Catching Up on Coachella’s Best Parties

At 3 a.m. on Saturday night – day two of Coachella – Katy Perry turned heads in a blue, guitar print minidress. It was Jeremy Scott’s fall 2016 finale number, and a strategic PR move as she made her way out of the designer’s annual party, held at the Corona Yacht Club, a 20-acre private property used for select events. And this happened to be the event of choice for a number of the familiar faces in town for the festival.

There was Perry’s current beau, Orlando Bloom, Jared Leto, Kristen Stewart, Zoe Kravitz, Lorde, Sam Smith, Joe Jonas, Kylie Jenner with Tyga, as well as some Coachella performers – Grimes, Chvrches, A$AP Rocky and Disclosure.

“It’s so funny, people tell me it’s the party, but to me, I just love having my friends around,” said Scott in a head-to-toe leopard-print ensemble. “It’s been nine or ten years – actually I haven’t counted how many years I’ve had this party. I just love celebrating the weekend and the music, because you know how music is so important to me, to my designs, so this feels great. It’s a magical moment in the desert.”

The designer completely took over the sprawling venue with an LED light show projected into the dark sky, which was reflected onto the two-acre lagoon that encompassed the jungle-like space. Perhaps drawing from his lush surroundings, this year, Scott partnered with W Hotels for the release of limited-edition bucket hats (it really is all about the 90s), as well as to celebrate the upcoming opening of W Las Vegas. A host of DJs – Mazurbate, The Misshapes, Boys Noize, A-Trak, as well as surprise performers Diplo and Skrillex – kept the party going until close to 6 a.m.

Missing in action were Leonardo DiCaprio and Rihanna, who had made an appearance earlier at the festival during headliner Calvin Harris’ set. The two sat next to each other in the VIP area of the other must-go party of the night – the late-night production known as Neon Carnival. As DJ Rukus played, DiCaprio would be the first of the two to arrive from a back entrance at around 1 a.m. in his go-to baseball cap and sunglasses, while Rihanna staggered her arrival in some oversized frames of her own.

Leto also came through, as did Alexander Skarsgaard, Nina Dobrev, Aaron Paul, Josh Hutcherson, Michael B. Jordan, Scott Eastwood, G-Eazy, Courtney Love, and Karlie Kloss, while model Devon Windsor enjoyed the late-night outdoor carnival’s many amusement rides and games.

“It’s always a staple to go to Neon Carnival,��� said actress Ashley Greene at the PopSugar and CFDA brunch earlier in the day at the Avalon Hotel in Palm Springs. “We’re going to be up really late tonight,” she added of her foreseen plans.

The event was being hosted by designer and CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund winner Jonathan Simkhai.

“Being at Coachella for the past six years, I’ve accumulated quite a few friends, and it’s nice to just all be together to celebrate the festival and chill out,” said Simkhai at the laid back brunch. “It’s fun to see it come to life, especially in this beautiful place,” he said of his designs, which were being sported by a few guests including Emma Roberts. The actress, along with Kiernan Shipka, who wore a Valentino denim combination, were both spending the majority of their time on the festival grounds.

“I’m not doing too many night parties,” said 16-year-old Shipka. “I’m spending my nights pretty much mainly at the festival. I turn into such a grandma, and I’m so ready to go to bed.”