On Saturday evening, the McKittrick Resort — the longtime residence of immersive “Macbeth” manufacturing “Sleep No Extra” — opened its doorways for a brand new Scottish arrival. This time, the story appeared somewhat completely different: extra whisky, much less homicide. And much more Balmain.
Olivier Rousteing, in New York for the Met Gala, and Johnnie Walker Vault teamed as much as host a launch dinner for his or her new collaboration, 4 “couture” bottles of whisky impressed by Rousteing’s connection to the 4 seasons.
VIP visitors arrived on the venue by a blue-lit hallway, perfume-scented and stuffed with a trance-y audio observe voiced by grasp blender Dr. Emma Walker and Rousteing, which set the temper for the “sensorial dinner” forward.
“The aromas and textures transfer like a chilly spring day. You’ve bought a sparkle within the air.” The Scottish voice then shifted to a French accent. “When the artwork of couture meets the artwork of mixing.”
“Hello fabulous goddess,” stated Rousteing, rising from the hallway and greeting Priyanka Jonas on the blue-carpeted step-and-repeat. “You recognize I’m with one of the crucial stunning ladies on this planet?” he referred to as out to the small group surrounding the pair.
Afterward, they made their means hand-in-hand previous the photograph sales space and descended into the darkish dinner area, the place an inverted pyramid, housing a swirling hologram, prolonged from the middle of a giant sq. desk.
“I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon,” Rousteing instructed Jonas. Ultimate Met Gala fittings awaited.
“ It’s gonna be a extremely busy day [tomorrow], and I feel it’s much more advanced than final yr,” stated a jubilant Rousteing earlier than dinner. He and a number of other different visitors wore a small gold “couture flask,” hanging from an extended chain shoulder strap. “Tonight we’re celebrating Johnnie Walker; in two days we’re gonna have fun the Balmain clothes and fits. So I really feel proud. I really feel pleased with what I’m attaining. After 14 years of profession as a inventive director, I really feel like I simply wanna discover,” he added. “This unbelievable collaboration makes me extra inventive and extra inquisitive about the whole lot.”
”He’s simply so extremely gifted,” stated Jonas, who launched her personal collaboration with Johnnie Walker final fall. “Strolling collectively on the Met, and [Rousteing] dressing me, is simply actually thrilling. I feel he’s one of the crucial completed designers we have now proper now.”
Different dinner visitors included Hunter Schafer, sporting a tiny pair of wings, and Lupita Nyong’o — “Olivier’s Angels” — in addition to Jeremy O. Harris, Rege-Jean Web page, Stormzy, Nicky Hilton-Rothschild and Henry Goulding.
“It’s Met Gala weekend. Everyone’s on the town,” stated Goulding, wearing a tux. “ It’s all the time a enjoyable circus, but it surely’s fairly hectic. There’s lots taking place,” he added. “There’s so many individuals on the town — I’m not trying ahead to the visitors — however [looking forward to] seeing everyone and catching up.”
Company sat for dinner by chef Yann Nury, because the central hologram unveiled the collaboration’s spring bottle. Jon Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer” queued up as servers positioned the primary course, setting the scene for the primary whisky pairing. Eighties pop hits accompanied every course — from Rick Astley to Kim Wilde and Rick Springfield. “By the way in which, the music is my playlist, I’m so sorry,” Rousteing revealed to the room, as “Whip It” performed in the course of the meal’s dessert course of whisky-flavored ice cream. “Tonight we’re celebrating greater than unbelievable blends — we’re celebrating love, happiness, energy, and togetherness,” added the designer, closing out the night.
After dinner, seats have been whisked away and the bottle hologram transitioned to a rotating silver Johnnie Walker mascot. The room’s darkish hue switched to blue, and a curtain opened to disclose the afterparty’s Johnnie Walker Blue bar. New visitors arrived, some VIPs lingered for a nightcap, and others made their exit. Tomorrow, and tomorrow: the Met Gala end line is in sight.
Regé-Jean Web page and Olivier Rousteing
Alyssa Greenberg/WWD
