Danielle DuBoise and Whitney Tingle, the gals behind Sakara Life, a new organic food-delivery brand embraced by Iman, Gwyneth Paltrow, Lily Aldridge and Lena Dunham, hosted a private “Santa Baby” bazaar-themed cocktail party at their roomy Soho loft right before the winter holiday break. Envision a Helmut Lang and Rachel Comey-wearing cluster with no time to shop Whole Foods or the Tribeca farmers’ market. The food gurus suggested beans as a means of fending off seasonal bloat. “The fiber content in beans is digested more slowly than the fiber in meat,” they tried to assure the partying throng, who were too busy necking back the Prosecco and binge-drinking scotch to really take in the nutritional aspect of proceedings.
After New York’s festive partying pause, things went from 0-60 on December 29, as the world’s white-glove social set descended on the Waldorf Astoria for the 60th annual International Debutante Ball sponsored by Piaget. “I just can’t wait to sit down!” harrumphed Leah Lane over opening cocktails. An accomplished rider and daughter of Broadway producer Stewart F. Lane, she hobbled back and forth on sky-high, Betsey Johnson platform heels. Shindigger marveled at her tiered Oleg Cassini, dress-code white gown. “I just figured that this is my first chance at a wedding dress. I can keep it classy the second time, so I went a little loud,” she reasoned with a giggle. To Ms. Lane’s left stood Miss Alexandra Rose, also representing New York, in a stunning double strand of what must have been Aokya pearls. “My mother wore these at her wedding and they’ve been passed down to me.”
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“Have you ever been around this many men in uniform?” Shindigger asked, observing the military escorts crowding the females.
“I don’t think so,” she replied sheepishly, “but it’s nice.” As the cocktail spigot was abruptly shut off, the lengthy evening matured into a dinner of grilled vegetable napoleons and bœuf au poivre in the ornately decorated grand ballroom.
“I’ve got a Stephen Jones top hat, sequined tailcoat and pants from Prada and red and black shoes,” Andy Bell of Erasure detailed as his two-night December 30 events got underway. “I want to feel like I’m in a gay club in the ’90s!” The band had no qualms about bringing their tour to host a party and concert at Terminal 5. “God knows how we’re going to get back afterwards,” he shrugged at the idea of escaping Midtown’s far west through Times Square, post-ball drop.
“Personally, I’d have to say the year I had with my dog made me grow and love and experience things I never really thought an animal would bring out in me,” confided the always cheery Andy Cohen to Shindigger before Moët & Chandon’s festivities kicked off in Times Square.
Mayor Bill de Blasio and first lady, Chirlane McCray, turned up to the Times Square ruckus and the masses went nuts for Idina Menzel who sparkled as much as the ball in Forevermark Diamonds as she performed (wait for it!) “Let it Go” during the annual Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve hosted by Ryan Seacrest. Of course who could deny that Taylor Swift actually stole the show (shock of shocks yet again). The party spirit really soared as 2015 dawned.
Ready to scale back slightly and move on to our own private festivities, while recalling our healthy advice from the Sakara affair, Shindigger prodded Mr. Cohen on ambitions for 2015. “I’m getting back in killer shape and renovating my apartment,” he blurted back, adjusting his snappy blazer. “I have to move out for the renovation so I’m excited to experience New York City from the vantage point of a different neighborhood.” Let’s hope the neighbours won’t mind a touch of noise, 2015 is already looking rowdy for all.
