Vogue’s Lilah Ramzi, a dance connoisseur as well as a fashion historian, acted as the day’s hostess. Known for her love of classic silhouettes, Ramzi looked at home among House of Gilles’ graceful creations. After enjoying glasses of Champagne and surveying the collection, guests went to the sixth floor to watch a private rehearsal of Quan’s performance.
Following welcome remarks from the NYCB’s executive director, Kathy Brown, guests watched as the young dancers worked step by step through the acts. After various teaching moments, viewers glimpsed the rigor and detail that goes into creating the illusion of ease on stage. As a special preview, some of the dancers debuted the first iterations of the House of Gilles skirts and corsets to get used to the restriction. Unusually, even the male dancers will be corseted—Mendel cited Mr. Pearl and his famed 18-inch waist as an inspiration.
When they returned from the studio, guests were wowed by the space, which transformed from a moody, museum-like atmosphere to a shining, light-filled prism. The view of New York’s skyline, bathed by the fading sun, is shown through the colossal windows.
Gilles was delayed as he needed to attend to some of the dancers’ skirts. Upon the designer’s return, Ramzi sat down with the duo for a wide-ranging conversation on the ballet, their company, and the future of dressing.“When you get to work with talented people,” Chloe said. “It encourages you to push boundaries yourself.”
A dedication to celebrating beauty seems genetic for the Mendel clan from designing Chloe’s wedding custom dress to creating a sophomore collection together. “In a way, I am kind of an artisan,” Gilles said. “My dad was an artisan, my grandfather was an artisan. They were people who worked with their hands and taught you the inside of a garment is as beautiful as the outside. I have a certain pride in the making and I think I transmitted that to Chloe.”