July 28, 2022: Jian DeLeon, Nordstrom men’s fashion and editorial director, and Noah Thomas of Muleboyz hosted a panel discussion with their friend, Mordechai Rubinstein (aka @mistermort) at the Nordstrom Men’s Store in New York City on Wednesday night to chat about all things shoes, Birkenstocks, and specifically, the Boston. The panel was set up on the shoes floor in front of a product display of Birkenstocks featuring the Nordstrom exclusive ultra-blue Boston colorway. The conversation flowed like a live-podcast, with witty quips and endless mule and Birkenstock puns – the Muleboyz were “talking stocks.” They started with conversation around the origins of the Muleboyz Instagram account, Birkenstocks, and the shift in footwear during the pandemic to comfort and utility. They covered the history of Birkenstocks, as well as the Boston’s rise to popularity around college campuses in the 1970s. The Muleboyz also discussed the increased diversity in men’s fashion, particularly in men’s footwear. The panel closed with a Q&A for the 70 in attendance, which included questions about personal styling tips and the age old question of socks vs. no socks.

July 16, 2022: Sperry hosted its Boat Shoe Summer Pool Party at The Rockaway Hotel in NYC. The event featured photo opps, light bites and cocktails, and guests were encouraged to take a dip in the hotel’s pool and enjoy the music played by DJs Mei Kwok, Captains of Industry and  UNIIQU3. Sperry’s president, Katherine Cousins, attended the soirée as well as CMO Elizabeth Drori.

June 14, 2022: Alana Hadid and Emily Perlstein celebrated their brand La Detresse‘s new Summer Trip collection — and upcoming five-year anniversary — at Dante Seaport with a crew of friends and family, including Bella Hadid, Chloe Cherry, Timo Weiland and Samantha Ronson. For the occasion, guests mingled and sipped Belvedere Vodka, Martini & Rossi and Rosaluna cocktails while DJ Martial provided the evening’s tunes. “It’s amazing. It just feels really good to be supported, and to do events that are really more about our people, the people who’ve been around us this whole time — and also just enjoy ourselves,” Hadid shared exclusively with Footwear News.

June 30, 2022: Nike held an event and court dedication at its New York City headquarters on Tuesday honoring the legacy of John Thompson Jr., the iconic Georgetown Hoyas men’s basketball coach and a Nike Inc. board member. It included a panel discussion to celebrate the late coach, which was led by Nike brand marketing director — and Georgetown alum — Deb Williams. The panel featured Georgetown alumni including William & Mary women’s basketball assistant coach Sugar Rodgers, Denver Nuggets assistant GM Jonathan Wallace, Monica McNutt of ESPN and MSG, and Nike executives Scott Munson and Sonja Henning. What’s more, the athletic giant announced a total of $700,000 in grants from Nike Inc. and the Nike Foundation “to help fuel the future of the sport and the next generation of athletes.” Recipients will include four organizations in New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. awarded by Nike Inc. that embody Thompson’s “pioneering spirit and transcendent leadership, love of basketball and stewardship of the next generation.” Also, the Nike Foundation’s grants will support 10 organizations that were recommended by Thompson’s children “that reflect his commitment to the arts, youth mentorship and education,” as well as prioritizing mental health and wellbeing for communities without the necessary recourses.

June 25, 2022: To celebrate Pride weekend in New York, The Blonds X Motorola Razr hosted a larger-than-life event with help from Susanne Bartsch that celebrated resilience of the LGBTQIA+ community at the Standard Hotel’s Boom Boom Room. The event also celebrated The Blonds extended partnership with Motorola razr and the launch of its limited-edition couture lanyard, with all proceeds benefiting New York City Anti-Violence Project. At the party, guests included Prabal Gurung, Maye Musk, Olivia Ponton, with a special performance by Tinashe. “Pride is a very special time of year for our community. We have long been champions of people expressing themselves and wearing or not wearing whatever they want to aid in their own self-expression,” David Blond told FN. “Pride is important in that regard but also in taking the time to remember the members of the community and the allies who have helped get us to where we are today, even though there is a lot of work left to be done it is a wonderful time of celebration and remembrance.”

 

June 21, 2022: H&M threw a launch party for its Hôtel Hennes experiential pop-up arriving in New York City’s Lower East Side, aiming to celebrate art and fashion’s free-spirited nature. The soirée featured themed suites for photo opps, cocktails and a Hôtel Hennes Café with Breads Bakery bites. Guests including Emily Ratajkowski, Katie Holmes, Irina Shayk, Cynthia Nixon, Nicholas Braun and Ellen Von Unwerth visited the hotel, grabbing a bite at Freemans and partying at The Box until midnight to drag performances and DJ sets by Aquaria and Linux. The occasion also included a gift shop with themed merchandise that benefits the Lower East Side Girls Club.

 

June 21, 2022: Packer owner Mike Packer is an avid cyclist, and his love of the sport was on full display June 17-19. The renowned boutique and cycling team Legion of Los Angeles (written as L39ION) — with help from bike customizer Ron Jones of Pro Bike Design and Hammerhead cycling computers — teamed up to create a special of the Specialized S-Works Venge. (The bike is special to the storeowner, as it was the first frame that he used when cycling became more than just his hobby.) The bike reveal, as well as other events over the three days, was timed to the New York City-based race Harlem Skyscraper Classic — also known as the Harlem Crit. The bike was showcased at a special event in New Jersey on June 17, which was hosted by Hammerhead and New Jersey-based bike shop Strictly Bicycles. The event also featured members of the L39ION team, who would then do a mini tour of some NYC area shops on June 18. Finally, on June 19, a special limited-edition Packer x L39ION capsule dropped at The Harlem Crit with all proceeds being donated to Cycle Kids. Beyond the events, Packer confirmed a one-off custom size 54 frame will be auctioned in support of Cycle Kids, with auction details coming soon.

June 11, 2022: Coach’s Pride celebrations continued with an afternoon brunch from Bite in its SoHo boutique, where guests sipped cocktails and witnessed performances by drag queens Ruby Fox and Zunami Muse — plus a live DJ set by Jade Jones. The festivities complemented the brand’s Union Square store, where customers were welcomed for artist Shanée Benjamin to hand-paint their handbags with custom designs. The occasion also marked the launch of the American brand’s new window murals and in-store customization events with local LGBTQIA+-identifying artists in New York, Los Angeles, Austin and Orlando for the 2022 Pride season.

June 8, 2022: Saks Fifth Avenue toasted Pride Month with an intimate Pride variety show, held at Le Chalet within L’Avenue at Saks. The event, in partnership with The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative, showcased sets including stand-up comedy by Joel Kim Booster, music by Nicole Serrano and drag performances by Scarlet Envy and Jan Sport. Drag queen Yuhua Hamasaki additionally served as emcee for the event, opening with an empowering message honoring the transgender activists who fight in the 1969 Stonewall Riots. Afterwards, guests including Meredith Marks, Dorinda Medley, Matt Rogers, James Scully and Tomás Matos mingled with rainbow-themed cocktails, as well as Saks-branded burgers and fries, to celebrate.

“Pride, to me, is the absence of fear,” Booster shared with FN before his performance. “I think a lot of us still, and especially in the last couple of years, we’ve seen real erosion of our rights and people wanting to push them back even further. There’s a lot of fear surrounding that, and I think for me, Pride especially is a willful intention of not being afraid — and that’s so important, especially now.”

June 1, 2022: Coach kicked off Pride Month with a blowout Pride party at The Monster nightclub. The occasion celebrated the LGBTQIA+ community, as well as the brand’s work with the ACLU, with energetic musical performances by Saucy Santana, Aquaria and Papi Juice’s Oscar NN. The star-studded event also featured a variety of A-list attendees and community members, including Bowen Yang, Joel Kim Booster, CT Hedden, Parker Kit Hill, Benito Skinner, Tommy Dorfman and Richie Shazam.

May 20, 2022: Kate Spade New York rang in the summer season with its new pop-up, Kate Spade Cabana, appearing in New York City’s Meatpacking district. Celebrating the escapism of summer, Cabana featured green and white-striped tents where guests enjoyed tropical-themed refreshments, discovered the brand’s Summer 2022 collection — coinciding with its beachy campaign — and new augmented reality TikTok filter. To toast the occasion, an outdoor soiree and themed luncheon hosted star guests including model Suki Waterhouse, actress Saniyya Sidney and influencers Allie Provost, Sai De Silva and Cynthia Andrew.

May 20, 2022: On Friday, the fashion crowd flocked to the Louis Vuitton and Nike “Air Force 1” by Virgil Abloh exhibition opening party. Located in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, notable guests at the celebratory event included Imaan Hammam, Bloody Osiris, Theopilus London and Vashtie Kola, among others. Inside the exhibition, 47 bespoke editions of the Nike ”Air Force 1” sneaker created by Abloh in partnership with Nike for Louis Vuitton are on display. To cap off the event, Jamie XX, Metro Boomin, and 21 Savage performed. The exhibit will be open to the public from May 21 through May 31 at the Greenpoint Terminal Warehouse at 73 West Street in Brooklyn and is free to attend from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m daily.

May 19, 2022: Zappos Running teamed up with Bay to Breakers for the San Francisco-based 12K fun run of the same name, which took place May 15 at 8:00 a.m. PT. The Bay to Breakers 12K race — which is known for its wacky antics such as dancing unicorns, smiley face beach balls and more — took runners through nine iconic neighborhoods, ending at the Great Highway along the Pacific Coast’s Ocean Beach. At the end of the race, 10 participants found a golden ticket hidden in their Bay to Breakers T-shirt, which was redeemable for a free pair of Brooks shoes from Zapposrunning.com.

May 11, 2022: Intimissimi celebrated its new Silk Collection with an intimate soiree at Casa Cipriani. Overlooking the East River, guests shopped the collection in floral-themed rooms and were treated to a catered dinner. Numerous stars at the occasion were dressed in the brand’s new silk pieces as well, including “Gossip Girl” stars Savannah Smith and Zion Moreno, model Kate Bock and Covey founder Emily DiDonato.

April 28, 2022: Fashion Group International hosted its 2022 Rising Star Awards finalists for a cocktail party at Diesel’s remodeled SoHo boutique. Fashion insiders Ken Downing, Lara Eurdolian, Simon Goldman and more mingled with nominees including Salone Monet, Julie Lamb, Maya Wang and Frederick Anderson. Thrown by Ana Martins Communications and featuring remarks from FGI’s CEO Maryanne Grisz, the event preluded the organization’s Diesel Sustainability Award luncheon and Rising Star Awards, which will be held on May 10 in New York City.

April 7, 2022: Vince Camuto celebrated its new ‘Invincible’ campaign and collection for Spring 2022 by opening a limited-edition pop-up in New York City’s West Village. Influencers, models and editors toasted the “Desert Oasis”-themed space’s launch with photo activations, themed cocktails and an ‘Invincible’ prize wheel — plus a special performance by Rainsford. The event also featured an especially fashionable guest list, including Nina Agdal, Dylana and Natalie Suarez, Rainey Qualley and Raquel Gerlani.

April 7, 2022: Nina Shoes invited guests to an evening of glamour for “Nina at Night,” a disco-themed party at The Blond to celebrate its Fall 2022 collection. Guests like Sophie Cohen, Kelly Augustine and Stephanie Leigh spent the evening viewing Nina’s newest shoes and handbags. The event also featured a preview display of archival ’70s designs from Nina’s first collections — which will be shown in a wider launch next year for the brand’s 70th anniversary. The champagne-filled occasion was complete with a DJ set and glitzy step-and-repeat.

April 6, 2022: Brilliant Earth took a fashion-forward approach to welcoming spring, inviting influencers like Emma Brooks, Olga Ferrara and more to SoHo to preview its spring collection. Guests were treated to cocktails, macarons and hand-painted jewelry boxes from Lefty’s Right Mind for the occasion. The event was also filled with multicolored flowers and arrangements, bringing a photo-ready seasonal spin to the diamond rings and delicate gold jewelry on display.

March 2, 2022: YSL Beauty traveled to Brooklyn for the launch of its latest fragrance, Black Opium Illicit Green. The brand overtook Avant Gardner in sleek fashion for the occasion, complete with themed cocktails and performances by Coco and Breezy and Kaytranada. As for the guest list, it read as a who’s who of New York’s party scene, including Gossip Girl star Zion Moreno, Charli XCX, Karrueche and influencers Christian Bendek, Moti Ankari and Brandon Garr.

Feb. 3, 2022: Alo Yoga made a splash at New York Fashion Week with a party at its Flatiron boutique on Friday night. Held above its shop floors, the celebration featured Matthew Kenney hors d’oeuvres and chic Vitality cocktails, set to a lively music set by The Whooligan. Stars like Tyler Cameron and Charly Jordan mingled with influencers and models including James Turlington, Aweng Chuol and Amanda Steele and more for the occasion.

Dec. 3, 2021: Coach is in the holiday spirit. On Thursday night in New York, the brand announced its multi-year partnership with Rockefeller center, which kicked off this season with the unveiling of Après Skate at Rockefeller Center presented by Coach, and the Coach Holiday Truck. Après Skate features a cozy dining experience from charming chalets, operated by a Rockefeller Center restaurant partner, which opens today through Dec. 31. In addition, the Coach Holiday Truck will be on display and available for purchase, featuring pieces from the Coach Holiday and Ski collections. To celebrate, Coach hosted an ice-skating party with guests such as Anna Collins, Beaujangless, Ben Dhragi, Fiffany Luu, Kyle Luu, Linux, Matthew Mazur, Miles Thresher, Parker Kit Hill, Quen Blackwell, Rowan Blachard, Taylour Paige, West Dakota, Wisdom Kaye, Zoe Levin and more.

Nov. 18, 2021: Bergdorf Goodman unveiled its 2021 holiday windows with a brass band and Angelina’s hot chocolate to ring in the winter season. As the night progressed, the Linda Fargo-hosted party moved upstairs to the legendary BG Restaurant, where guests like Julianne Moore, George Hahn, Matthew Cancel and more witnessed a themed dance performance among disco ball snowmen. The occasion also included a first look at Bergdorfs’ holiday pop-up, “The Present Moment,” celebrating life’s special moments with limited-edition New York-themed gifts — just in time for the holidays.