PARTIES

Fit for a Showgirl

Steven Meisel’s short film starring Carmen Carrera premiered at an intimate party


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Thursday night in Chelsea, W‘s Fashion and Style Director Edward Enninful and photographer Steven Meisel hosted an intimate party to celebrate the premiere of “Showgirl,” Meisel’s fashion film starring Carmen Carrera. An extension of Meisel’s September shoot by the same name, the film features Carrera, the fashion world’s favorite burlesque personality, seducing a slew of black-tie clad male models.

Guests like Karen Elson, Helena Christensen, and Peter Marino quickly filled up the room at No. 8, which felt perfectly on-theme with its ornate chandeliers, white leather banquettes, and palm leaf wallpaper. Harry and Peter Brant were spotted early on in the night dancing on said banquettes. Others like André Leon Talley, Giovanna Battaglia, and W’s Stefano Tonchi enjoyed the scene from the bar. And Carrera had some leggy competition in the form of Hilary Rhoda, Karlie Kloss, and Joan Smalls.

Celebrating ‘Showgirl’

Carmen Carrera. Photo by Patrick McMullan.

Edward Enninful and Giovanna Battaglia. Photo by Patrick McMullan.

Isabella Rossellini. Photo by Patrick McMullan.

Marjorie Gubelmann and Doutzen Kroes. Photo by Patrick McMullan.

Michelle Harper and Jenny Shimizu. Photo by Patrick McMullan.

Carmen Carrera and Nicholas Gruber. Photo by Patrick McMullan.

Pat McGrath, Edward Enninful, and Stefano Tonchi. Photo by Patrick McMullan.

James Kaliardos and Martin Solomon. Photo by Patrick McMullan.

Gordon von Steiner and Carmen Carrera. Photo by Patrick McMullan.

Maxwell and Anail. Photo by Patrick McMullan.

Harry Brant, RJ King, and Peter Brant Jr. Photo by Patrick McMullan.

Karolina Kurkova and Carmen Carrera. Photo by Patrick McMullan.

Grace Bol. Photo by Patrick McMullan.

Nate Webster, David Blond, and Phillipe Blond. Photo by Patrick McMullan.

Guinevere van Seenus and Robi. Photo by Patrick McMullan.

Camilla Staerk, Chantal O’Sullivan, Helena Christensen, and Sarah Sophie Sonne. Photo by Patrick McMullan.

Dorthea Jurgensen. Photo by Patrick McMullan.

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“Steven Meisel was one of the first photographers I ever worked with,” said Karolina Kurkova, who first worked with Meisel when she was 16. “He’s an artist, he’s a photographer, he’s a stylist. He understands people’s faces, their personalities, their angles. He sees so much in you without even really knowing you.”

Meisel certainly saw something in the tremendous Carmen Carrera, who, post-screening, gave the audience a live burlesque performance. The crowd cheered on as she stripped down into a skin-tight Lanvin creation (and then into skin-bearing, bejeweled underwear). “Let’s put on some sexy music!” she exclaimed, inviting guests to start a dance-party that would last well into the night. “I want you all to have fun and just be yourselves!”