For this year’s Frick Collection Young Fellows costume ball, “A Dance in the Golden Age,” the dress code called for “black tie, 17th-century chic, and fur,” in homage to 17th-century paintings by the likes of Vermeer and Rembrandt—and fur-friendly fashion house J. Mendel, one of the event’s sponsors. Hundreds of ticket-holding guests donned the suggested attire—in spite of rumors of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals protesters—for the elegant, opulent event in the museum.
Overseen by the museum’s special events manager, Sarah Milestone, the event featured an extensive buffet from Glorious Food with carved meats, oysters, and a selection of Dutch Gouda cheeses. But the party’s most surreal and startling element was behind the buffet table: A cutout in the wall surrounded by a gilded frame featured a tableau vivant—a model posing as a living portrait—mimicking famous 17th-century paintings. (We watched many guests admiring the art suddenly .php when it subtly moved.)
Underscoring the luxurious textiles in the venue—and on the guests—Robert Couturier & Associates lined the entry hall with crushed velvet, and garlands of faux foliage. Butterflies hung from the ceiling on transparent cording. Inside, the Frick’s horticultural designer, Galen Lee, adorned the Garden Court’s center fountain with a massive, multicolored, spring-like floral arrangement featuring more than 1,000 tulips, as well as citrus fruit. Multicolored spotlighting created a festive but romantic mood.
Whereas the entry hall and Garden Court stuck with 1800’s style, in the round Music Room—wallpapered in plush embossed velvet fabric, and dotted with luxe tapestry-covered ottoman-style seating—the mood was distinctly modern, with DJ Tom Finn spinning top 40 hits from the likes of Beyoncé, Usher, and AC/DC. The scene was raucous and merry, if awkward—picture begowned socialites and gentlemen in tuxedos earnestly banging their heads to the metal hit “You Shook Me All Night Long”—patently thanks in part to the bountiful champagne sponsored by Moët & Chandon.
After guests collected their David Yurman and J. Mendel-stuffed gift bags, it was back outside to battle fellow revelers for open taxis, while slushy snow seeped into velvet slippers, satin capes, and mink stoles.
—Alesandra Dubin
Read our coverage of last year’s gala…
Overseen by the museum’s special events manager, Sarah Milestone, the event featured an extensive buffet from Glorious Food with carved meats, oysters, and a selection of Dutch Gouda cheeses. But the party’s most surreal and startling element was behind the buffet table: A cutout in the wall surrounded by a gilded frame featured a tableau vivant—a model posing as a living portrait—mimicking famous 17th-century paintings. (We watched many guests admiring the art suddenly .php when it subtly moved.)
Underscoring the luxurious textiles in the venue—and on the guests—Robert Couturier & Associates lined the entry hall with crushed velvet, and garlands of faux foliage. Butterflies hung from the ceiling on transparent cording. Inside, the Frick’s horticultural designer, Galen Lee, adorned the Garden Court’s center fountain with a massive, multicolored, spring-like floral arrangement featuring more than 1,000 tulips, as well as citrus fruit. Multicolored spotlighting created a festive but romantic mood.
Whereas the entry hall and Garden Court stuck with 1800’s style, in the round Music Room—wallpapered in plush embossed velvet fabric, and dotted with luxe tapestry-covered ottoman-style seating—the mood was distinctly modern, with DJ Tom Finn spinning top 40 hits from the likes of Beyoncé, Usher, and AC/DC. The scene was raucous and merry, if awkward—picture begowned socialites and gentlemen in tuxedos earnestly banging their heads to the metal hit “You Shook Me All Night Long”—patently thanks in part to the bountiful champagne sponsored by Moët & Chandon.
After guests collected their David Yurman and J. Mendel-stuffed gift bags, it was back outside to battle fellow revelers for open taxis, while slushy snow seeped into velvet slippers, satin capes, and mink stoles.
—Alesandra Dubin
Read our coverage of last year’s gala…
At the Frick Collection’s Young Fellows “Dance in the Golden Age,” a cutout in the wall surrounded by a gilded frame featured models in tableaux vivants of famous 17th-century portraits.
The Frick’s horticultural designer, Galen Lee, adorned the Garden Court’s fountain with a floral arrangement that featured 1,000 tulips.
Guests lounged on luxe tapestry-covered ottoman-style seating in the Music Room.
The walls of the round Music Room were wallpapered in plush embossed velvet fabric.
