“This was the New York I fell in love with,” read a quote perched above the bar at Zero Bond on Tuesday night, setting the tone for an intimate book launch in honor of designer Prabal Gurung. Co-hosted with Saks, the evening welcomed guests with silver trays of cocktails, stacks of freshly minted memoirs, and wall-mounted quotes from Walk Like a Girl—Gurung’s debut and deeply personal reflection on identity, belonging, and beauty.
The back terrace of the private club was transformed for the occasion: cheerful yellow florals, wide-open doors to catch the breeze, and a signature cocktail menu with playful nods to Gurung’s transcontinental journey—“It Started in Kathmandu,” “Mumbai Rush,” and the tropically tinted “Saks in the City,” made with mango, lychee, and lemon. As the summer sun dipped behind the downtown skyline, guests mingled over books and drinks while a well-coiffed pup in tiny booties trotted between tables, adding a dose of whimsy.
Gurung—who has dressed everyone from Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey to Lady Gaga and Sarah Jessica Parker—wrote the book after revisiting years of personal writing and reflections on his childhood, career, and chosen family.
“It feels very cathartic and emotional,” he said. “I hope that after reading this, people feel free to be themselves—not confined by the boxes we’re placed in, or defined by narrow, patriarchal standards.”
The evening was hosted by Gurung’s close friend and Saks Global SVP of Fashion, Roopal Patel, who delivered heartfelt remarks tracing the designer’s journey through New York fashion, his community of collaborators, and the emotional resonance of the book.
“This isn’t just a fashion book—it’s a story about love, joy, friendship, and happiness,” she said, prompting a round of cheers and clinking glasses. “I’m so honored to be here tonight to celebrate my friend.”
Among those gathered: Nicky Hilton Rothschild, Fern Mallis, Tina Leung, Ezra J. William, and Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia of Oscar de la Renta and Monse. The crowd spilled across the terrace, catching up and congratulating Gurung as twilight settled in.
“Prabal has been a close friend of Laura’s and mine, and we’ve really shared this journey together as designers,” Garcia said. “His story is riveting, inspiring—and full of resilience.”
After a round of toasts, Gurung raised his glass, thanked his team and the guests, and reminded everyone to keep drinking—after all, the night was about celebration. With Walk Like a Girl, he adds “author” to an already impressive résumé, offering readers a moving invitation to walk boldly, joyfully, and always, as themselves.