Manolo Blahnik’s Iconic Mary Jane Turns 30! Inside Their Stiletto-Filled Dinner Party

On Tuesday night in downtown Manhattan, Manolo Blahnik rang in the 30th year of its Mary Jane shoe in the best way possible: with custom cocktails, a candy bar, and a birthday cake. Guests gathered atop the Greenhouse of the Nine Orchard Hotel for an evening of outstanding views, food, drinks, and reminiscing on the brand’s evolution.

The night began with some casual conversation among invitees during cocktail hour—featuring Manolo’s Margaritas and Kristina’s Negronis—with opportunities to explore the various Manolo silhouettes, including BB, Chaos, Carolyne, Maysale, and, of course, Mary Jane. Sweets from BonBon were up for grabs before the main dinner, which was an ultimate crowd favorite. Ahead of the sit-down meal, there was a special performance by Dianna Agron, as well as a brief introduction from Kristina Blahnik and House Historian Jamie Prieto.

Kristina and Jamie shared the stories of the shoes that have been designed over the years, noting various important occasions–and people–in which they were worn, some of which included Pamela Anderson in Chaos at the Met Gala and Kate Moss consistently sporting the Mary Jane. “[The shoes] are part of our legacy,” said Kristina, adding that they’re “foundations of our wardrobe.”

Once the dinner started–a three-course meal with an appetizer, main dish, and dessert–guests gushed over their connection to the brand. As the fête was in full swing, everyone was given confetti poppers in preparation for the finale of the night. The celebration closed out with a rendition of “Happy Birthday” in honor of 30 years of the Mary Jane, along with an elaborate cake.