Hailey Bieber Took Over an Empty Fifth Avenue Department Store For the Alexander Wang x Bvlgari Party

When the Alexander Wang x Bvlgari invitations arrived (in the form of white plastic credit cards), editors immediately marked their calendars. We all knew that any party with Wang attached is a party worth waiting in line for—especially one which was to be held at 712 Fifth Avenue, the former HQ of the now-defunct Henri Bendel department store. Tiffany Haddish, Sofia Richie, Erika Jayne, and Hailey Bieber seemed to feel the same way. One unexpected guest? The New York City Fire Department. As I politely waited for permission to be let inside by said fire marshals, I could overhear partygoers say, “This happens every year!” That they turned up again this year was a sign that we were in for yet another Alexander Wang extravaganza.

Naked mannequins adorned with nothing more than bejeweled bags from the Alexander Wang x Bvlgari collection greeted guests. The menagerie of limbs was the perfect showcase for the latest “Serpenti Through the Eyes of Wang” capsule collection. Venturing further into Bendel’s old sales floor, it was evident the store had come back to life in a warped Wang way. For eats, dollops of ice cream served in cosmetic jars were sprinkled with Pop Rocks in what was previously the store’s makeup department. For tunes, DJ Asmara and DJ Pedro thumped beats in what used to be the shoe floor. For drinks, cocktail concoctions (named Hi C-herry, Gin Juicebox, Who Spiked the Koolaid and Capris Sunshine) were shaken and stirred in the jewelry display area. For fun, there was a manicure station where you could get the choice of putting a smiley face or an eight ball on your digits—something for everyone.

But what is a Wang party without a few surprises to end the night? Normani soon appeared upstairs, first crooning along to Sam Smith’s “Dancing with a Stranger,” then finishing up in her own style with “Motivation” and choreographed dances to boot. The night took a turn with Rick Ross: When “Hustlin’” boomed from the speakers, every phone in the place was whipped out.

Once Wang himself walked into the defunct store, swarms of guests walked up to say hello. “He’s a man of the people!” I heard one say. I had one question for Wang: “What do you want people to do tonight?” To which he replied (without missing an EDM beat), “Enjoy themselves irresponsibly! Enjoy the department store after dark!”