On The Scene: 2017 Guggenhaim International Gala Pre-Party

by Hilary Weissman November 18, 2017

by Hilary Weissman November 18, 2017 0 comments

On Wednesday, Nov. 15th, The Knockturnal swayed to HAIM’s set along with DJ Kindness at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum’s after hours pre-party for the 2017 Guggenheim International Gala presented by Dior.

Dior, helmed by artistic director Maria Grazia Chiuri, helped the Guggenheim Foundation ring in its 80th anniversary by honoring artist Cai Guo-Qiang, former Guggenheim Board of Trustees President Jennifer Blei Stockman, and UBS for its Guggenheim UBS MAP Global Art Initiative collaboration.

Party goers stunned in sheer embellished gowns from Chiuri’s 2018 Spring Ready To Wear Collection with J’adior athleisure underpinnings peeking through, or printed tees with feminist battle cries tucked into tulle skirts under ornately embroidered or graffiti tagged leather jackets and boucle coats that were never meant to be checked as they playfully posed with each other hanging along the museums winding rotunda.

There was a gilded vanity video booth where people strutted their best runway walks and even break danced for the camera. We spotted actresses Kate Mara and Michelle Monaghan, and DJ/podcast host/actress multi-hyphenate Jilly Hendrix making their way through the crowd as Veuve Cliquot and dime-sized hors d’oeuvres and macaron cookies were passed around.

Este, Danielle, and Alana Haim were living their best salsa dancer emoji life in custom all red Dior ensembles (on both nights), down to their short stack-heeled version of kinky boots. The crowd went wild for their too-short set (at least for this writer’s liking). They played “Want You Back” and “Found It In Silence,” while also bringing out their signature casual choreography for a dance break during “Walking Away,” off their new album Something To Tell You, as well as “The Wire,” off their debut and a cover of Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down,” in tribute to the females in the room who would take the titular message seriously, saying “He is our heart.”

Alana made brief, sentimental remarks on behalf of the sisters, who felt right at home at the “GuggenHAIM” and were honored to be a part of the festivities. “I’m mastering my twirling skills,” she said. “I want to see each and every face here tonight.”