Keeping It in the Famiglia: Yara and Keri Shahidi Toast Mother’s Day with Gucci
It was a family affair at Borgo, the quietly buzzy Italian trattoria tucked away on East 27th Street. On Wednesday afternoon, actress and activist Yara Shahidi and her mother Keri arrived in coordinated pastel hues—think blush pink and butter yellow—for an intimate luncheon hosted by Gucci to fête Gucci Together, the brand’s latest Mother’s Day campaign starring the dynamic duo.
The Shahidis didn’t come solo. The entire family—Afshin, Sayeed, and Ehsan—joined in the midweek merriment, and even rapper Nas, Keri’s cousin, made a cameo to show his support.
As in the recently debuted campaign video—which captures Yara and Keri arranging flowers and reflecting on their bond—blooms took center stage at the event. Guests were welcomed by towering branches adorned with florals, while inside the sun-drenched dining room, rows of tall, freshly cut stems doubled as dreamy table runners.
Unlike most, who might balk at the notion of mixing business with family, Yara and Keri have embraced their joint creative journey. Since founding 7th Sun Productions in 2020, they’ve made it their mission to spotlight hopeful, transformative storytelling. While this isn’t their first time sharing the screen (see: those delightfully nostalgic Tropicana Squeeze ads), this particular campaign holds special resonance. “I couldn’t count how many times we’ve worked together, but this is the first time we’ve done a campaign where we’ve both been adults,” Yara told Vogue. “We very much started in this industry together—and I think that’s what has always made me love this work. I associate it with having a wonderful time.”
Fresh off a 7th Sun documentary on the late artist Faith Ringgold and with a new season of Yara’s podcast on the way, the pair remain fueled by curiosity and shared purpose. “I stay in a space of learning, because I’m also a student,” Keri said. “We create projects [with people] we want to learn more about. I’m lucky to work with Yara, who’s incredibly smart. I never feel like I know it all just because I’m older.”
“We have a level of transparency,” Yara added. “Obviously we have our work lives, but what makes this sustainable is asking, ‘What quality of life do we want to live?’ That allows us to choose opportunities that align with who we are. We want to stay rooted in optimism in everything we do. That’s what’s made this all so fruitful—and fun.”
If the luncheon offered a glimpse into Mother’s Day at Casa Shahidi, expect quality time and plenty of good food. (“We spend time together and eat, eat, eat,” Keri laughed. “I bake, and Yara is low-key a budding chef.”) Actress Jessica Chastain also leaned into the theme, arriving with her own mother, Jerri Hastey, in tow.
Over a meal of lemony flatbread, escarole and fennel salad, and branzino with smoked chickpeas, guests took in the charming backyard setting and compared notes on whether they’d dined there before. Most hadn’t—but with this marking the first Manhattan outpost of Brooklyn hospitality icon Andrew Tarlow (of Diner, Marlow Sons, and Roman’s fame), it likely won’t stay under-the-radar for long. Fittingly, Tarlow’s son—carrying on the culinary legacy—is reportedly one of the sous chefs behind the scenes.
As the last sips of Italian white were savored and Meyer lemon sorbet made its final appearance, guests prepared to step back into the still-chilly spring air—now a little warmer, perhaps, thanks to their Gucci parting gift: a silk scarf in the house’s signature Flora print.
Darian DiCianno/BFA.com1/16Jessica Chastain
Yvonne Tnt/BFA.com2/16TyLynn Nguyen, Sasha Exeter, Sabine Getty
