PARTIES

OLE!

San Francisco grandes dames mixed with fashion insiders and Hollywood celebs at the de Young Museum’s Iberian fiesta in honor of the exhibit “Balenciaga and Spain.” The show’s curator, Hamish Bowles, dishes on the night.


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Who: “Anna Wintour, Mia Wasikowska, Orlando Bloom and Miranda Kerr, Gwyneth Paltrow, California Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom and Jennifer Siebel Newsom, Kelly Wearstler, Irene Neuwirth, Gela Taylor, Pamela Skaist-Levy, Dede Wilsey, Denise Hale, Denise Fitch, Marissa Mayer and Zack Bogue, Sloan and Roger Barnett, Trevor and Alexis Traina, Todd and Katie Traina, Billy and Vanessa Getty, Juliet de Baubigny.”

What: “A Spanish-theme gala dinner for 300.”

When: “Thursday, March 24.”

Where: “In a tent attached to the museum, designed by Stanlee Gatti, with charcoal-colored carpet, purple satin banquettes, and an orchard of charred trees hung with Seville oranges. The after-party was in the museum’s Piazzoni Murals Room.”

Why: “To celebrate the opening of ‘Balenciaga and Spain.’”

What Balenciaga would have thought: “He was an austere man who loathed mondanités [society life], so I suspect he might have been miserable.”

Best moment: “Dancing onstage by the sublime flamenco artist Rosario Toledo, accompanied by the haunting singer Arcángel. Both had traveled all the way from Huelva [Spain].”

Worst moment: “Having to surrender my hot pink and Seville yellow Fermín cape. I swept in wearing it, but the weight was so stupendous I couldn’t manage it for too long; it is, after all, meant to protect you from a bull’s unforgiving horns.”

Hangover quotient: “None. San Francisco keeps very early hours. Our Spanish performers were stunned that there wasn’t a bar to be found open after 2 a.m.—the hour at which things are just starting to get going in old Seville. I was a trifle surprised myself.”

OLE!

Hamish Bowles

Photographs: Drew Altizer

Allison Speer, Rodman Primack, and Becca Cason Thrash

Photographs: Drew Altizer

Miranda Kerr

Photographs: Drew Altizer

A shot from the opening

Photographs: Drew Altizer

Orlando Bloom

Photographs: Drew Altizer

The Flamenco performance

Photographs: Drew Altizer

Laura and Kate Mulleavy

Photographs: Drew Altizer

Mia Wasikowska and Ryan Hastings

Photographs: Drew Altizer

Denise Hale and Gavin Newsom

Photographs: Drew Altizer

Vanessa Getty and Dede Wilsey

Photographs: Drew Altizer

Juliet de Baubigny, Trevor Traina, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Roger Barnett

Photographs: Drew Altizer

Suzy Kellems Dominik, Joy Venturini Bianchi, and John Buchanan

Photographs: Drew Altizer

George and Charlotte Shultz

Photographs: Drew Altizer
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