Cynthia Erivo Hosts Saks’s Intimate Summer Soiree

“This is the first event I’ve hosted in months!” exclaimed Cynthia Erivo, beaming from ear to ear. With Martin Creed’s colorful art installation illuminating the walls and sparkling waterfall displays dotted around the space, Saks’s soiree at the Parrish Museum in the Hamptons last night, co-hosted by Erivo and Saks CEO Marc Metrick, made for an impressive reentry into the world of summer parties. “There’s a joyousness that people have now; I think we’re all more appreciative of life than we were in the past,” said Erivo. “I performed at a concert last week, and it felt so good to be back providing entertainment and music again.” 

All hosting, singing, and dancing aside, it’s been a big week for Erivo. The British actor just earned an Emmy nomination for best actress for her portrayal of Aretha Franklin in the National Geographic series, Genius: Aretha. “I was actually on a photoshoot when I heard the news, and had a yoga session booked right after, so that’s sort of how I celebrated it,” said Erivo, who plans to mark the moment for real when she returns home to the West Coast later this month. 

For the intimate dinner, Erivo was the picture of laid-back elegance, dressed in a nip-waisted denim and khaki look by Alexander McQueen and eye-catching mules by Bottega Veneta. “I always go for the outfit that feels most adventurous,” said Erivo, who was also bedecked in a sparkling array of gorgeous and deeply personal jewels, including a twinkling tarot card necklace, an Arabic nameplate gifted to her by her best friend, and a solid gold pendant cast from her own wisdom tooth. “It came out in one piece, so I thought, why not make a gold cast of it!?”

Among the other stylish guests, gallerist Sarah Hoover, designers Christopher John Rogers, Jason Wu, and Tanya Taylor were also in attendance. “This is my first sitdown dinner for sure,” said Taylor. “It feels weirdly normal but also intimate and small, so maybe the future of fashion is connected conversations.” A favorite on the menu at Saks L’Avenue, the melted chocolate and marshmallow dessert was certainly a conversation starter, a sweet end to the evening.