Carine Roitfeld knows to throw a party

NYFW opens with the Harper’s Bazaar Iconic Party

“That’s a good little opening line,” says Liesbeth. We’re sitting in a taxi, in high heels and short skirts. I just fluently asked: “Could you take us to the Plaza Hotel, please?”. Carine Roitfeld is expecting us at a party that she is throwing in honour of her Icons issue for Harper’s Bazaar.

Pharrell, Lindsey Wixson, Karolina Kurkova and us

We’re not alone on the guest list. The party has an extremely high isn’t-that-Pharrell-yes-it-is-Pharell factor, Pat McGrath one of the most famous make-up artists is standing in front of us, and a little further ahead is Lindsey Wixson (in a stunning dress with gold sequins), Alek Wek is here, Saskia de Brauw, Daphne Groeneveld (in a black ankle-length Versace dress), Karolina Kurkova and Alessandra Ambrosio.

Moët & Chandon in a tumbler

The champagne glasses are all finished so everyone is drinking Moët from a tumbler (fine, just fine), the curtains open in the hall and an intimate little stage appears. Lady Gaga emerges in her most sober creation to date. Blonde bob (a little Eva Jinek-ish), bare arms and a black dress made of a taffeta-silk like fabric that her sister made for her. Her sister just graduated, today, she tells us.

Lady Gaga sings the blues

Lady Gaga sings jazz like you’ve never heard before. The usually prissy fashion audience clap, film and call out. We’re not feeling any jet-lag, and only head home when there are no more bottles of Moët to open, only empty tumblers standing around.