Chagoury Couture made its North American debut on April 28 with a 30-minute runway show of 36 all-white looks at the Pacific Design Center. An array of Hiltons sat in the front of three rows that stretched down a long space within the design center for the 30-minute show, after which the crowd of more than 300 moved upstairs for a champagne cocktail party sponsored by Moët & Chandon, with music by DJ Igor Z.
Lebanese designer Gilbert Chagoury tapped BrandLink Communications for PR, seating, check-in, talent and media outreach, and DJ selection; it was the second official event for BrandLink, a new firm with many former Fingerprint Communications staffers, after a book party with Gilt Group for Derek Blasberg’s Classy in Dallas earlier in the week. Paradigm Shift Worldwide handled the production, with only about an hour to set up chairs and prepare the space after the showrooms closed at 5 p.m.
Among the touches meant to play up the luxury of the Chagoury brand was a substantial invitation by Allie Munroe. About 150 V.I.P.s received via messenger a black faux-crocodile box wrapped in a silver silk ribbon. Inside the box in silver tissue paper was an acrylic frame that held the invitation, created from a hand-calligraphed sample and then letter pressed.
