Alina Cho’s Stylish Celebration: A Night of Fashion and Flavors Following NYFW
“Congratulations on making it through the week! Easy, right?” joked Alina Cho on Wednesday night. She had gathered a group of fashion industry notables for a chic dinner the night after New York Fashion Week’s end.
The cause for celebration? Several things. Besides the conclusion of NYFW (many in the room were designers who had shown collections in the preceding days), there was also the new menu at the Meatpacking District’s Genesis House, and (though no one would find out till the following day, due to a strict press embargo) her receipt of the Media Award in honor of Eugenia Sheppard from the Council of Fashion Designer of America. (The actual award ceremony will take place on November 6.)
“I did not have as many costume changes as Jordan,” Cho continued, alluding to one of her guests, couture clotheshorse Jordan Roth, “however, I had my fair share.”
With her characteristic wit and charm, Cho set a lovely tone for the evening. "It ain t easy," she repeated, acknowledging the grit required to make it in fashion. “Some of you were at Gracie Mansion the other night when CFDA chairman Thom Browne said pressure is a privilege. He was quoting Billie Jean King and referred to Fashion Week as our US Open. It’s absolutely true.”
Cho expressed her gratitude to the designers for gracing the event with their presence, acknowledging their courage. "You are unveiling a new collection to the world," she emphasized, recognizing the emotional nature of the creative process. "It s a vulnerable moment, right? And I think the pressure is on, but from where I sit, you all hit it out of the park."
Sitting at the table, which Cho curated with a stellar group, were designers Adam Lippes, Rosie Assoulin, Thakoon Panichgul, Alejandra Alonso Rojas, Suzie Kondi, Brett Heyman, and Batsheva Hay. Also in attendance were Charlotte Groeneveld, Princess Deena Ali Al-Juhani, Kirna Zabete’s Beth Buccini, Saks CEO Marc Metrick, and more.
Cho then turned her attention to Rachel Espersen, the culinary mastermind behind the evening s feast. Genesis House (the New York outpost that showcases both the company’s vehicles and the best in Korean culture) was unveiling a new menu, crafted by Executive Chef Losa Yi, which was inspired by Korean Royal cuisine, with recipes dating back a thousand years.
Cho shared a heartfelt reflection on her own heritage, reminiscing about feeling isolated in her Korean identity as a young girl. "When I was growing up and young in school," she remembered, "there weren t many people who looked like me.” She then cited K-Beauty, K-Pop, and all the wildly popular, TikTok-viral cultural exports of the country. “I think it s pretty clear that it s never been cooler to be Korean. I m proud to be here on behalf of Genesis House and introduce you all to this unbelievable place,” she said. “And I know you’ll be coming back!”
BFA.com1/17Francisco Costa
BFA.com2/17Alejandra Alonso Rojas, Alina Cho
