New York may be the largest fashion city in the U.S., but make no mistake: Los Angeles—with its A-list celebrities, Hollywood red carpets, Rodeo Drive, and occasional fashion shows (like Celine’s fall 2023 presentation happening tonight)—will make you think twice. Plus, there’s always the warm weather to draw you in, as Saks CEO Marc Metrick noted ahead of the retailer’s intimate dinner to kick off the holiday season at Caviar Kaspia’s Melrose Place location on Wednesday night.
“People think of us as a New York company, and we’ve always wanted to make sure [everyone] knows how important Beverly Hills is to Saks; it’s part of our DNA,” Metrick said as he thanked the guests, including Emma Roberts (in Emilia Wickstead), Ava Phillippe, and Alexandra Shipp, in addition to stylists, members of the media, and loyal customers of the brand for joining in the festivities.
What started with a cocktail hour in the Art Deco-inspired restaurant led to table talk about end-of-the-year projects and the unseasonably cold L.A. weather (“It’s freezing!” Roberts exclaimed, crediting her Rag & Bone blazer for keeping her warm), set to the soundtrack of DJ Ashley Smith. Guests came dressed in their holiday party finest, with wisps of lace, feathers, tulle, and rhinestones dotting the crowd. Even with a recession looming, everyone seemed to be in an optimistic, end-of-the-year mood, toasting with shots of vodka as they shared their goals for 2023. Metrick then wished everyone a happy holiday season as they went on to enjoy their meals—where caviar-topped baked potatoes were the main event—under the heat lamps, of course.
Dale Arden Chong is the Senior Fashion Commerce Editor at ELLE.com. Previously, she was an editor at MensHealth.com and has written for Who What Wear, GLAMOUR, The Coveteur, and more. She loves fashion, food, and art, among other things—but her greatest love is K-pop idol V of BTS.
