On Tuesday night, Simone Rocha, in partnership with Centurion New York and Vogue100, hosted a dinner party in the clouds. On the 55th floor of the One Vanderbilt skyscraper, the designer transformed the dramatic space into a picture of romance. Red velvet draped from the ceiling to the floor. Mountains of roses, in shades of blush and scarlet, covered every surface. The glow of candelabras warmed the contemporary design. Despite the decadent decor, reflective of Rocha’s feminine collections, the views of midtown Manhattan could not be outshone.
Philanthropists, creatives, and executives from around the world—a guest list characteristic of both the Vogue100 and Centurion memberships—enjoyed cocktails in an intimate lounge. White-gloved waiters poured bottles of Domaine de la Taille Aux Loups Brut Tradition. On the eve of Vogue’s annual Forces of Fashion summit, industry gossip dominated the conversation. The Chrysler Building and countless other towers that makeup New York’s skyline glittered from behind the bar.
At 7:00 p.m., the doors opened to reveal the dining room. Two long tables were abundantly set with even more blooms and candles, courtesy of Raul Avila, the genius florist known for his work at the Met Gala. A feast of Ora King salmon and citrus-cured Hamachi, crafted by the famed Daniel Boulud, awaited the revelers.
“Thank you all very much for coming,” Rocha said and she stood before her guests. “I would love to thank Vogue and Centurion American Express for inviting me to host this evening and share this special moment. This is actually my publication date for my first book which documents my first decade of my work and collections. We are going to give one to everyone tonight to explore and understand everything that has been a part of my journey.”
Inside the pink tote atop each chair, the handsome tome, published by Rizzoli, recounts Rocha’s path from a student at Central Saint Martins to a go-to auteur for tastemakers like Rihanna and Chloë Sevigny. The pages revel in her iconic platform brogues and voluminous dresses as well as memorable collaborations with the likes of Moncler and H&M. Inspirations like Louise Bourgeois and Rei Kawakubo are lovingly cited and tracked.