Guests Swapped Stilettos For Slippers At Art Production Fund’s Slumber Party Themed Gala

Art’s big night out, aka the beloved annual Art Production Fund Gala, returned in all its kitschy, campy, detail-oriented glory on Wednesday evening. By now, attendees have come to expect a full immersion into whatever theme is on the agenda. With this year’s moodboard revolving around both a nostalgia-fueled slumber party and a game of truth or dare, the Seagram Building was transformed into what could have been one giant performance art piece.

“We’re New Yorkers…can’t you just make the theme ‘black,’” joked Christie’s Sara Friedlander to the room during the live auction. Alas, if you give hundreds of art- and fashion-obsessed overachievers an assignment, you better believe they’ll ace it. Puppy slippers peeked out from underneath Cynthia Rowley’s tailored black trousers. Zigzaggy technicolor Missoni bathrobes proved popular. Feather-trimmed numbers from La DoubleJ and Tanya Taylor’s Delphine were a favorite, as were silky pajama sets by Olivia von Halle and Prada. Between haute negligees and nighties, slip dresses, tulle petticoats, and velvet tasseled loafers, odes to après-dark style were everywhere. Zofia Krasicki von Siecin‘s sleek and slinky draped Schiaparelli dress connected to her wrist via a chain bracelet: “It’s kind of like I just wrapped myself in my bed sheet and walked right out the door,” she laughed.

During cocktail hour in The Grill, attendees were spoiled with where to turn first. A candyfloss station was churning out sugary pink versions of Alake Shilling’s Buggy Bear sculptures. A glistening tower of Lallier Champagne coups also seemed tempting. On the mezzanine, a row of beds were zhuzhed up in Æ80s-style Pepto Bismol-hued satin duvets and pillows. Sophia Bush and her partner Ashlyn Harris happily obliged a photographer by climbings in and feigning pillow talk with their espresso martinis.

As guests took their seats in The Pool room, eyemask and robe-clad dancers performed a piece by Madeline Hollander to the accompaniment of live harpist and violinist duo LEYA. Instead of place settings, people found their names lipstick’d onto compact mirrors. A bed time story book illustrated by Angelica Hicks also awaited them, regaling the adventures of the last quarter-century of the non-profit organization, which is set to blow out 25 candles on the cake this fall. How about a cheeky game of spin the bottle before dinner? Sure, but make it an adult appropriate version, with frosty-cold Lallier.

Sarah Hoover, author of The Motherload and frequent APF collaborator, was once again called upon to curate a delectable menu of gala food that people actually look forward to. (Radical concept!) And there’s a fair chance her culinary direction culminated in the tastiest sleepover feast most guests ever had the pleasure of tucking into. Think: butter popcorn to nosh on pre-appetizers, fresh shrimp cocktail and mini pizza bagels by Sadelle’s to start, filet mignon and cacio e pepe rigatoni for the main event, and French Toast sticks and a classic hot fudge and salted caramel-laced ice cream sundae to guarantee sweet dreams.

The live auction led by Friedlander contributed to the $700,000 raised by the event, which was supported graciously again this year by Saks Fifth Avenue. Casey Fremont, executive director, said: “It’s our mission and our passion to bring art to the public; not only adding art to everyday life, but giving artists the opportunity to experiment, realizing projects outside of their commercial practice.” A few weeks ago, APF presented eight public projects in Santa Monica for Frieze LA. “The recent fires were truly devastating,” Fremont added. “Despite heartbreak and unimaginable challenges, we were proud to remain committed to the artists and realize their public projects. We were honored to stand by our LA art community.”

Sufficiently buzzed, it was time for everyone to call their parents to take them home—oops, we mean their drivers. Many had already swaddled themselves in the oversized APF-branded painter’s shirts and eased their feet into plush hotel-style slippers, yawning after a jam-packed lineup of organized fun. Thankfully, they left equipped with hydrating sheetmasks and soothing under-eye patches from 111SKIN, courtesy of the Saks gift bag, to save face the next morning. Because how else can adults do slumber parties these days?