Dressed in Dior, Christine and the Queens Electrified the Guggenheim Museum

It’s been a big year for the Guggenheim. First, this year marked the museum’s 60th anniversary—its doors opened in October of 1959. Then, the famous Frank Lloyd Wright building was inscribed onto the UNESCO World Heritage List. And starting in January, the Guggenheim was opened daily, its collection more accessible than ever.

So when it came to Wednesday night’s Guggenheim International Gala Pre-Party, an annual highlight in every bright young thing’s social calendar, there was a lot to celebrate. The evening, as it is each year, was made possible by Dior. The rotunda, alit with multicolored lights, was filled with glamorous guests—Jourdan Dunn, Maggie Rogers, Eliza Scanlen, and of course, the artistic director herself Maria Grazia Chiuri—sporting the maison’s latest wares.

Other notable names milling around? Nina Dobrev, Kat Graham, Olivia Palermo, Halston Sage, and Tyler Mitchell.

The highlight of the night was an electric performance delivered by Christine and the Queens, whose modern-French disco-funk songs—like “Comme si”—had the crowd in awe: One attendee was actually moved to tears. Christine (real name: Héloïse Letissier) was having a blast, animatedly dancing with her “queens” and even dedicating a song to all the “freaky people out there.” Dior designed her looks for the night, and Letissier spoke out on, what, exactly fashion means to her: “Fashion can be a wonderful way to express yourself—to belong, or not,” she said. “It can be a tool for freedom.”

Chiuri later spoke of her admiration for the performer. “Her energy!” she exclaimed to Vogue. “Working together, on the costumes, was very exciting for me—but difficult because she moves all the time!”

After the concert, there was still much to do: mainly, exploring the museum’s new show Artistic License: Six Takes on the Guggenheim Collection, where artists like Jenny Holzer and Richard Prince curated works from the institution’s extensive archives.

Between the art, fashion, and music, there was much for the young Guggenheim patrons to take in.