FASHION WEEK 2009 – Audemars Piguet/Purple Magazine Party at SOHO HOUSE

I kicked off Fashion Week 2009 at Soho House for the Audemars Piguet/Purple Magazine dinner party.  Fashion week is great for foodies and food enthusiasts such as myself, because no one eats, and I get to eat everything.  

My sister, Lisa Hagendorf, and I standing by the Audemars Piguet watch display just moments before we began devouring the radiant risotto.

 The dinner was limited to 120 invited guests, including Leelee Sobieski (who was wearing a denim button-down paired with denim jeans, a combination that Joey often donned on “Full House”), Mila Jovavitch, Mischa Barton (who just kept reapplying eye makeup), Kate Spade, Zac Posen, Terry Richardson, and Jared Leto (whose new blonde ‘do made him a dead ringer for Kurt Cobain – pun intended). Also in attendance was Dree Hemingway, an up-and-coming model on the scene who also happens to be great-granddaughter of Ernest Hemingway. (Aside to imaginary camera as they do in “The Office” – So to reiterate, not only is she related to one of the most legendary writers of all time, she is also gorgeous and 98 pounds. How does this happen?)  Of all the guests, I was most excited about the presence of Patricia Arquette.  I’ve been a huge fan of hers since her impeccable performance in 1993’s True Romance and I’m a sucker for her current role as psychic medium, Allison Dubois, in Medium.  (I also love 1985’s Desperately Seeking Susan in which her sister Rosanna Arquette stars alongside Madonna. I mean, who doesn’t?)

More importantly, let’s move onto the food. Fortunately for Soho House (and by Soho House I mean, myself, since I eat here often) chef Neil Ferguson is now on board.  I loved Chef Ferguson’s work at LES restaurant Allen & Delancey, and am excited that he has made the move to the private club.

Chef Neil Ferguson of Soho House (formerly of Allen & Delancey)

The menu was a gem featuring Ferguson’s brilliant smorgasboard. The highlights were the wild mushroom risotto and the roast potatoes which actually tasted like a french fry/french toast hybrid – aka scientific perfection.  Also to note was the breathtakingly light and flavorful cheesecake in which I basically took a bite for every eyeshadow application that Mischa made. 

Besides the divine dinner menu, we must also discuss the menu’s gorgeous back cover by Purple Magazine co-founder and editor and artistic genius, Olivier Zahm.  Olivier’s collection, Love Diary, is on display at the Audemars Piguet New York Boutique on 40 E57th St. A special thank you to Olivier for featuring naturally curvaceous and sexy (read not emaciated) women for this collection. (I’m sure straight men and lesbian women everywhere, also thank you). 

It is up for debate whether the main eye candy of the evening was the eclectic mix of celebs, the delectable dishes from Chef Ferguson,  the seductive photography from Olivier Zahm, or the regal showcases of Audemars Piguet watches on either side of the room.  Regardless, the one thing I’m certain that all 120 guests would agree upon, is that it was an overall excellent “time”. 

Kudos to Audemars Piguet for hosting this delightful dinner party. 

SOHO HOUSE

29-35  Ninth Ave (Between 13th + 14th)

Phone: 212/627.9800

Members-only club: Sun-Thu 11am-3am, Fri-Sat 11am-4am