Photos: Chloe Malle’s Engagement Party in Brooklyn
Photographed by Mia McDonald1/28The minute my fiancé, Graham, and I saw Weylin B. Seymour’s, we knew it was perfect for our engagement party. It’s the former Williamsburgh Savings Bank down on Broadway across from Peter Luger’s that was left derelict for years until two Argentine families restored it to its former glory—and frankly, I suspect, better than it’s former glory. Graham used to live nearby in Williamsburg, and for the past few years, he’d been stalking this building on Brownstoner and Curbed, so when we were talking about having a party in New York, he suggested my mom and I go investigate. They had just opened and were very impressed that we ferretted them out so soon.
Photographed by Mia McDonald2/28To clarify, this event basically was my wedding. Technically, it was an engagement party—but it is the closest thing to a wedding reception we are actually going to have. For our actual ceremony, we want a small, intimate affair at my family’s house in the southwest of France next summer. My mother, Candice Bergen, was excited about a big wedding in New York, though, so this party was our compromise.
My mom and the <span class="st" Van Wyck Van Wyck</span team planned the whole thing. Graham and I just showed up and were wowed. She was so excited for me to see the space when I walked in. She wore an Akris dress that she paired with the most beautiful pair of Irene Neuwirth opal earrings.
Photographed by Mia McDonald3/28My friend Gillian Lite works at Bobbi Brown at Bergdorf’s and often does my makeup when I have black-tie events to go to for work. She was off that Saturday but came to my apartment from Queens to do my makeup as well as Graham’s mom and my aunt s. It made the whole afternoon feel more special. Graham and my mother picked out my engagement ring together at Fred Leighton, so it seemed thematic for me to wear their pink diamond earrings to the party.
Photographed by Mia McDonald4/28My dress is Valentino, and I fell in love with it when I borrowed it to wear to the Golden Globe Awards in January. Of course, it was the sample, so on the model the skirt was tea-length, but on my 5 3" frame, it was practically to the floor. Valentino kindly shortened it to accommodate the fact that I am vertically challenged. I liked that it was white and celebratory without being too bridal. My mom and I also loved the hot pink embroidery over the bodice and into the skirt. To play that up, mama went to M&J Trimming on Sixth Avenue and got a yard of matching pink grosgrain ribbon for me to tie around my waist.
Photographed by Mia McDonald5/28I often get my hair done at John Barrett Salon for events; everyone there does a wonderful job, but I particularly loved what Halli did with my hair for the party. I wanted something simple and unfussy but also clean and elegant, and that’s just what I got.