On Wednesday night, Valentino just wanted to have fun for its DeVain handbag.
The brand hosted a launch party for its newest bag at Upper East Side haunt Chez Fifi in New York, inviting an intimate crowd out for a night of games, drinks and a chance to toast the end of the year.
Cocktails flowed throughout the cozy bi-level space as guests channeled their competitive spirit over various parlor games. Tommy Dorfman was tucked into a booth playing backgammon with Charlotte Lawrence and Hari Nef, while one booth over other guests were playing casual rounds of Connect 4. A nearby shuffleboard — with Valentino-branded pucks — provided a prime photo backdrop, and trays of tic-tac-toe and decks of cards were laid out on small cocktail tables throughout the room.
The games were all courtesy of Valentino. Also courtesy of Valentino: the DeVain bags slung over almost everyone’s shoulders or tucked underneath their arms.
“Valentino has always been one of my dream brands since I was a little girl,” said Dove Cameron, sporting a colorful sequined version of the bag. “They’re very full of whimsy, very full of fantasy. Especially this latest couture collection — absolutely unbelievable. I find so much inspiration for my job — which is acting, writing music — in other mediums and from other creatives, and I’ve always found fashion and design is something that really feeds into my creative inspiration.”
Cameron is leading the upcoming Amazon Prime series “56 Days,” out in February. “ It is a very intense mystery thriller in which every single episode, I think you get closer to finding out the big mystery, but also further from it,” said Cameron, careful to not divulge any of the mystery as she described the series as “enrapturing, addictive and psychologically fascinating. It’s my favorite character I’ve ever played,” she added.
Before launching into show promo at the top of next year, Cameron is looking forward to some down time in Rome and Portugal, with her family and fiancé. “ We have some time off. We have very normal Christmas time — lots of family.
”Italy in general is magical, and especially during the holidays,” she said. “But honestly, we don’t go out too much in Rome. Because we have fun just being there with his family,” she added. “It’s really my favorite time. I love to hibernate. I’m so excited to be a little creature in my sweats and have a lot of panettone and be off the grid for awhile.”
Upstairs, Valentino’s grid dance floor was just heating up. Squares lit up in colorful shades that matched many of the DeVain bags, setting the scene for guests like Justine Skye and Alioune Badara Fall to groove along with the night’s soundtrack curated by DJ Blu DeTiger.
Charlotte Lawrence and Hari Nef
Lexie Moreland/WWD
