The Tamesis
Lauren Tapper, Sarah Harris GouldPhoto: Holly Sarah Burgess
For Lauren Tapper and Sarah Harris Gould, who live in Oakland, taking an 18-hour flight to have a drink with their New York fan base is a no-brainer. The New Zealand duo hosted a sunset cocktail party at Bridges in Chinatown on Wednesday night to mark the official launch of Moda Operandi, their first retail partnership in the United States.
Despite the 90-degree heat that swept across the city that day, guests persisted in luxe velvet and wool pieces from the pre-fall 2026 collection, which had been launched to shoppers just hours earlier. “Moda is a great launching pad, especially for emerging and independent brands,” said Tapper Fashion. “We design for busy women who want something different, a little more romantic. Moda is known for its keen insight and thoughtful curation. [for her]”.
It was a night of firsts, as it was also the first U.S. night for the brand, which was founded in 2017 by two former colleagues. “We both studied design, but we ended up working in different roles in the fashion industry before starting the brand,” Tapper explains.
Against the backdrop of the Michelin-starred restaurant’s chunky vintage glass tiles and leather banquettes, attendees sipped white Negroni cocktails while sampling kumquat and chilli oysters, cucumber and Meyer lemon-marinated sardines, and the ever-popular date and sesame tuna. (Given how few reservations are available, this is a good chance to sample this popular eatery’s menu.)
The crowd, which included Moda Operandi co-founder Lauren Santo Domingo and president April Hennig, included stylists, designers, creatives, models and more Fashion Editor; Everyone has been steadily tracking the brand’s rise on Instagram over the past few years.
As the hour wore on, some attendees took part in a pop-up portrait workshop organized by photographer Holly Sarah Burgess, while others challenged friends to a game of gin rummy as the cherry wood bar was littered with Harris Tapper-branded playing cards.
“We feel like we’re at home,” Tapper said. quite!
