MAD's " An Evening in Monte Carlo with Valentino" 2015
Vogue
Edward BarsamianIf Monte Carlo in the sixties looked like last night's Museum of Arts and Design Gala sponsored by Valentino, then the need for a time machine has never been more imminent. From the craps table in one room replete with overstuffed club chairs, to the roulette wheel complete with at-table bar service, guests wore their best poker faces, and finest black tie, to toast artist Sebastian Errazuriz.
Taking in the chic setting at the Harold Pratt Mansion on Manhattan's Upper East Side were a bevy of beauties in festive frocks: Giovanna Battaglia, Zani Gugelmann, Indre Rockefeller in Delpozo (who had recently returned from the Monaco city), and Monique Péan, who eschewed a dress in lieu of vintage lace trousers from Valentino Haute Couture. But with the evening's cocktail hour focusing on the games, did partygoers have any tips for those new to the table? "Smile," said Rockefeller with a mischievous grin. And what about their favorite games? "Old maid," joked Lauren Remington Platt in
a Cushnie et Ochs dress. "Typically blackjack," said Dalia Oberlander in a starfish-print Valentino number. "I'm not such a gambler, but that's what I learned at a young age," she said laughing. "This is my first time," said Kate Foley. "To be honest, I don't even know if I did win!" However, some had strategies fit for Vegas or Monte Carlo. "I actually always win at blackjack," said Lily Kwong in a colorful retro dress from Valentino. "You don't play the cards, you play the people. I already lost $25 on roulette."
As the two Carlos-es in the room (Mota and Souza) squired beauties like Sofía Sanchez de Betak; who was one of the winners of the evening; Natalie Joos, and Alexandra Chemla into the dining room, the evening truly felt like an old-world gathering. After brief remarks from the museum's director Glenn Adamson, who thanked trustee Mike De Paola and the design team for transforming the neo- Georgian ballroom into a European palace, it was time for the honoree, Chilean artist Sebastian Errazuriz, to take to the crowd. "I think the fact that a young person is being honored today is a merit of the museum," joked Errazuriz. "This is an incredibly exciting museum that has the ability to be fast, nimble, and lean," he said. "This museum is more of a scout. It can move where others can't and can lead the way."