Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1455228
BOUCLÉ, BUBBLEGUM, & By Billy Fong. Photography Jonathan Zizzo. O ops, I did it again: I got to whip out fur for a luncheon (leopard and faux, of course). The Neiman Marcus NorthPark team threw a bubblegum- pink party to celebrate the opening of their Balmain X Barbie Pop-Up. Guests, many of whom opted for bouclé and leather, were directed to the enchanting men's garden — aka the courtyard shaded by trees adjacent to men's shoes. The move outdoors was another COVID pivot, and Neiman's Marjon Zabihi Henderson had prepared guests with an email that intimated it might be a fur moment. I've had a long fascination with Barbie. In fact, I've abstained from doing my Ancestry family tree since in my mind, Skipper is a long-lost distant cousin, and we'll find each other one day. I'll keep you posted if that magical moment ever takes place. Neiman Marcus created an exclusive pop-up for this hot new Balmain collaboration (yes, the NorthPark store has the only one in the country), with an homage to the iconic Grand Palais in Paris, including oh-so Parisian park benches. Conversations segued from Barbie to American Girl, and someone shared that a new Girl of the Year has been launched: Corinne Tan. Apparently, Corrine is from Aspen. "Is anyone really from Aspen?" I posed. And, overheard amongst the frenzied crowd snatching up every item in sight: "This will look perfect in Aspen." Duh. What doesn't look good in the rarefied air of Aspen. In a dressing room, I happened upon Samantha Wortley and Kameron Westcott trying on a pile of cotton-candy wardrobe options. I complimented Westcott on her Barbie necklace and queried, "I didn't see jewelry anywhere out there." She shared that it had been a gift from the Housewives crew early on in her tenure on the Bravo reality show. Spotted in the marvelous mayhem, pulling outfits off mannequins and bringing piles of Barbie Balmain to the dressing rooms: Maricela Heckelman, Neysla Paltsev,Madelaine Lam, D'Andra Simmons, Mahisha Dellinger, Cam Hall, Cindy Trinh, and Mary McGreevy. BALMAIN Felicia Belle Lizzy Savetsky, Madelaine Lam Gracie Hunt Laura Honea Mahisha Dellinger, Desirie Laugerud Kameron Westcott Sharon Lee Clark Hamilton A Sneed Kimberly Alexander Zoe Bonnette 40