Pat Cleveland’s Book Party Was Bananas

“Excuse me, you dropped your banana,” said a woman from legendary model Pat Cleveland‘s inner circle of friends and family at the Jane Hotel on Thursday night. She handed the bedazzled banana loincloth tassel to a nearly-nude male model-slash-dancer, who was part of the entertainment for the evening. “You should have kept it as a souvenir!” said an acquaintance. “Already have one at home,” the woman replied with a sarcastic smirk — but amongst this crowd of pioneering movers and shakers, it wouldn’t be that hard to believe. Designer Zac Posen, Wendy Williams, and Susanne Bartsch‘s flock of nightlife peacocks were all in attendance to celebrate Cleveland’s new memoir, “Walking with the Muses,” which goes on sale June 14th. From Harlem to the famous Battle of Versailles, Cleveland, 65, brought life, movement, and diversity to the fashion industry in the ’60s and ’70s. A “true original,” as Posen put it before he introduced Cleveland’s performance of “Yes, Tonight, Josephine.” And she’s still got it.