Much like Italo Zucchelli’s design for its men’s collection and Francisco Costa’s creations for women, Calvin Klein Collection’s exclusive bash last Thursday was marked by a crisp, angular aesthetic. Hosted by Zucchelli and Costa at 15 Little West 12th Street in the meatpacking district, the event capped Fashion Week’s February run and, with about 300 guests, was easily the week's largest party.
Starting at 9 p.m., guests like Ryan Phillippe, Naomi Watts, Kellan Lutz, Helena Christensen, and '90s supermodels Kristen McMenamy, Stella Tennant, and Kirsty Hume—all of whom returned to the Calvin Klein catwalk just hours earlier—filled the second-floor studio of a building once owned by late event designer Robert Isabell. To transform the raw and cavernous 12,000-square-foot space into an inviting and cozy retreat, Calvin Klein Inc.’s in-house event team added freestanding fireplaces and an abundance of white lounge furniture.
With fire and light as its central concept, the planning, production, and design crew set up several custom pieces around the loft-like space. To encourage guests to relax, Calvin Klein created multiple seating vignettes by placing low white sofas and ottomans around six free-standing, eco-friendly white fireplaces. Natural fiber rugs added more warmth to these sections, while four mobile chandeliers—custom made by David Weeks for Ralph Pucci—echoed some of the minimalist, sleek pieces from the fashion house's runway show. At the large central bar, which served white wine and Veuve Cliquot, a series of three-foot-long burners formed a continuous strip of flames.
While DJ Stretch Armstrong entertained the crowd with a mix of dance, indie, and pop tunes—from Eli Escobar and Ultra Nate to Duran Duran and New Order—Creative Edge served a selection of comfort food. At 9.30 p.m., the caterer served truffled pasta in porcelain bowls, followed by miso-roasted black cod over crispy yellow noodles in simple ceramic bowls at 10. Once the main courses were finished, waiters in Calvin Klein apparel passed bite-sized desserts, including chocolate whoopie pies with vanilla icing, milk shakes in shot glasses accompanied by a chocolate straw, and pecan pie squares with whipped cream.