Parties

Inside the Star-Studded London Screening of In Vogue: The 90s

Image may contain Edward Enninful Hamish Bowles Anna Wintour Blazer Clothing Coat Jacket Formal Wear and Suit
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The crowd certainly did, falling into a rapt silence during the opening moments of the episode, titled “All Change at Vogue,” as we’re taken from Wintour’s office in One World Trade to Enninful as he travels to work, and then to the series’ truly jaw-dropping array of contributors: everyone from Tom Ford and Naomi Campbell to Claudia Schiffer, Linda Evangelista, Nicole Kidman, Kim Kardashian, Victoria Beckham, Missy Elliot, Sarah Jessica Parker, Tyson Beckford, Miuccia Prada, Hillary Clinton, Marc Jacobs and Gwyneth Paltrow. What do the ’90s mean to them? Well, a wide range of things, though Stella McCartney’s response to this question feels the most apt. “Way too much fun,” replies the designer. “And way too messy.”

And we see exactly that, in all its thrilling, chaotic, unvarnished glory over the next 50 or so minutes, as the episode tracks Wintour’s arrival at American Vogue in the late ’80s and her determination to shake things up with then-controversial cover stars such as Madonna; the rise of the supermodels via George Michael’s “Freedom! ’90” video; the emergence of Kate Moss as a fresh face who challenged existing beauty standards; the devastating impact of the AIDS epidemic; and the influence of John Galliano, who was part of a fashion revolution that was brewing across the pond in London. There were big laughs throughout (at Wintour refusing to take off her sunglasses for the camera; at Enninful saying that Naomi Campbell “gets away with murder” because she’s so stunning; at Tonne Goodman describing a young Mark Wahlberg’s body as “awesome”), as well as a couple of gasps (at Kim Kardashian revealing that she was once Madonna’s dog walker) and much applause and cheering once the credits rolled.

After that, viewers headed to the rooftop reception, where chilled flutes of champagne and spicy margaritas were served alongside miniature quiches with rhubarb, crackers piled high with crab salad, tiny violet potatoes topped with cherry tomatoes, and lobster-filled saffron arancini. As a rosy sunset gave way to a glittering nocturnal cityscape, Nadine Ijewere and Charlie Casely-Hayford took in the views, Wintour was spotted deep in conversation with Stephen Daldry, and Enninful held court at the bar with Emma Weymouth, AJ Odudu and Daniel Lismore.

See inside the glamorous celebration, below.

The first three episodes of In Vogue: The 90s are streaming now on Disney+, with the final three episodes due to land on September 20.