Photo by Laurel Marcus
Peace, love, Woodstock, and The New York Botanical Garden! Thursday night was the annual Conservatory Ball, with this year’s theme of “Flower Power,” celebrating the current exhibition (now through October 18) and bringing out the inner hippie in us all.
Left, Christopher Griffin aka Plant Qween, photo by Laurel Marcus
Flowers are the enduring symbolism of peace and love – remember the Flower Children (if you’re old enough) who protested war and violence, choosing to embrace florals in the ‘60s? NYBG carried out the theme with mod decorated buses in the garden by Snoeman, interesting macramé art pieces which can be creatively added to by guests, crafted by Carmen Paulino, wood, steel, resin, and LED light ginormous flowers inside the conservatory by Amie Jacobsen, and an incredible painted canopy on the Conservatory lawn by Mushuman, just to name a few of the artists on view.
James Aguiar in custom suit, photo by Laurel Marcus
This has been the week of schlepping to Brooklyn (Wednesday night was their botanical garden fete), and tonight the Bronx (ugh, the agony of Thursday night traffic) in black tie no less, but the weather cooperated spectacularly, and the mood was festive. Men in particular seemed to have gotten the memo, donning floral dinner jackets or suits, including James Aguiar, who wore a custom-designed get-up that can only be described as a cross between Moschino and Thom Browne.
Victor dE Souza and Jean Shafiroff, photo by Laurel Marcus
Jean Shafiroff (Jean Austen, haha) went against type – no strapless floral ball gown tonight – perhaps inspired by “Wuthering Heights”/”Pride and Prejudice” in custom couture Victor dE Souza, complete with dozens of underskirts to keep it buoyant. Victor kept up the vibe in a corseted tuxedo jacket, high-neck ruffled shirt, and trouser-style denim.
Stella Jacob, Sharon Jacob, Cecilia Jacob, photo by Laurel Marcus
Chair Sharon Jacob, along with her daughters, Vice Chairs Cecilia Jacob and Stella Jacob, took to sequins, beads, and florals, as did Sarah Easley, who added a floor-length feathered cape acquired during her travels abroad. Another memorable chair was Holly Lowen in a beautiful robin ’s-egg blue pleated dress with big sleeves, and Cat O’Neil in a black-and-white sequin-flowered Carolina Herrera. Other Guests included Candace Bushnell, Cynthia Rowley, Dasha Polanco, Jason Rembert, Kindred Lubeck, Priya Shukla, Tunde Oyeneyin, among others.
Laurel Marcus & Marilyn Kirschner, photo by Victor dE Souza
An anniversary of sorts was remembered by Bill Cunningham muse Marilyn Kirschner in a beautiful rainbow-striped Issey Miyake caftan, which she also wore to this same event ten years ago and was photographed by Bill. Sadly, it was the last photo of her he would ever take, as he was soon hospitalized and passed away later in June.
Guest wearing a Carolina Herrera black and white floral high-low gown, photo by Laurel Marcus
I spoke with an exhausted Plant Kween, aka Christopher Griffin, who had tended to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden ball, this one, and a few other floral events this week – he always turns it out in Christopher John Rogers. I informed him that he will probably get a bit of a respite now, as the NYBG ball is generally the last big gathering of the early summer before everyone takes off for parts unknown (or the Hamptons).
Holly Lowen, a study in pleated blue, photo by Laurel Marcus
One nice feature of this gala dinner, besides the lovely gardens, is that there are not many speeches, and they are short and sweet. J. Barclay Collins II made a Bill Clinton reference to the 60s era pot smoking, but he “didn’t inhale.”
Dinner under the tent, photo by Laurel Marcus
Guests dined on a spring bean salad, miso-glazed black cod, and a dessert trio of thematic petits fours, which almost looked too pretty to eat. After dessert, the dance floor in the stunningly decorated tent, complete with ‘60s accouterments, “groovy” covered chandeliers, and a good deal of Michael Jackson hits, became lively.
Sarah Easley, Cat O’Neal, photo by Laurel Marcus
As always, Lead Chairs were Maureen K. and Richard L. Chilton, Jr., and sponsors were Delta, Barlett Tree Experts, Hearst, and Mikimoto, who had the bonus of a booth of elaborate pearl jewelry, an arch to pose under, as well as a parting gift – a bottle of their lovely perfume.
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Marilyn, You look absolutely fabulous! And this Elsa Schiaparelli bag !!!! We have met a few times at different events.…
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