Inside Manolo Blahnik’s Cocktails and Lawn Games Summer Party

Though the invitation read lawn games and cocktails, Manolo Blahnik s summer soiree had a few surprises in store. Being a Blahnik event, the “lawn” in lawn games was a scenic garden on a Rockefeller Center rooftop at 620 Loft Garden, which overlooks St. Patrick’s Cathedral and offers sweeping views of 5th Avenue. And those “games” were as photogenic as they get: croquet racquets branded with Manolo Blahnik logos, an oversized chess set, and playing cards featuring Blahnik’s whimsical shoe sketches.

Everyone—Bambi Northwood-Blyth, Emily DiDonato, Violetta Komyshan, Amy Fine Collins, Angelica Hicks, and more—had gathered for no reason in particular but there were several things worth toasting. The start of summer and perhaps the premiere of Elvis (for which the shoemaker outfitted Austin Butler s Elvis in slick footwear). Plus, guests were still buzzing over the big year the label had with a new Madison Avenue flagship and a permanent store out in East Hampton.

As for those surprises, midway through the event, supermodel icon Pat Cleveland slinked through the crowd in a satin gown and a pair of crystal-bejeweled Manolo pumps. She stopped at the front of the garden’s pool to sing a couple of songs and serenade the crowd. On her set list was “It’s Impossible” by Perry Como.