Van Cleef & Arpels Wines and Dines Blanchett: Scene Last Night
The famous neck of Cate Blanchett looked especially regal last night in a yellow-gold serpent chain with rubies and sapphires, while Chelsea Clinton’s neck was bare (and her husband looked as if he hadn’t shaved).
The occasion was a black-tie party for the exhibition “Set in Style: The Jewelry of Van Cleef & Arpels” at the Cooper- Hewitt design museum.
In the wood-paneled foyer, waiters offered champagne, foie gras with pineapple and lobster spring rolls to guests including designer Vera Wang, hedge-fund billionaire Philip Falcone and his wife, Lisa, architect Richard Meier, and Norman Benzaquen of investment firm Gilder Gagnon Howe & Co.
Hilary Geary Ross, wife of Wilbur Ross Jr., wore a Zip necklace -- literally a diamond zipper -- that they chose together. The tall Chinese supermodel Du Juan wore a necklace of diamonds shaped into flowers. “In Chinese, my name means azalea,” she said.
“I keep checking to make sure they haven’t fallen off,” said actor Piper Perabo of her Birds of Paradise earrings. She’ll next play a Can Can dancer opposite Bruce Willis in the film “Looper.”
Standing near jewels worn by Marlene Dietrich, Kelly Rutherford of the “Gossip Girl” television series said her most prized jewelry is the plastic ring her son bought for her at Cozy Cuts.
‘A Love Story’
“Van Cleef started with a love story,” said Van Cleef creative director Nicolas Bos standing near a diamond-encrusted pencil case. “You can feel the romance in all their creations.”
“The exhibition is motivating,” said investor P.C. Chatterjee. “I’ll have to make a lot of money to buy something for my wife, otherwise all I can afford is the pencil,” referring to the Yellow No. 2 on display with the pencil case.
“The blue goes great with her eyes,” said portfolio manager Roberto Mignone of the sapphire-and-diamond necklace he bought for his wife, Allison, this Christmas.
Pamela Pantzer’s diamond and ruby brooch glistened. “It’s the Millennium,” her husband, Edward Pantzer, president of Pantzer Properties Inc., said. He bought it at Christie’s for her birthday.
Patrick Jouin, who designed the exhibition, raised his wrist to show his Van Cleef accessory: a watch with all the constellations hand-painted on the face.
Jouin designed glass bubble cases for the exhibition. “I didn’t want boxes like at a bank,” he said. “These create an atmosphere, like a mist in the world of the fairies,” he said.
The world of fairies carried over into the dinner tent designed by Bronson van Wyck. The chairs were covered in silk slip covers. The centerpieces contained pink peonies, garden roses and calla lilies. The meal, prepared by Jean-Georges Vongerichten, included Meyer lemon gelee and caviar, organic chicken with black truffle and key lime pie.
(Amanda Gordon is a writer and photographer for Muse, the art and leisure section of Bloomberg News. Any opinions expressed are her own.)
To contact the reporter on this story: Amanda Gordon at agordon01@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Manuela Hoelterhoff at mhoelterhoff@bloomberg.net.
Van Cleef & Arpels Fete
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Actress Cate Blanchett, in a Van Cleef yellow gold serpent chain necklace with rubies and sapphires, and jewelry designer Waris Ahluwalia, at a black-tie party for the exhibition "Set in Style: The Jewelry of Van Cleef & Arpels" at the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum.
Actress Cate Blanchett, in a Van Cleef yellow gold serpent chain necklace with rubies and sapphires, and jewelry designer Waris Ahluwalia, at a black-tie party for the exhibition "Set in Style: The Jewelry of Van Cleef & Arpels" at the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Van Cleef & Arpels Fete
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Chelsea Clinton and Marc Mevinzky arrive at the Cooper-Hewitt.
Chelsea Clinton and Marc Mevinzky arrive at the Cooper-Hewitt. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Van Cleef & Arpels Fete
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Chinese supermodel Du Juan in a Van Cleef necklace. "I picked it because in Chinese, my name means azalea," she said.
Chinese supermodel Du Juan in a Van Cleef necklace. "I picked it because in Chinese, my name means azalea," she said. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Van Cleef & Arpels Fete
Roberto Mignone, a portfolio manager, and Allison Mignone, who is wearing a Van Cleef necklace her husband bought her for Christmas. "I like the artistry and the creativity," Roberto said. "It makes me happy," said Allison.
Roberto Mignone, a portfolio manager, and Allison Mignone, who is wearing a Van Cleef necklace her husband bought her for Christmas. "I like the artistry and the creativity," Roberto said. "It makes me happy," said Allison.
Van Cleef & Arpels Fete
Amanda Gordon
Nicolas Bos, creative director of Van Cleef & Arpels; Emmanuelle Alt, editor in chief of Vogue Paris; and Patrick Jouin, who designed the exhibition of Van Cleef jewels on view at the Cooper-Hewitt through June 5.
Nicolas Bos, creative director of Van Cleef & Arpels; Emmanuelle Alt, editor in chief of Vogue Paris; and Patrick Jouin, who designed the exhibition of Van Cleef jewels on view at the Cooper-Hewitt through June 5. Photographer: Amanda Gordon
Van Cleef & Arpels Fete
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Kelly Rutherford, star of "Gossip Girl," pauses before heading into the dinner tent.
Kelly Rutherford, star of "Gossip Girl," pauses before heading into the dinner tent. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Van Cleef & Arpels Fete
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Bronson van Wyck's design for the dinner tent included ribbons of butterflies. "They're inspired by the case of butterfly pins in the show," he said.
Bronson van Wyck's design for the dinner tent included ribbons of butterflies. "They're inspired by the case of butterfly pins in the show," he said. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Van Cleef & Arpels Fete
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Bronson van Wyck, event designer; Ida Liu, a managing director at Citi Private Bank; and Richard Meier, architect. "When you're planning an event, this is your man," Meier told Liu when introducing her to van Wyck. "If you're ever planning to build a house or museum, he's your man," van Wyck quipped back.
Bronson van Wyck, event designer; Ida Liu, a managing director at Citi Private Bank; and Richard Meier, architect. "When you're planning an event, this is your man," Meier told Liu when introducing her to van Wyck. "If you're ever planning to build a house or museum, he's your man," van Wyck quipped back. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Van Cleef & Arpels Fete
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Investor P.C. Chatterjee and Amita Chatterjee, a trustee of the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum.
Investor P.C. Chatterjee and Amita Chatterjee, a trustee of the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Van Cleef & Arpels Fete
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Howard Axel, vice president of strategy and partnerships at the internet company Talenthouse, and actress Piper Perabo. "I keep checking to make sure they haven't fallen off," she said of her Van Cleef Birds of Paradise earrings.
Howard Axel, vice president of strategy and partnerships at the internet company Talenthouse, and actress Piper Perabo. "I keep checking to make sure they haven't fallen off," she said of her Van Cleef Birds of Paradise earrings. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Van Cleef & Arpels Fete
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Judy Francis Zankel, a trustee of the Cooper-Hewitt, and Norman Benzaquen, a managing partner of Gilder Gagnon Howe & Co.
Judy Francis Zankel, a trustee of the Cooper-Hewitt, and Norman Benzaquen, a managing partner of Gilder Gagnon Howe & Co. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
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