Alexander McQueen’s Sarabande Foundation Celebrated its U.S. Expansion With a Dinner at The Standard High Line

Last night, Sarabande—the foundation established by Lee Alexander McQueen to nurture artistic talent—celebrated its arrival in New York City. A group of creatives from both sides of the pond gathered in a beautiful dining room at The Standard High Line. As cocktails and hors d’oeuvres circulated, Thom Browne and Daniel Roseberry mingled with the city’s society swans and cultural disruptors.

An impressive collection of works by Sarabande artists hung on the wood-paneled walls. On the floor, “squishies”—performers wearing the grotesque, pink flesh suits designed by Daisy Collingridge—romped around. The effect was otherworldly.

The sense of whimsy continued as revelers sat down for dinner. Embroidered pillowcases dressed the two long tables, both topped with copper sculptures by Kirico Ueda. Sarabande has nurtured over 85 artists and designers, including Michaela Yearwood-Dan, Castro Smith, and Yoav Hadari, who all came to the launch. 

The mood in Manhattan on Tuesday night was decidedly complex. The Met Gala and its dizzying, late-night after-parties left many guests both fatigued and dazzled. The leaked news of the Supreme Court’s intention to reverse Roe v. Wade added a sobering foreboding. However, the mission of Sarabande to advance the careers of boundary-breaking creators, who challenge perceptions and hold power to account, gave a sense of urgency and optimism to the festivities.