Events

Dior, Galerie, and Saks Fifth Avenue Host an Intimate Marrakech-Themed Evening

The night, attended by a fashionable art and design crowd, was held to celebrate Dior’s Cruise 2020 collection

October 28, 2019

Four women standing together, smiling in formal attire at an indoor event. — Sue Hostetler, Laurie Tritsch, Lisa Fayne Cohen, and Jacqueline Terrebonne. Photo: Courtesy of BFA

The spirit of Marrakech was in the air at an intimate dinner hosted by Dior, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Galerie. To celebrate Dior’s Cruise 2020 collection, the brand re-created the magic of its recent blockbuster show in Marrakech by transporting guests to the exotic Moroccan city through the cuisine, music, and beautiful table settings.

Galerie magazine’s founder and editorial director, Lisa Fayne Cohen, mingled with guests, including Laurie Tritsch, Sue Hostetler, and Ashley Stark along with Dior’s Taylor Olson and Saks Fifth Avenue’s John Antonini, as well as Galerie’s editor in chief, Jacqueline Terrebonne.

Three women posing indoors, two in floral dresses and one in a black top and white skirt, with gold chairs in the background. — Ashley Stark, Jacqueline Terrebonne, and Taylor Olson. Courtesy of BFA

Arrangements of mini baobab trees, Phalaenopsis and Vanda orchids, and blue Japanese gentian, designed by Karl Bradl of Aedes de Venustas Floral, exploded across the table while banana palm trees and giant pencil cacti dotted the room, calling to mind a sumptuous garden tucked inside a riad. The menu was equally transportive, catered by chef extraordinaire and Galerie Creative Mind Yann Nury, who put his masterful twist on classic dishes and flavors of the region. For the evening, Nury presented a king crab and lemon confit complemented with a saffron salad and a play on a tagine created with wagyu paired with roasted and dried figs and apricots. To end the meal, an orange blossom and dates panna cotta evoked a walk through the grounds of La Mamounia.

Elegant dining room with a long table set for a formal dinner, featuring gold chairs and decorative plants. — The elegant tablescape for the dinner in the Getty Residences. Courtesy of BFA

Three women smiling at a social event, wearing stylish outfits, standing in a well-lit room with tables and drinks in the background. — Lindsey Acree, Mariel Sholem, and Negar Mohammadi. Courtesy of BFA

Yet the actual setting of the dinner was just as divine as any exotic getaway, held as it was in one of the breathtaking homes at the 12-story Getty Residences, designed by architect Peter Marino, who also designs Dior’s chic boutiques around the globe. The evening’s spectacular space left guests in awe. Located in Chelsea, the exquisite property is situated directly above Lehmann Maupin gallery and surrounded by Manhattan’s buzzy art scene. The five homes overlooking the High Line are just as artful, with jaw-dropping varieties of marble throughout and impeccable detailing.

Two women in elegant black outfits standing together indoors, beside a large plant. — Laurie Tritsch and Lisa Fayne Cohen. Courtesy of BFA

Modern living room with large windows, stylish furniture, plants, and city views, featuring a cozy seating area. — A Peter Marino–designed interior at the Getty. Evan Joseph

Each unit has its own unique layout. So while the night’s setting boasted a long and gracious living area, perfect for the expansive dining table used for the Dior event, the neighboring units are completely different, featuring a double-height ceiling in one or even a more carved out classic layout in another. While each is its own masterpiece, all have incredible amenities unseen to the eye such as reinforced walls designed to hold art, ultra-clear acoustical glass, and hydronic floor heating.