When the world descends on New York for fashion week, the buzz of a day of shows can be counterbalanced by an opulent, branded fête or an intimate cocktail shared through word-of-mouth and behind closed doors. No matter the venue, no matter the guest list, each season provides a masterclass in catering to the industry’s need to unwind and have a ball in the midst of the fashion of it all.

PUMA Opens NYFW at Nebula

PUMA continued the festivities of its Park Avenue Armory show with a late-night soirée at the midtown club Nebula, to celebrate the return of its 90s hit Mostro sneaker. Guests enjoyed a musical performance by Nigerian-American powerhouse Davido in an atmosphere inspired by the star of the show: the Mostro sneaker. Originally launched in 1999, the name comes from the Italian word ‘monster‘ and rides the early-aughts fashion wave of the current moment. With a campaign directed by PUMA’s F1 Creative Director A$AP Rocky, and attendees including Emily Ratajkowski, Ashley Graham, and Hari Nef, the night was a certifiable success of fun and sneaker-centric celebration. 

Chella Man And Hannah Traore Take WSA

In a celebration of multi-medium artist Chella Man’s first exhibition at Hannah Traore Gallery, friends and supporters came together at WSA for a spirited get-together. Under dark lights and moody melodies, guests enjoyed custom cocktails including “The Chella” (passionfruit and peach accents, anyone?) and music that made for a decadent marathon of dancing. For those who’ve frequented the new downtown bastion of partying, the WSA space itself almost serves as an unspoken guest – with expansive windows overlooking the city, dramatically sculptural light fixtures, and an ambiance that seems to imply that what happens in the space is unreplicable anywhere else.

Ludovic De Saint Sernin Pops Up At The Boom Boom Room

The worldbuilding of Ludovic De Saint Sernin is unequaled, and a party under his banner is no different case. Between the shimmering silvery tops and barely-there outfits of the curated crowd at Boom Boom Room, there was an enthralling air of sensuality that was transported directly off the runway. It certainly helped that attendees could rub shoulders with models from the day’s show, who were present to share in the festivities. Nightlife tastemakers Juliana Huxtable, x3butterfly, River Moon, Fashion, and Katie Rex held down the decks – in an industry rife with parties that devolve into simple mingling and tedium, this event was pounding with bass, dancing, stolen kisses, and just one more glass of champagne.

LaQuan Smith’s Legend Continues At The Box

The latest in a long line of legendary LaQuan Smith afterparties, The Box threw an extravagant ode to theatrical decadence with the faithful partners of Louis XIII cognac and The Botanist’s floral gin. Not to be outdone by a bevy of open-bar fashion week parties, the Laquan Smith team also provided a dramatically large cooler of Häagen-Dazs ice cream. Chic. The stage came alive with The Box’s classic (and secretive) ode to debaucherous fun – if you know, you know – but what we can reveal is a sultry rendition of Aerosmith’s “Dream On”, a co-ed strip tease that left audiences breathless, and dancers traipsing across tables and flying down from the heavens with playful grins. Fan favorites from RuPaul’s Drag Race including Nymphia Wind, Q, and Morphine, as well as male model superstars Kit Butler, Alton Mason, and Charlie Knepper, were present for the fun. 

Nine Orchard Celebrates A Very Downtown V-Day

Glancing around the Swan Room at Nine Orchard’s suave Valentine’s Day get-together, you may have seen a Rafael Prieto-designed chocolate swan perched at the end of the bar, keeping a watchful eye over the well-coiffed guests. Co-hosted by Susan Alexandra, Eric Rutherford, Beverly Nguyen, and Suzie Kondi, the scene was a veritable who’s who of downtown culture and design. Under the warm overhead lamps, a sprinkling of editors, restaurateurs, and creatives came together to celebrate the end of a long fashion week and herald in an evening of love and joy. A series of snacks by Nine Orchard’s virtuoso Ignacio Mattos made the rounds, and guests toasted with champagne flutes and (very) satisfied grins.