The Tamesis
With major music festivals like Coachella, Stagecoach and Lollapalooza just around the corner, Valentino is launching its own version of fashion this week – the Valentino Fun Fair. The carnival-style bash celebrated the launch of the brand’s first eyewear collection, designed by Alessandro Michele in collaboration with Kering Eyewear, on Wednesday night during a breezy work week.
Guests including Ella Emhoff, Miles Greenberg, Leigh Lezark, Dylan Kelly and Jordan Rand were welcomed into the luxurious haven of The Shed. The revamped space is adorned with a mirrored carousel installation (complete with animal-shaped leather seats), a photo booth disguised as a glowing theater, a mirror maze, and signature Valentino red velvet curtains that surround the room from floor to ceiling.
Filmmaker and actress Lilly Hartley said after playing a round at Tin Can Alley: “I love that Valentino is offering something fun to do, not just for guests to come and see the new collection.” scream 7 Actress Celeste O’Connor added: “The setting is absolutely gorgeous and really inspiring to be in a room filled with so many incredible artists.”
Candy stations are also found throughout, offering items such as delicious mini donuts, veal cream trays, marshmallows and “Vlogo” popcorn buckets. Meanwhile, two craft cocktail stations serve the Gray Goose Cosmopolitan and The Macallan Old Fashioned All. “The way Valentino puts it all together is so chic,” said male model Jordun Love. “The color scheme and activation really complement each other.” Handbag designer and fashion stylist Dami Ariyo agrees: “The new glasses are really cute and tonight’s theme is really selling!”
As guests rocked the fun space, veteran DJ Mark Ronson provided a rotating mash-up of bass-heavy tunes and millennial music classics, including deep cuts from Madonna, Bad Bunny, Rihanna, Justin Timberlake, Tyra and more. Activist and model Yves Mathieu-East raved on the dance floor, exclaiming: “Mark makes us all feel sassy and sexy!” Soul singer and Chk Chk Chk band member Meah Pace, who just flew in from a tour in Japan, had similar feelings: “Having a good time and being able to dance to great music is revolutionary, especially during these difficult global times we live in today.”
As the event began to draw to a close, party-goers slowly exited, pausing to marvel at two sleek red Ferris wheels that spun around, housing select products from the new eyewear line. Think: large tortoise-shaped frames, studded oval sunglasses, slim metal structures with crystal details, and sleek cat-eyes—each containing its own variation of the Valentino “Vlogo.”
