The Glow Was Real at Armani Beauty’s Luminous Silk Celebration in Los Angeles
Armani’s Luminous Silk foundation has been a red carpet constant for decades, and on Thursday evening in Los Angeles, stars toasted to its glow-up with a celebration at The Grove. ICYMI: the cult-favorite formula has been reimagined, with 44 shades and the same signature finish and silky texture that made it a staple in the first place.
Held in a striking two-story space, the party doubled as a preview of what locals can experience this weekend, when Armani Beauty opens a Luminous Silk pop-up at the same location. Guests entering the venue were met with an art installation featuring silk moving in the air, each one echoing a different skin tone, a visual nod to the foundation’s expanded shade range.
Photographers quickly turned the installation into the night’s first photo moment, lining up VIPs for snaps before they made their way inside. Inside, the crowd moved between both floors, stopping for photos, cocktails, and quick catch-ups. Dakota Fanning, Jurnee Smollett, Ali Larter, Justine Lupe, Natasha Lyonne, and True Whitaker were among the faces in attendance, alongside François Arnaud, fresh off the success of Heated Rivalry, and Andra Day, who later performed upstairs in the ‘Luminous Lounge.’
As waiters passed mini tacos, bruschetta, and melon caprese bites, cocktails made the rounds. Think: the Campari-infused Milano Glow mixed tequila and a Midnight Silk, which leaned espresso martini-forward with liquor, vodka, cold brew, and simple syrup. Smollett was the first to arrive, bringing her adorable son as her date. Fanning followed not long after, greeting friends and chatting with guests early in the evening. I Love LA star Whitaker pulled up with an entourage of friends, while Landman’s Ali Larter stepped in with her daughter as her plus-one, wearing her hair pulled into a sleek ponytail that showed off her fresh, luminous makeup.
Larter told Vogue that Luminous Silk is one of those rare foundations she trusts for both full glam and real life. “It’s two-fold,” she said. “I trust it on the red carpet because I know it’s going to last. As someone who gets a little bit red and has dry skin, I trust it when I have a six or eight-hour day. But I also like to pump some in my hand and do it myself on days when I’m out with the kids or running errands. Whatever the day calls for, and I know I won’t have to touch up.”
Supermodel Shanina Shaik echoed that sentiment, telling Vogue that it’s her ride or die when she’s getting camera-ready. “I love wearing it for big, major events because I love how it shows up for pictures, even when taking photos at night,” she praised.
Later in the evening, Day performed an acoustic set that shifted the mood into something more intimate. Sarah Curtis Henry, general manager of Armani Beauty and Valentino in the U.S., also welcomed the crowd and raised a glass for a toast. “We are celebrating the reintroduction of Armani Luminous Silk, which has been such an icon for so long and has such deep ties to Hollywood,” she said, nodding to the late Giorgio Armani’s influential relationship with the film world. “I want to celebrate you as part of our incredible community here tonight. Thank you for riding with us all these years.”
A DJ set by Zuri Marley followed, as attendees enjoyed immersive moments sprinkled throughout the space. And just when it felt like the party had hit its stride, the evening closed with a surprise: a group of models weaving through the crowd in an interpretive dance, flowing down the venue’s massive staircase like a final curtain call.
Armani Beauty’s pop-up at The Grove opens to the public this weekend, with appointments that include a complimentary full-size bottle of the foundation.
Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images1/16Ali Larter
Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images2/16Shanina Shaik
