Tove Lo, Julia FoxBen Rosser/BFA.com
After a busy schedule of shows, what could be better than an evening that combined friends, fashion, and food? CFDA award-winning designer Willy Chavarria and Net-a-Porter put their heads together on Sunday, inviting guests to join them for an evening at buzzy restaurant Le Chêne in Manhattan’s West Village.
“Dinner with Willy” also served to mark the arrival of the designer’s new womenswear collection on the e-tailer. Upon arrival at the chic and candle-lit eatery, guests—including Julia Fox, Hari Nef, Jordan Rand, and Grammy-nominated artist Jack Harlow—were greeted by smiling servers with trays of bubbling prosecco.
After happily accepting, some made their way to chit chat at a circular bar adorned with cascading rose towers. Whisking through the door just before the night’s snowfall began, top model Aweng Ade-Chuol exclaimed, “Fashion week is fashion weeking!” Swedish singer Tove Lo was also soaking it all in. “This is my first full fashion week, and I’ve really enjoyed running between the daily shows and exciting events,” she said.
The dining’s room tables held bundles of blooming white perennials, black cylindrical candles, and a poem personally written by Chavarria for each attendee: “Let us tend to one another here. Let us gather beauty where we can,” read one of the lines. Stretching late into the evening, a three-course dinner included leeks with sauce gribiche, steak au poivre, or squash tarte tatin followed—all with an obligatory side of fries, of course.
Chavarria juxtaposed the evening’s quintessentially French fare and ambiance with his own signature Mexican-American palette of ready-to-wear, worn by his cabine of “Willy Girls,” all dressed by him for the evening. Supermodel Lineisy Montero wore a backless butter yellow sheath dress, activist Juana Burga donned a structured plaid mini shirtdress, and singer and actress Becky G sported a bleached denim jacket, plaid collar-buttoned shirt, and blue jeans—“I’m so here for this look,” she shared. Echoing the sentiments about the new collection, Montero said, “Tonight is truly a standout moment. It’s important to feel represented in fashion—and I absolutely love being a Willy Girl.”
Heather Kaminetsky, Net-A-Porter CEO, also wore a satin dress by Chavarria that had gone live on the e-tailer hours previously. “Tonight is a celebration of friendship, strength, and community, and we’re so excited about this partnership,” she told the room. “When you think of bold statements and silhouettes, you think of Willy.” Chavarria chimed in, saying, “It’s such a beautiful and organic partnership, and I’m so glad that I met Heather and the team when I did. It’s been a natural progression for me, because I’ve always loved womenswear first.”
As the night progressed, cocktail glasses continued to clink while a tasty île flottante dessert made its way to each table. To close out the special affair, guests were treated to a surprise violin performance by soloist Mikaila Gaffey. Playing her instrument with melodic flair, Gaffey—who was also dressed by Chavarria—circled through the room in a red version of Montero’s backless number. “It’s such a decadent design! I love the way he creates clothing,” she told Vogue.