CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Win and a Holiday Dinner Welcoming Cuyana

At the recently rebranded Sixty SoHo on Thompson Street the hotel was previously known as 60 Thompson the New York fashion set came out to toast one of their own at an intimate cocktail party that felt more like a fashionable holiday soiree. The reason? To fete Paul Andrew, winner of this year’s CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, on his victory which was just shown the previous night on Ovation’s season finale of The Fashion Fund. “It’s a really exciting moment for myself and the brand,”  beamed Andrew who clearly showed no signs of slowing down in the midst of pre-fall presentations, adding that, “The sell-through jumped dramatically.”

And now that it’s over, what is Andrew going to do to relax? “I’m taking my boyfriend away on a secret vacation,” he coyly replied before slipping in an additional tidbit. “Skiing is on the agenda!” Helping toast Andrew were Vogue’s Mark Holgate, Cipriana Quann of Urban Bush Babes, and fellow CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalist Tanya Taylor. As guests nibbled on deviled eggs with caviar and sampled the spiced margaritas, a festive mood came over the crowd, which included Karine Vanasse from Revenge.

The actress who plays the editor of a fashion magazine and head of a media conglomerate on the show looked the part in an Emanuel Ungaro printed jumpsuit with matching jacket, Wolford bra hinting at skin, Cristina Ortiz jewelry, and an Ela clutch. “It’s our go-to shoe,” exclaimed Vanasse about Andrew’s designs being featured on the hit ABC show. “It’s a new brand, it’s elegant, it’s chic with just enough edge.” The show just had its mid-season finale leaving her character in a sticky situation as her paramour has just been killed off. Any hints on what’s to come in January? “She will blame Emily and work with Victoria, but that’s all I can really say,” laughed Vanasse when pressed. Does she ever mind that her character is always in heels? “No,” said Vanasse. “I started wearing heels all the time when I was 21.”

Meanwhile, just down the block, the cozy restaurant, Vin et Fleurs, on the outskirts of SoHo, was reaching full capacity as Claire Distenfeld, Sophie Auster, and Vogue’s Chloe Malle all turned out for a dinner, hosted by Garance Doré, Laura Brown, and Auster, to celebrate the New York arrival of Cuyana. With a “farm-to-table fashion approach,” the womens wear brand, which is based in San Francisco, has a philosophy of fewer is better. They believe in quality, not quantity. This motto rang true throughout the entire evening with a minimalist display of Bay Area lavender and handmade Italian tablecloths as the foundation for dinner.