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| Jordie Cozzolino & Chris Wilkinson both wearing Alexander McQueen All photos Lieba Nesis – click images for full size views |
The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Apollo Circle Benefit held its 13th Anniversary Gala on Wednesday November 9, 2016 at 9:00 PM at the Dendur wing. The Apollo Circle which was founded in 1997 is a membership group for the young friends of the Museum ranging in age from 21-39.
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| left to right: Julia Zamorska, Laura Rubio, Emilie Belage & Paula Barnes |
The black-tie event raises money for the Metropolitan Museum’s conservation department and allows young patrons to support the arts. The evening attracted 900 young art enthusiasts for the paltry price of $325 – selling out weeks in advance.
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| Claire Sutton, Kimberly Skelton & Christine Pope |
The night was a respite from the heaviness of the past couple of weeks where tension and backbiting have been the norm. Ascending the majestic stairs of the Museum and walking through the historical corridors was a welcome relief.
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| Kaja Niewiarowska, Zachary Rockefeller, Christina Najarian, & Christine Yip |
There was a palpable sadness in the coat check room where the attendants expressed their dismay at the results of the election. Nevertheless, the overall mood of the evening was one of gaiety and joy with the start of the Holiday season in effect.
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| Co-chair Charlotte Van Dercook & Joe Gorgi in Tom Ford |
The evening featured the usual open bar and hors d’oeuvres despite not having a sponsor as they do other years. Moreover, famous DJ Grandmaster Flash spun tunes while the young attendees danced enthusiastically for hours. The crowd this year outdid themselves with elegant gowns from Badgley Mischka, Valentino, and Tom Ford.
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| Rebecca & Bruce Vanyo |
One of the things I love about this event is the brave sartorial choices its guests make with women of all shapes and sizes flaunting their voluptuousness in colorful showstopping attire instead of sticking with conventional black.
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| Tripp Derrick Barnes and Kate Rushton |
Even the room was extremely colorful with production designer Katherine Bernhardt lending a Middle Eastern flair to the decor- inspired by her travels to Egypt and the Egyptian art in the Sackler wing of the Museum.
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| James Roberts & Nataliya Demchenko in Herve Leger |
When the clock struck midnight the guests were ordered to leave by the approaching security guards; the magnificent venue and friendly atmosphere made even the most jaded New Yorker reluctant to leave this exciting annual soiree.
– Lieba Nesis
