It was a star studded front row at the alice + olivia x Grateful Dead runway show on Wednesday night. Hosted in partnership with Neiman Marcus, at the Neuehouse Hollywood in LA it was so fun to be out for the event! We have great events in NYC, but LA — or rather Stacy Bendet knows how to throw a party. Her show is always a highlight for me during New York Fashion Week so it was so exciting attend her See-Now Buy-Now Runway show. Stacey Bendet has that rare ability to mix fantasy with fashion, where everything she creates is completely wearable (and drool worthy) and you want to live in the world — or rather scenes she creates.
Front row guests included Emily Ratajkowski, Kourtney Kardashian, Lindsey Vonn, Anna Paquin, Lydia Herst, Moby, Misha Barton and more, with music super duo Mia Moretti and Margot behind the DJ booth providing the music and violin combo as the models strutted down the runway.
Co-styled by Ken Downing, Senior Vice President and Fashion Director of Neiman Marcus, the show was streamed live
In the words of Seth Meyer’s (mere hours before the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner host would deliver these words in his speech), “its so amazing to be in DC, in all of this history, all these amazing buildings and yet here we are at the Hilton. The red carpet outside was amazing! ‘Who are you wearing’, ‘what does it matter, I’m going into a Hilton'”.
My sentiments almost exactly as I started getting ready for the WHCD pre-dinner reception. As I strapped on my long, black, Nicole Miller gown I needed about ten rounds of confirmation that I wasn’t overdressed. Both the dinner and all of the official pre-receptions were hosted at the Washington Hilton–I missed that on the invite. As you entered the hotel, the entry way is overhauled by photographers and press as you walk through the red carpet. Once you’ve passed the lobby, there are two floors of pre-dinner receptions hosted by various publications.
Dress: Nicole Miller
Amy and I headed to the 2nd floor for the CBS News/The Atlantic/NationalJournal pre-dinner reception. It was hosted in a tent on the terrace and it kind of felt like a wedding reception, except for the part where there are random celebrities walking around. That, and I’m not used to wearing a dress that falls below my knees.
My highlights included meeting Chelsea Handler who is hilarious, and getting silly with Vampire Diaries actors Ian Somerhalder and Nina Dobrev who we’re so fun and seemed to be enjoying the photo-booth feature. And yes, they are very attractive.
Nina Dobrev, Lara Eurdolian (me!)
After the receptions, guests lucky enough to be invited to the official dinner filed downstairs while the rest of us watched from the lounge. It’s kind of amazing listening to Seth Meyers and Obama’s speeches knowing they are only mere floors below. Strangely enough several celebrities kept leaving the dinner to hit up the Bloomberg party –or some party that went through the lounge. The buzz of course being Sean Penn and Scarlett Johansson who power walked by twice, the first time holding hands, and the second with their arms around each other. I’ll it admit I was a little surprised to see the duo, but more so the amount of chatter in the room over it.
After the dinner, the lobby filled up with guests mingling and getting ready for the after parties. I took the opportunity to change and do a little mingling of my own…
Outfit change, then on to the Washington Life after-party. I mean seriously… this face has after-party written all over it (I lasted less than an hour).
OUTFIT: Top: Elizabeth and James, Jeggings: AE, Shoes: Nicole Miller, Bag: Longchamp
For more pictures from the event, visit the Pretty Connected Facebook page HERE.
