All abroad the Armani Express! Last night, New York’s Upper East Side elite mingled in black tie with Hollywood’s A-list at the Park Avenue Armory for the Armani SS ’25 show in celebration of the brand’s new Madison Avenue store. Around 7 p.m., guests wearing sleek tuxedos and sparkly sequined gowns arrived at the Armory for the preshow cocktail hour, which saw the historic space transformed into an old-world train station with the allure of the Orient Express.
Early birds like Liev Schreiber, Pamela Anderson, and Nicky Hilton enjoyed Champagne and cocktails at the circular bar in the middle of the grand room, which was stationed underneath the large railway-style Giorgio Armani clock.
Just before 8 p.m., the train — which circled the large screen around the room — pulled up to “the station,” and the next room was elegantly revealed through drawn curtains: a cozily lit, cream-colored runway space equipped with plush lounge-like booth seating.
Even more Armani-clad stars, including Brooke Shields and Orlando Bloom, were snapped while taking their seats. In another booth across the runway, Brie Larson was catching up with Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story star Cooper Koch and Aaron Taylor-Johnson, while Anderson, who coyly avoided the camera flashes, greeted a seemingly relaxed Lakeith Stanfield, who had made himself comfortable in his seat.
Other celebrity attendees included Amanda Seyfried, Allison Williams, Brett Goldstein, Lili Reinhart, Brad Goreski, Carmelo Anthony, Jenna Lyons with fiancée Cass Bird, and a clean-shaven Zachary Quinto.
The destination-themed runway show, inspired by 1930s silhouettes, began with chic, light, airy travel and daytime wear, which was followed by Armani’s signature glitzy embellished evening ensembles. But what’s a runway show without a little bit of drama? In a brief interruption, PETA protesters made their way into the Armory, and while one was stopped before jumping onto the runway, another made it down the catwalk, dripping in faux blood with a sign reading, “Ban wild animal skins.” The protester was removed from the scene. Later, a model carrying a fluffy puppy in her arms strutted down the runway.
Following the show, the evening’s final destination was the after-party. And while some may equate the UES with stuffy, preppy charity galas with no real music (which wouldn’t be totally wrong, as I overheard one guest comparing the original chandeliers of the historic building to the ones in his Connecticut home), Armani said, “Not this party,” with a surprise performance by the one and only Chaka Khan — who thoroughly understood the assignment.
For nearly 40 minutes, the ten-time Grammy-winning artist gave electrifying performances of her hits, including “Tell Me Something Good” and “Ain’t Nobody,” during which she brought up a handsome tuxedo-clad guest to dance with her onstage. And she didn’t stop there. The legendary singer didn’t just sing. She entertained, at one point calling herself a kind of “comedian.” During her performance of “Sweet Thing,” Khan received a surprise of her own when she came across a guest who unexpectedly belted into the mic when she pointed it at her from the stage. So, naturally, Khan invited the guest onstage to sing the rest of the hit song with her.
“Wow, she can really sing, can’t she?” Khan asked the crowd, before learning the mysterious singer’s name and calling her a “true talent.” “Everyone give it up for Morgan!” (Not this Morgan.)
Khan ended her set with “I’m Every Woman,” bringing the armory down and filling the Armani-filled room with what essentially became a booming audience sing-along. As Khan put it before belting out the hit, “It’s nobody’s business who you go to bed with, and Imma leave it at that.”
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