A Chic Picnic in an Even Chicer Penthouse: Fendi Hosts the New Museum's NextGen Dinner Party
Vogue
Maria WardNew York has yet to feel like fall, so when the New Museum decided on a picnic chic theme for its NextGen party, it felt more than appropriate. But even if the forecast hadn't been 70-something degrees, the location was reason enough to head indoors given that the evening began inside the fabulous penthouse at 100 Barclay Street. There, guests like Huma Abedin, Prabal Gurung, and Elaine Welteroth gathered inside the 15,000-square-foot address, which boasts 21-foot ceilings and 360-degree views. It was the perfect setting for an indoor-outdoor dining experience as event impresarios Prentice Cultural transformed the space into a lush reprieve complete with charming picnic tables, miniature hedges, and a blanket of faux grass.
The invitation called for picnic chic attire, and many found their answer at Fendi, who also partnered on the event. The evening's honoree, documentary filmmaker and artist Wu Tsang, dazzled in a bejeweled sweater dress and velvet thigh-high boots. "My gender presentation is more androgynous, so I was really excited that they have options that were true to me," she said. "It feels very feminine, but there's something about the leotard underneath that makes it very athletic." Many guests paused to admire the shiny new Fendi bicycle that was parked in the living room—which, decorated with fallen autumnal leaves and warm amber lighting, was in line with the seasonal mood—before freshening their cocktail or getting lost on the first floor of the massive apartment.
Once they found their way back, everyone took their seats at one of the picnic tables to nosh on elevated picnic fare like riccotine with lavender honey, robiola and truffle, and grissini wrapped with prosciutto. When it came time for the salad course—kale with Marcona almonds—guests reached for cutlery grouped in vintage mason jars. Some conversations centered on the transformative effect of décor, and also the broader differences made by the New Museum. "They support young artists, but they also sustain relationships," noted Tsang, whose first-ever show was at the museum in 2011. "They were really interested in the process and helped me every step of the way. There's not always a lot of dialogue between the artists and the museums, and I think that's what makes the New Museum so special."