Several of the world’s problems could probably have been solved in the warm glow of the Republique restaurant in Los Angeles Thursday night where filmmaker Ava DuVernay, philanthropist and climate activist Aileen Getty, Shondaland producer Betsy Beers, campaign strategist Beth Lynk, podcaster Monica Padman, journalists Lisa Ling, Jessica Yellin, Olivia Nuzzi and more gathered for the second annual “Work Friends” dinner.
The host of the impressive conclave was Argent, the mission-driven women’s clothing label founded by tech industry veteran Sali Christeson in 2016.
“There’s so many remarkable women doing extraordinary work, and that are reaching for Argent in these peak moments, which is really the greatest honor,” said Christeson, noting that Hillary Clinton is wearing Argent on the cover of her new book, “Something Lost, Something Gained,” and Vice President Kamala Harris has worn the brand as well.
“The amazing thing about this stuff is everyone looks good in it,” said a suited-up Beers. “I remember shopping when I was first in the business and you had two choices, it was like basic entry and you had Giorgio Armani. There was no aspirational place…and Sali gets all these amazing people together and we all get to hang out.”
Guests mingled over sparkling wine, tuna tartare and caviar appetizers before sitting down for a dinner of Dover sole in the historic building built in 1928 by Charlie Chaplin, before it turned into a restaurant.
“Thank you for allowing us to feature you over the years,” Christeson told the crowd during her toast, referring to the brand’s editorials featuring prominent women. “The goal for tonight is to connect women who wouldn’t connect otherwise…and hope something magical comes from that.”
Argent’s speciality pants suits were the uniform for the evening, seen on Oakland retailer Sherri McMullen, fashion consultant Laura Brown, former First Lady Michelle Obama’s stylist Meredith Koop and more.
Several women wore hot pink suits in a nod to Argent’s #VotingSuitsYou campaign, which kicked off Oct. 1 to mobilize voter awareness for the 2024 presidential election in partnership with Obama’s nonpartisan voting organization When We All Vote, which was a topic at dinner.
“We want to change the culture around voting, and one of the ways we do that is through partnerships like this.…We’re 25 days away from the election and we have work to do. You all have platforms to remind people to register and get out the vote,” said Lynk, When We All Vote’s executive director, in a pink suit herself. “We’re hosting parties in polling locations, and just like tonight we know there is an opportunity when we come together as community for action…to support women, lift up women and ultimately vote for women in this election.”