Ideas

In collaboration with Fornasetti, Valentino devised a five-room installation entitled "The Five Senses" that realized the senses of touch, sight, smell, taste, and sound. Representing sound was a grand piano placed in a blacked-out gallery space, with an animated projection of butterflies—a house code—on display.

The touch room featured a sectioned-off gallery space bedecked with dozens of hanging Fornasetti arms that guests could weave their way through. Flanked on either side were enlarged Fornasetti face abstracts.

Sight was illustrated, quite literally, by a massive Fornasetti artwork that mimicked wallpaper plastered against one entire gallery wall.

Iconic Fornasetti drawings showcasing smell were applied to the walls of another gallery in the concrete building. From inside a large keyhole cabinet—another classic Fornasetti object—Valentino's Assoluto fragrance wafted out.

The taste room featured more than 90 Fornasetti plates showcasing a selection of the artist's 350 interpretations of a woman's face—easily the night's most Instagrammed set-up. Two oversize murals were applied to the former museum's walls while a table featured a pile of candy for emphasis.

Valentino chose the Whitney Museum of American Art's former Madison Avenue space in which to unveil a special six-piece collection of objects exclusive to the Fifth Avenue flagship, including sunglasses with eyewear case box, scarf, stool, tray, and plate. A row of eight iPads along a back wall offered detailed descriptions of each product, along with additional imagery.

The evening's main attraction was a "Sala Bianca" fashion show of all-white haute couture looks designed exclusively for and in homage to New York and the new Fifth Avenue flagship. The show took place in the Emily Fisher Landau Gallery, juxtaposed against the iconic suspended concrete grid ceiling designed by Marcel Breuer.

Held at the Château de Wideville, which sits on the outskirts of Paris, the July 6 event drew some 450 guests and supporters and raised $3.27 million for model Natalia Vodianova's Naked Heart Foundation.

Staffers in white dresses guided guests to the 20,000-square-foot dinner tent, which was set up directly adjacent to the main estate house on a plot of land that wouldn't disturb the existing gardens.

The entire floor of the clear tent was paved with real grass and frosted with faux snow.

Inside the dinner area, Bureau Betak painstakingly created custom decor for each of the 45 tables so that no two were alike.

Charming accents sourced from vintage stores and thrift shops, and frosted with fake snow decorated each of the dinner tables, adding to the wintery design scheme.

Inspiration for the tabletop decor was taken from different classic fairy tales. For instance, one tableau featuring tiers of rosebuds was based on "The Rose-Tree" by Joseph Jacobs.

In keeping with the evening's loose Russian theme, organizers prominently placed bottles of Imperia Vodka, a chief sponsor of the gala, in icy-looking buckets on each table.

Traditional Russian folk scarves draped the backs of each seat, adding not only a decorative element, but also a parting gift for guests.

The creative team interspersed large animal-shaped topiaries frosted with fake snow throughout the dinner tent.

An enormous chunk of ice was carved into a bar with an intricate latticelike design.

As the sun set, candlelight served as the primary light source, illuminating the dinner tables and adding to the cozy feel of the night.

Prior to the fashion show and live performance, guests sat for a catered dinner served by Caviar Kaspia.

Actress Anne Hathaway served as the night's master of ceremonies and, as a nod to co-host Valentino Garavani, wore a vintage dress by the Italian fashion designer.

A performance artist in sand animation, Ukrainian talent Kseniya Simonova entertained guests with live artwork inspired by Natalia Vodianova and her Naked Heart Foundation.

Flanked by the stage and bar, a 246-foot-long reflective runway ran the entire length of the tent and served as the site for the show.

A 45-look fashion show of custom dresses from big-name designers took place right before dessert was served. Eight crystal chandeliers, decorated to look like frozen fixtures and trimmed with vines, hung from the center of the tent directly above the runway.

The dresses in the show were inspired by classic fairy tales.

Naked Heart Foundation founder and model Natalia Vodianova (pictured, center) wore a custom Valentino dress for the show's finale.

After the show, Christie's conducted a live auction from the stage.

The auction lots included artwork, as well as some of the gowns presented in the fashion show.

Bryan Ferry performed for the crowd following the auction. The English musician was reunited onstage with one-time collaborator Johnny Marr from the Smiths.