The Scene: A bevvy of powerhouse models and New York’s tastemakers ambling through dreamlike scenes in a warehouse in Chelsea? This isn’t a scene from an ’80s arthouse movie. It’s “Motus Animi,” an immersive experience by Maison Margiela Fragrances.
The Occasion: On Thursday, the parfumerie transformed the interior of the Starrett-Lehigh Building into an immersive installation inspired by its latest series of six scents, the Scentsorium Collection.
The Locale: The cavernous building resembled a cistern, with enormous white pylons punctuating the concrete space. Inside, four installations inspired by the collection’s scents sat waiting. One tableaux, inspired by Anguish and Awe, featured a cascade of crimson petals against white curtains while notes of black rose and suede hung in the air. Another scene, inspired by Fit of Folly, bore furious ink scrawlings on the walls that carried a distinct whiff of mineral musk. At yet another, a massive fountain of white wax was frozen in time, while at still another, stacks of vintage televisions flickered ominously.
The Crowd: The crowd stood stylish and sharp without fail. Models were well-represented, including Ian Jeffrey, Alioune Badara Fall, Fernanda Ly, Stella Lucia, and Summer Dirx. Other guests, also impeccably dressed and many sporting classic Margiela black leather, included painter Sasha Gordon, gallerist Gabrielle Richardson, creative director Ruba Abu-Nimah, photographer Deon Hinton, cultural commentators Luke Meagher and Tina Zhang, CULTURED Beauty Editor Emily Dougherty, writer Kristen Bateman, and singer Mandy Lee. Rounding out the group was a smattering of fashion’s most discerning online creators including Lucy Rae McFadin, Denzel Dion, Taylor Quitara, and Emma Brooks.
Food and Drinks: Silver trays of confections spiraled around the room: caviar and créme fraîche on waffle blinis were followed by champagne and cocktails. In this room only, they were the second-best smelling things on offer.
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