Arriving guests were greeted by models wearing white spandex jumpsuits trimmed in faux fur—think snow bunnies sans the ears and fluffy tail, showing lots of skin—at The Beautiful Life after-party sponsored by Belvedere Vodka. Held at the National Hotel and produced by Touch Catering, the soiree was preceded by the Le Bernardin tribute dinner, which took place nearby.Event planners worked with a blue and white color combination, appropriate for the evening's "Winter Wonderland" theme. A bright blue carpet runner decorated the hotel's front porch and lobby, leading guests out to the narrow pool area and beyond to the oceanfront terrace, which featured a 24-foot-long, 40-inch-high ice bar with decorative ice sculpture spelling out BELVEDERE, both made by So Cool Events. With over 700 attending, guests enjoyed a variety of cocktails, including regular and white cosmos, as well as the Sunsplash, made of Belvedere Orange, Grand Marnier, fresh orange juice, and cranberry juice.
One of the National's most dramatic amenities is the 205-foot-long infinity pool, which was the setting for an installation of self-lit blue plexiglass letters, each measuring 40-inches-high. Placed atop submerged clear Lucite side tables and staggered, the letters appeared to float, spelling out the vodka brand's name for passersby. Soap bubbles floating down from above, illuminated with colorful lighting, created an ethereal, wintry ambiance. The Belvedere logo was projected into the pool, as well as on the hotel's façade, via a continuous loop mixed with vibrant, abstract imagery, helping to maintain a festive atmosphere throughout the evening.
Additional design elements included numerous stark white tree branches (inspired by the bottle design) mounted on small bases covered in a synthetic cotton-like material to represent snow, additional bars made of frosted white plexiglass, and several plexiglass screens, glowing blue from inside and embellished with a white tree branch design, which served as backdrops for the playful snow bunny entertainers.
—Bobby Killgore
Self-lit blue plexiglass letters that spelled out the vodka brand's name appeared to float in the National's 205-foot-long pool.
The Belvedere ice bar, made by So Cool Events, was a highlight of the evening.
The Belvedere ice sculpture behind the bar was—quite literally—a cool branding concept.
The decor included wintry vignettes of snow-covered trees surrounding a large bottle of Belvedere.
The Belvedere logo was even incorporated into the ice bar.
The letter "E" was one of four used in the pool installation.
Models outfitted as snow bunnies, with faux fur-trimmed outfits, posed throughout the evening.
The rear terrace was furnished with sleek, white, modern furniture and blue votive candles, in keeping with the color theme.
