Pre-Party People

The Guggenheim Museum kicked off its annual International Gala at a pre-party on Wednesday night with a name-packed crowd, a slew of musical performances, and a special installation of the late artist and honoree Otto Piene’s “White Balloon” sculpture. Hosted by the Young Collectors Council and made possible by Dior, the event had no shortage of fashionable attendees decked out in the house’s latest wares. Creative Director Raf Simons arrived with not one but four Dior-clad dates—models Hanne Gaby Odiele, Katlin Aas, Diana Moldovan, and Irina Liss—before joining the likes of Marion Cotillard, Camilla Belle, Joan Smalls, Greta Gerwig, Karlie Kloss, Eve Hewson, and A$AP Rocky inside. “This is the fun one,” explained one guest of the difference between the Wednesday party and the Thursday dinner. Within the ramps of the rotunda, well-heeled groups struggled to time their iPhone flashes with the changing colored lights; star siblings Will and Nicola Peltz palled around with fellow actors; and China Chow knelt and reached her hand toward the Piene balloon for the perfect Instagram shot. On the ground floor, guests sipped champagne, snacked on mini macaroons, and posed inside a time-lapse photo booth. A special performance by indie pop band The xx capped off the evening. “That was great—they’re so British,” said an onlooker on the way out. “Now, time to rest up for the main event.”