Chanel Turned New York Blue—And The Summer I Turned Pretty Boys Showed Up

Christopher Briney and Sean KaufmanPhoto: Tyrell Hampton

On Thursday evening, Chanel unveiled Bleu de Chanel L’Exclusif in the U.S. with the kind of spectacle that felt equal parts fragrance launch and cultural happening. Set atop Daniel Boulud’s Le Jardin sur Madison, guests spilled out onto its glassy rooftop, which offered sweeping views of the city. For one night only, the Empire State Building glowed blue in honor of the maison’s latest scent.

The crowd skewed notably young—reflecting Chanel’s Gen Z embrace—with actors Christopher Briney and Sean Kaufman (fresh off The Summer I Turned Pretty), downtown favorites Evan Mock and Gabbriette, and musicians Miguel, Justine Skye, and Faye Webster among the boldfaced names in attendance. Olivier Polge, Chanel’s in-house perfumer and the architect of L’Exclusif, welcomed the crowd into an immersive scent room before DJ Sam French took over.

Then came the surprise: Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Daniel Caesar appeared for a performance that had the rooftop swaying and singing along. To toast the evening, trays of playful, blue-hued French 75 Jell-O shots circulated—a wink to both fragrance and fête. By the end of the night, one thing was clear: Chanel had made its mark not only on the New York skyline but on an entire new generation of fragrance lovers.