THE SCENE

Kirsten Dunst Fetes New Coach Collab With a Poolside Dinner

Inside the best celebrity parties of the season.

by W Staff
Updated: 
Originally Published: 

Kirsten Dunst at Coach's poolside party to celebrate their new collab
Photograph by Jojo Korsh/BFA.com

If you thought awards season was jam-packed with parties, fetes, galas, and other high-profile ceremonies—gird your loins for spring and summer. Between April and July, there’s a whole slate of celeb-filled events on the calendar: starry store openings (Tiffany cut the ribbon on its revamped New York City flagship on April 27), art-world celebrations (The Bronx Museum threw its annual Gala and Art Auction on April 24), and premieres (The Little Mermaid red carpet, anyone?). Kicking off the party season was the Save Venice Ball, held on Friday, April 21 at the Plaza Hotel. Maggie Gyllenhaal, dressed in a black and gold woven jacquard gown from Lafayette 148, was one of the biggest stars in attendance, along with LaQuan Smith and Cara Buono. In May, the art and fashion crowd headed Upstate for Dia Beacon’s annual spring benefit partnership with Bottega Veneta. Meanwhile, as is the case every year, luxury houses are setting up shop in the Hamptons and hosting a slew of candlelit dinners and soirees. Keep up with all these events and more, here.

Coach x Observed by Us

Jojo Korsh/BFA.com

On the evening of July 12, illustrator Jessica Herschko (left), Coach creative director Stuart Vevers (center), and Kirsten Dunst (right) invited a crew of Hollywood notables to a poolside dinner party at the Sunset Tower Hotel in Los Angeles. The reason for such a luxe summertime fete? Coach’s latest collaboration with Dunst and Herschko’s little-known side project, Observed by Us, which—it’s safe to say with the release of this collaboration—has officially hit the mainstream.

Coach x Observed by Us

Photograph by Jojo Korsh/BFA.com

Melanie Lynskey wore a denim jacket and orange heart-shaped cross-body bag from the collection—both pieces bearing Herschko’s twee illustrations.

Coach x Observed by Us

Photograph by Jojo Korsh/BFA.com

Dominique Fishback stunned in a golden dress perfectly fit for the season.

Coach x Observed by Us

Photograph by Jojo Korsh/BFA.com

Dove Cameron, on the other hand, opted for an all-black leather look—Goth summer, indeed.

Coach x Observed by Us

Photograph by Jojo Korsh/BFA.com

Jesse Plemons, Dunst’s husband, chatted with Fishback in a Canadian tuxedo and simple white t-shirt.

Coach x Observed by Us

Photograph by Jojo Korsh/BFA.com

Meg Stalter carried a handbag decorated with flowers and dragonflies, courtesy of Coach x Observed by Us.

Coach x Observed by Us

Photograph by Jojo Korsh/BFA.com

Hilary Duff and her husband Matthew Koma cutting up at dinner.

Tiffany & Co. Summer of Blue Party

Courtesy of BFA

What’s summer in New York City without a good rooftop party? On June 22, Tiffany & Co. held a soirée on the rooftop terrace of the new Tiffany Landmark 5th Avenue flagship to celebrate its new High Jewelry collection, Blue Book 2023: Out of the Blue. Much of the decor was, notably, a shade of cobalt—but The Idol star Hari Nef and Eve Jobs, shown here, opted for looks that leaned into the spirit of the season: a cream tailored suit on Nef and a white summer dress topped with a brown vest for Jobs.

Tiffany & Co. Summer of Blue Party

Courtesy of BFA

Amanda Merry and designer Christopher John Rogers got the all-white memo.

Tiffany & Co. Summer of Blue Party

Courtesy of BFA

Kit Keenan, the daughter of Cynthia Rowley and star of the 25th season of The Bachelor went for a classic New York look, donning a pair of jet-black pumps that matched her black dress with sheer, fluffy sleeves.

Dia Beacon’s Spring Benefit

Photo by BFA

On Saturday, May 20, New York’s art world glitterati traveled an hour and a half north of the city to celebrate this year’s Dia Beacon Spring Benefit. The annual event honored the elusive conceptual artist stanley brouwn; Robert Irwin, whose multicolor light installations have made his work instantly recognizable; Senga Nengudi, the if-you-know-you-know abstract artist who is having her moment in the sun at 80 years old; and the American painter and sculptor Jack Whitten. Stars—even those outside of the realm of visual arts—came out in kind, including Yara Shahidi, who brought her mother Keri as her date for the luncheon.

Dia Beacon’s Spring Benefit

Photo by BFA

Bottega Veneta was a heavy presence at the event—which makes sense, since creative director Matthieu Blazy (left) is a Dia Beacon co-chair. Here, he poses with Lauren Santo Domingo (wearing a dress and stole from the label’s summer 2023 collection,) and Derek Blasberg.

Dia Beacon’s Spring Benefit

Photo by BFA

Antwaun Sargent wore a riff on the look that Kate Moss debuted on Bottega Veneta’s spring 2023 runway—pairing the all-leather button-down and trousers with his signature cap.

Dia Beacon’s Spring Benefit

Photo by BFA

Kennedy Yanko inside one of Dia Beacon’s galleries.

Dia Beacon’s Spring Benefit

Photo by BFA

Glenn Ligon and Charles Gaines at the Dia Beacon lunch.

JW Anderson and SSENSE’s Boiler Room Party

Adam Powell

We’ve seen a lot of things at The Boiler Room, the charmingly dive-y East Village gay bar, but until last night Jemima Kirke hadn’t been one of them. The actress and her nude-illusion top were on of the first things we spotted when walking in Wednesday night for a party thrown by JW Anderson and retailer SSENSE celebrating the brand’s new Bumper Hike Sneaker collection.

Anderson, who held court in one of the bar’s back corners, seems to love a good old fashioned gay bar. The Art Basel Miami Beach party he threw at South Beach’s Twist with Loewe remains the stuff of fashion party legend, and the Boiler Room affair provided another not-to-be-missed night.

JW Anderson and SSENSE’s Boiler Room Party

Adam Powell

Dominque Jackson, who we all know understands the power of a good shoe moment, came clad in orange.

JW Anderson and SSENSE’s Boiler Room Party

Adam Powell

Tommy Dofrman shined in a sparkly shorts suit set.

JW Anderson and SSENSE’s Boiler Room Party

Adam Powell

Of course, the guest who commanded the most attention with the legendary fashion diva herself, the JW Anderson Pigeon Bag who gamely posed for photos. Apparently her rumored role in the upcoming second season of And Just Like That... hasn’t quite gone to her head just yet.

Moda Operandi & MAZARIN Dinner

Zev Starr-Tambor

Iconic French restaurant La Grenouille is perhaps most famous for two things: its historic high society cliental and its legendary floral arrangements. Keagan Ramsamy, co-founder of the jewelry brand MAZARIN alongside Louise de Rothschild said they decided to bring in even more flowers for the dinner they hosted with Moda Operandi on Tuesday. All those extra blooms helped celebrate the eco-minded line’s American launch on the e-tailer (the diamonds are lab grown, the gold recycled, and a portion of the proceeds benefit elephant conservation).

Actress AnnaSophia Robb was amongst those who came out to toast the line.

Moda Operandi & MAZARIN Dinner

Zev Starr-Tambor

Pat Cleveland kept it simple but elegant in all black.

Moda Operandi & MAZARIN Dinner

Zev Starr-Tambor

The Summer I Turned Pretty actress Minnie Mills put some of MAZARIN’s wares on display.

Avedon 100

Courtesy of BFA

The first week of May in New York City may have started strong with the Met Gala, but it ended with a bang at Avedon 100, the landmark exhibition in celebration of the famed photographer’s centenary. To commemorate Avedon’s extraordinary life and legacy, Gagosian Gallery and the Avedon Foundation called on more than 150 people—including Kate Moss, Kim Kardashian, Cindy Crawford, Elton John, and more prominent artists, designers, musicians, writers, and curators— to choose a photograph by Avedon and elaborate on the impact of the photographer’s work today.

Avedon 100

Courtesy of BFA

Opening night kicked off at the gallery’s Chelsea outpost, where attendees lined up around the block to get a peek at the work (and all the stars in attendance). Inside, there was Lauren Hutton in the same hat she wore when Avedon photographed her, Karlie Kloss (who recently announced she was pregnant) mingling with Iman, and Gigi Hadid and Precious Lee taking in the art with the exhibition’s co-curator and collaborator, Derek Blasberg.

Avedon 100

Courtesy of BFA

Lee, Blasberg, and Hadid pause for a photo inside the exhibition.

Avedon 100

Courtesy of BFA

Following the show, fashion’s cool crowd—including photographer Tyler Mitchell and, of course, Lee—headed to Top of the Standard for dinner, drinks, and a little bit of dancing at the after party.

AprésMet

Courtesy of BFA

Held downtown on the 28th floor of the The Water Street Associates Building, the AprésMet party co-hosted by Carlos Nazario, Emily Ratajkowski, Paloma Elsesser, Raul Lopez, and Renell Medrano was amongst many revelers’ last stops on the Met Gala after party. It may have also been amongst the sweatiest, and we mean that in the best way.

AprésMet

Courtesy of BFA

Kendall Jenner, in a custom Nensi Dojaka-designed tribute to Karl, caught up with photographer Renell Medrano. Open bars featuring her 818 tequila were also on hand for the night.

AprésMet

Courtesy of BFA

Jared Leto arrived with his Choupette-head in tow.

AprésMet

Image courtesy of BFA

Recent British Vogue cover stars Paloma Elsesser and Precious Lee reunited and added fellow super Imaan Hammam to the squad for the night.

AprésMet

Courtesy of BFA

Emma Chamberlain kept her cropped Miu Miu vibes going for the afters, this time in a black-and-white version.

Janelle Monáe’s Met Gala After Party at Boom Boom Room

Photo by Lexie Moreland/WWD via Getty Images

Boom Boom Room at The Standard in New York City was the place to be on Monday night, just a few hours after celebrities performed their fashion parade on the Met Gala red carpet. Janelle Monáe, who began her evening with a big costume reveal in Thom Browne, gave another show of sorts at the after party, where she played host—climbing onto the bar with her dancers, naked except for some well-placed body paint to belt out a few tunes and break it down for the crowd, her drink firmly in hand.

Janelle Monáe’s Met Gala After Party at Boom Boom Room

Photograph by Yvonne Tnt/BFA.com

Keke Palmer was the picture of glam in Sergio Hudson, who accompanied her for the after party.

Janelle Monáe’s Met Gala After Party at Boom Boom Room

Photograph by Yvonne Tnt/BFA.com

The Valentino crew held it down in the VIP section, with Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra, Pierpaolo Piccioli, Florence Pugh, and Ashley Park partying together well past 2 AM. Pugh, who debuted a shaved head at the Met Gala, rocked her buzz cut at the party—prompting many of her friends to give her head a gleeful rub.

Janelle Monáe’s Met Gala After Party at Boom Boom Room

Photograph by Ben Rosser/BFA.com

Billie Eilish pulled up to the Standard around 2:30 AM, rushing inside with her entourage in an outfit that was the polar opposite from her Met Gala look—but no less delightful.

Janelle Monáe’s Met Gala After Party at Boom Boom Room

Yvonne Tnt/BFA.com

Lil Nas X successfully removed the silver paint from his entire body after the Met carpet—and changed into this fuzzy Eckhaus Latta top with an equally furry LaQuan Smith jacket.

Janelle Monáe’s Met Gala After Party at Boom Boom Room

Photograph by Yvonne Tnt/BFA.com

Jenna Ortega joined Monáe and Kaytranada in the DJ booth, giving hugs and kisses to the host before posing for some more pictures.

Janelle Monáe’s Met Gala After Party at Boom Boom Room

Photograph by Yvonne Tnt/BFA.com

Stephanie Hsu and Quinta on the dance floor.

Janelle Monáe’s Met Gala After Party at Boom Boom Room

Photograph by Yvonne Tnt/BFA.com

Olivia Rodrigo hit the club in a shimmering archival Chanel dress from the label’s fall 1994 collection.

Janelle Monáe’s Met Gala After Party at Boom Boom Room

Photograph by Yvonne Tnt/BFA.com

Ava Max and Christian Siriano cozied up next to each other.

Michaela Coel’s XHOSA Met Gala After Party

Madison McGaw/BFA

Meanwhile, Met Gala cohost Michaela Coel held a raging soirée at downtown hot spot Loosie’s, located beneath the Moxy Lower East Side.

Michaela Coel’s XHOSA Met Gala After Party

Madison McGaw/BFA

The event brought out fashion luminaries including British Vogue editor-in-chief Edward Enninful and Naomi Campbell.

Michaela Coel’s XHOSA Met Gala After Party

Madison McGaw/BFA

Guests danced the night away to music curated by Major League DJZ, Uncle Waffles, Skyla Tylaa, and DJ Neptizzle.

Bungalow Gucci

Patrick McMullan/Patrick McMullan/Getty Images

Bungalow 8, the hottest club of the Y2K era, returned to its former glory on Saturday. April 29. To toast its brand new store in the Meatpacking district, Gucci invited guests including Salma Hayek, Chris Rock, Iman, Bethann Hardison, Daisy Edgar Jones, Teyana Taylor, Beanie Feldstein, Phoebe Bridgers, and many more to a re-creation of the popular nightspot complete with its famous No Vacancy sign. Idris Elba DJ’d a special set for the starry crowd while empress of NYC nightlife and Bungalow 8 founder Amy Sacco held court with familiar naughties “It” girls, among them Alexa Chung and Leigh Lezark of The Misshapes.

Bungalow Gucci

Taylor Hill/WireImage/Getty Images

Phoebe Bridgers arrived with her drummer and former boyfriend Marshall Vore.

Bungalow Gucci

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Memphy wearing a red Gucci dress opened for Idris Elba, a friend and ambassador of the house and who spun tunes late into the night.

Bungalow Gucci

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Alexa Chung, in a sleek LBD, poses in front of the DJ booth designed to mimic the ceilings of Gucci’s new Meatpacking boutique.

Bungalow Gucci

Patrick McMullan/Patrick McMullan/Getty Images

It was a family night out for François-Henri Pinault and Salma Hayek who attended the party with their 15-year-old daughter Valentina Paloma Pinault.

Bergdorf Goodman and Schiaparelli Cocktail

Courtesy of BFA

Ahead of the Met Gala, Schiaparelli creative director Daniel Roseberry stopped by Bergdorf Goodman for a cocktail celebrating their ongoing partnership. This being Schiaparelli, however, they couldn’t help but add a surrealist touch. A portion of the department store was turned into a black and gold fashion playroom of sorts, inviting guests like Bella Thorne to pose for pictures.

Photo Courtesy of BFA

Linda Fargo, Daniel Roseberry, and Bianca Jebbia hold court.

Hennessy X.O x Kim Jones

Photo by BFA

Dior and Fendi’s artistic director Kim Jones has a new, somewhat unlikely partner: Hennessy X.O. And on Wednesday, April 26, the two linked up to throw a star-studded party, marking the launch of their experiential atelier in SoHo. On the heels of the global release of their limited-edition bottle celebrating the collaboration, the VIP opening night of the X.O Lab saw Teyana Taylor and Emily Ratajkowski, shown here, pausing on the step and repeat to snap a quick photo.

Hennessy X.O x Kim Jones

Photograph by BFA

Evan Mock, Dylan Sprouse, and Barbara Palvin were also in attendance, sipping Hennessy X.O cocktails that were stirred via an autonomous mechanical arm near the bar.

Hennessy X.O x Kim Jones

Photo by BFA

EmRata, wearing vintage Chanel, roamed the space, which will open to the public from April 28 to the 29th.

Hennessy X.O x Kim Jones

Photo by Getty

Palvin and Sprouse toasted the evening, later grooving to live DJ sets by Siobhan Bell and Channel Tres.

Ralph Lauren

Courtesy of Ralph Lauren

Meanwhile, in Miami, Ralph Lauren hosted a cocktail party celebrating its newly opened Miami Design District luxury concept store. Posting up in a private waterfront estate in North Miami, guests including Joan Smalls and Lily Aldridge, shown here, lounged on blue-and-white branded cabanas poolside, taking in views of Biscayne Bay and the Miami skyline.

Ralph Lauren

Courtesy of Ralph Lauren

Tell Me Lies star Grace Van Patten and her sister Anna Van Patten made the evening into a family affair, rocking chic contrasting looks calling to the fashion sensibilities of Spy vs. Spy.

Apex for Youth Inspiration Awards Gala

Photo by BFA

Back in New York City, the organization Apex for Youth held its 31st annual Inspiration Awards Gala at Cipriani South Street. An evening dedicated to celebrating Asian excellence, the event also raised funds for underserved Asian American and immigrant youth in New York City and beyond. Olympic medalists and brother-and-sister figure skating duo Maia and Alex Shibutani were among those in attendance on Wednesday, April 26.

Apex for Youth Inspiration Awards Gala

Photo by BFA

Actress Havana Rose Liu, model Aoki Lee Simmons, and designer Kim Shui paused for photos ahead of dinner with Bing Chen, Agnes Chu, and Kevin Lin.

Apex for Youth Inspiration Awards Gala

Photo by BFA

The poet Ocean Vuong, best known for his 2019 work “On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous,” received honors, along with restauranteur Simon Kim.

Apex for Youth Inspiration Awards Gala

Photo by BFA

Lynn Ban and her fellow Bling Empire: New York costar, Blake Abbie.

The Bronx Museum Gala

Photo by BFA

Uptown, Luar designer Raul Lopez stopped by the Bronx Museum for its annual gala and art auction on Monday, April 24. Lopez joined Mickalene Thomas, Stevie Wonder's son and designer Kailand Morris, and many more to celebrate the city’s only free contemporary art museum. The Bronx Museum has historically championed artists who have been systemically left out of the conversation—from Martin Wong to iconic street style photographer Jamel Shabazz.

The Bronx Museum Gala

Photo by BFA

The cause for the night: to raise money for the museum, but to also honor two-time Grammy-winning Bronx-born musician Will Calhoun, shown here, as well as the acclaimed artist Angel Otero, and arts patron Olivia W. Douglas.

Brooklyn Museum Artists Ball

Photo by Lexie Moreland/WWD via Getty Images

Some of the biggest names from the art world, fashion industry, and Hollywood converged on Tuesday, April 25 for the 2023 Brooklyn Artists Ball held at the Brooklyn Museum. The cause for celebration? Carrie Mae Weems, the visionary multidisciplinary artist who was honored during the evening, which was made possible by Dior. Here, Weems poses with Tracee Ellis Ross, who wore a hot pink monochrome look for the night (this woman is more than deserving of a role in the new Barbie movie!).

Brooklyn Museum Artists Ball

Photo by Lexie Moreland/WWD via Getty Images

Natalia Dyer and Charlie Heaton were in attendance at the seated dinner inside Brooklyn Museum’s Beaux Arts Court. Guests were treated to a special performance by the American-British singer, Celeste, at the end of the meal.

Brooklyn Museum Artists Ball

Courtesy of BFA

Pyer Moss designer Kerby Jean Raymond attended the event with Nia Beckett in matching denim looks.

Brooklyn Museum Artists Ball

Courtesy of Dior

Maggie Gyllenhaal stunned in a black lace dress with cheongsam-inspired closures.

Brooklyn Museum Artists Ball

Photo by Sean Zanni/Getty Images for Dior

Thomas Doherty and Eli Brown represented the Gossip Girl contingent, appearing on the red carpet to take photos in their finest Dior getups.

Brooklyn Museum Artists Ball

Photo by Lexie Moreland/WWD via Getty Images

And Maria Grazia Chiuri was, of course, on hand for Dior, looking chic in an all-black ensemble and standout jewelry.

Brooklyn Museum Artists Ball

Photo by Lexie Moreland/WWD via Getty Images

Following dinner, guests hit the dance floor for the Artist Ball After Party, headlined by producer, rapper, and Brooklyn Museum Trustee, Swizz Beatz.

Save Venice Ball

Photo by Nina Westervelt/WWD via Getty Images

On Friday, April 21 in New York City, designer LaQuan Smith hit the Plaza Hotel with French model Cindy Bruna—who wore one of his show-stopping red sequin gowns with cutouts. The incredibly photogenic duo were just two attendees at the Save Venice Ball, an annual gala which helps fund Save Venice’s cultural, artistic, and philanthropic projects (the organization has supported the restoration of almost 2,000 works of art since its inception).

Save Venice Ball

Photo by Nina Westervelt/WWD via Getty Images

But Smith was far from the only designer on the guest list: the “Slaysians” represented on Friday night, with Phillip Lim, Tina Leung, Fernando Garcia, Laura Kim, Prabal Gurung, Dorothy Wang, and Ezra J. William, shown here from left, dressing up in their own finery for the event. This year’s theme was “Byzantine,” a reference to Save Venice’s mosaic conservation project on the island of Murano.

Save Venice Ball

Photo by Nina Westervelt/WWD via Getty Images

Maggie Gyllenhaal, dressed in a look straight from Lafayette 148’s fall 2023 collection, greeted fellow actress Cara Buono with a huge embrace.

Save Venice Ball

Photo by Nina Westervelt/WWD via Getty Images

The print from Gyllenhaal’s “Leafed Pages”-printed tie neck dress and peplum blazer, done in woven black and gold jacquard, evoked the romance of the evening.

Save Venice Ball

Photo by Nina Westervelt/WWD via Getty Images

Buono, for her part, wore a charming pink caped gown with floral details from Oscar de la Renta—one of the sponsors of the night, along with Bulgari.

Save Venice Ball

Photo by Nina Westervelt/WWD via Getty Images

Rebecca Vanyo and Lauren Levison at the 2023 Save Venice Ball.

Save Venice Ball

Photo by Nina Westervelt/WWD via Getty Images

Di Mondo, Rebecca Vanyo, Cara Miguel, and Peter Miguel show off their looks for the evening—which, in Di Mondo and Vanyo’s case, won them prizes as winners of the mask contest for the night.

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