East Hampton boutique on July 10, 2021 in East Hampton, New York.
Tygapaw DJs at the Gucci and Saltzman family’s celebration of the opening of the house’s East Hampton boutique on July 10, 2021 in East Hampton, New York.
Bella Hadid and Carla Bruni attend the Dior dinner during the 74th annual Cannes Film Festival on July 10, 2021 in Cannes, France. Photo by Arnold Jerocki via Getty Images
Maggie Gyllenhaal attends the Dior dinner during the 74th annual Cannes Film Festival on July 10, 2021 in Cannes, France.
Isabelle Adjani attends the Dior dinner during the 74th annual Cannes Film Festival on July 10, 2021 in Cannes, France.
Adrien Brody attends the Dior dinner during the 74th annual Cannes Film Festival on July 10, 2021 in Cannes, France.
Maggie Gyllenhaal and Jessica Chastain at the Chopard Trophy dinner during the 74th annual Cannes Film Festival on July 9, 2021 in Cannes, France.
Soo Joo Park at the Chopard Trophy dinner during the 74th annual Cannes Film Festival on July 9, 2021 in Cannes, France.
Abigail Breslin and Camille Cottin attend the Stillwater Cannes Filmmaker dinner at La Terrasse on July 8, 2021 in Cannes, France.
Matt Damon and Lilou Siauvaud attend the Stillwater Cannes Filmmaker dinner at La Terrasse on July 8, 2021 in Cannes, France.
Snoop Dogg attends the Wonderbrett Hollywood flagship store opening celebration on July 8, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.
James Harden, Lil Baby and Lewis Hamilton attend the Balenciaga 50th Couture Collection Dinner on July 7th 2021 during Paris Couture Week.
Juergen Teller, Demna Gvasalia and Dovile Drizyte attend the Balenciaga 50th Couture Collection Dinner on July 7th 2021 during Paris Couture Week.
Salma Hayek Pinault, François-Henri Pinault and Meng Li attend the Balenciaga 50th Couture Collection Dinner on July 7th 2021 during Paris Couture Week.
Diane Kruger and Nicolas Ghesquière attend Louis Vuitton’s celebratory dinner for its new fragrance, Les Extraits Collection, on July 5th 2021 during Paris Couture Week.
Joan Smalls, Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom attend Louis Vuitton’s celebratory dinner for its new fragrance, Les Extraits Collection, on July 5th 2021 during Paris Couture Week.
Virgil Abloh and Bella Hadid attend Louis Vuitton’s celebratory dinner for its new fragrance, Les Extraits Collection, on July 5th 2021 during Paris Couture Week.
Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas attend Louis Vuitton’s celebratory dinner for its new fragrance, Les Extraits Collection, on July 5th 2021 during Paris Couture Week.
For the reopening of the Boom Boom Room at The Standard on June 24th, 2021, Madonna performed an intimate Pride party to benefit a silent auction for the Hetrick-Martin Institute. The Queen of Pop, clad in a mesh top and blue wig, performed on top of the venue’s bar for a celebrity-packed crowd. .
Madonna performs at the Boom Boom Room at the Standard.
Leyna Bloom, Honey Dijon, and Indya Moore attended Madonna’s party at the Standard.
Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen attended Madonna’s party at the Standard.
Leslie Jordan teamed up for a signing of his book How Y’all Doing?: Misadventures and Mischief from a Life Well Lived with Nordstrom at their Local West Village location on June 27th, 2021. Lady Bunny was on hand to dj, sparking a dance party in the street.
Susanne Bartsch, GottMik, and Kyle Farmery attend the return of “On Top!” at Le Bain at The Standard on June 26th, 2021.
Actors Brandon Flynn and Zachary Quinto hung out at Susanne Bartsch’s “New York, New York” event at Sony Hall on June 25th, 2021.
RuPaul’s Drag Race alums Yara Sofia, Eureka O’Hara, Kandy Muse, Scarlett Envy, and Serena Chacha join Susanne Bartsch at her “New York, New York” event at Sony Hall on June 25th, 2021.
Regina King brought her sister Linda along to Bring on the Light: The 2021 Moth Ball honoring King and Kemp Powers on June 22, 2021 in New York City. The actor and director, who wore Versace, joined the evening’s storytellers in sharing a personal anecdote at was her first IRL event in well over a year.
Slim Jxmmi and Swae Lee of Rae Sremmurd embraced the return of L.A. nightlife on June 20, 2021 at Nightingale in West Hollywood.
Paris Hilton looked right at home on the red carpet at a Tribeca Film Festival screening of her documentary This Is Paris on June 20, 2021.
Gina Prince-Bythewood reunited with Sanaa Lathan at the Tribeca Film Festival Directors Series talk on June 19, 2021.
Julia Fox holds her baby at the No Sudden Move Tribeca premiere on June 18, 2021.
Annie Murphy got some sun at the outdoor premiere of Kevin Can F**k Himself at Tribeca Film Festival on June 18, 2021 in New York City.
Julian Schnabel caught up with Delroy Lindo at the Chanel and Tribeca Festival screening of Schnabel’s film Basquiat on June 17, 2021 in New York City.
Debbie Harry returned to the stage at the Blondie: Vivir En La Habana premiere during the 2021 Tribeca Festival at Battery Park on June 16, 2021 in New York City.
Zosia Mamet and Chase Sui Wonders were among the attendees at Ugg x Lower Manhattan Cultural Council’s event on Governor’s Island in New York City on June 16. The shoe brand sponsored the event, which hosted a special viewing of the artist Meg Webster’s latest exhibition, “Wave.”
Executive director of artistic programs at LMCC Lili Chopra spoke at the Governors Island Art Center—where Meg Webster’s Moss Mound, Growing Piece (a row of seedlings sprouting underneath heating lamps) and Largest-Blown Spheres are on view.
Guests were treated to lobster rolls and drinks at the Island Oyster bar after the viewing.
Rafael Casal and Jaylen Barron posed with the West Coast premiere Blindspotting at Hollywood Forever on June 13.
Vanessa Hudgens seemed overjoyed to attend the Asking For It Tribeca Film Festival premiere on June 13, 2021 in New York City.
Asking For It star Alexandra Shipp got to introduce her dog to the film’s director, Eamon O’Rourke, at its Grey Goose-sponsored Tribeca premiere on June 13.
A$AP Rocky wore pearls to the premiere of his film Stockholm Syndrome at Tribeca Film Festival on June 13, 2021 in New York City.
Batsheva Hay, Rebecca Hall, Morgan Spector, and Maya Singer spent a summer night out at the With/In Tribeca Film Festival after-party hosted by Ketel One on June 13.
Mare of Easttown star Cailee Spaeny kept it casual at the Italian Studies Tribeca Film Festival after-party hosted by Bulleit Fronteir Whiskey on June 12.
Kate Berlant and Ziwe Fumudoh fittingly had a girls’ night out to see the film Girls’ Night Out on June 11, 2021 in Los Angeles.
The cast No Man of God, including Elijah Wood and Luke Kirby, put in some time off-set at a Tribeca Film Festival dinner for the film on June 11.
Jasmine Cephas Jones was joined by her fiancé Anthony Ramos at the Tribeca premiere of Blindspotting, her forthcoming Starz series, on June 11 in New York City.
Hari Nef, a Tribeca Film Festival 2021 jury member, joined Jacob Bixenman and Moses Sumney at the In The Heights premiere screening on June 9.
Anthony Ramos shook up a Crown Royal cocktail at the official In The Heights after party in New York on June 9, 2021.
It had been far too long since we’d seen Alek Wek make a runway out of plain old pavement—in this case, inside a greenhouse featuring the latest work from Yayoi Kusama. (The 92-year-old Japanese artist’s takeover is open to the public through October 31.)
New mom Karlie Kloss booked a babysitter (or let Joshua deal with it) to attend the Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame cocktail hour ahead of the New York Botanical Garden’s spring gala.
Kit Keenan hit the scene for the first time as a Bachelor star alongside her costar Pieper James and mom Cynthia Rowley.
Nicky Hilton was one of many to take up the evening’s sponsor on having a glass of La Grande Dame, out of a polka-dot bottle designed by Kusama herself.
Benjamin Bronfman dined with Brother Vellies designer Aurora James, who paid tribute to Elsa Peretti by accessorizing with one of the late jewelry designer’s signature Bone Cuffs.
Tina Leung did her best to blend in with the scenery, while Prabal Gurung repped his own label.
Jodie Turner-Smith made a trendy baby-doll dress into a moment with giant bangles and Pride Month-appropriate heels.
On June 2, Peter Sarsgaard, Dustin Yellin, and Maggie Gyllenhaal attended Pioneer Works’ Brand New Heavies Benefit in Red Hook, Brooklyn—a dinner to celebrate the latest exhibition Brand New Heavies, on view through June 20.
Racquel Chevremont and Mickalene Thomas co-curated the exhibition at Pioneer Works.
Deputy Director of the New Museum Karen Wong and David Byrne were in attendance, along with Darren Aronofsky and Marco Bizzarri, the CEO of Gucci—which sponsored the event.
Musician Mishell performed in the industrial space before dinner; the TYGAPAW and the artist Sneaks closed out the night with sets of their own.