All the Cool Kids Danced Until Dawn at the Jean Paul Gaultier x Knwls Rave

When it’s fashion week, Sunday night isn’t just for football or the 2023 U.S. Open men’s final. It’s for an all-night rager in honor of Charlotte Knowles, Alexandre Arsenault of Knwls, and Jean Paul Gaultier. Hosted by Ssense, the group gathered an elite guest list of artists, actors, and models to toast the designers’ exclusive collaboration.

The collectsion combines British native Knowles’ feminine edge and Arsenault’s underground Montreal roots with the punk glamour of French fashion house Jean Paul Gaultier. The trifecta created a unique line of undeniably party-ready looks. From the standout nude tattoo ensembles to the denim corsets, pieces from the collectsion were spotted on notable guests like Doja Cat, Saweetie, Ice Spice, Tove Lo, Tinashe, and Coi Leray.

Flashing red lights and deep bass guided a motley crew of partygoers from the corporate elevators of the WSA building to the empty 30th-floor turned full-on rave. Smoke drifting through the space amplified the upbeat lasers. Apparently, the fire alarm was going off, but you couldn’t hear it in the hum of DJs Fashion LaBeija and Flirty 800’s trance-inducing sets.

In a back corner, a trippy projection showcased snippets of the collectsion’s campaign, where guests assembled in their cliques to get content. On the opposite side of the room, street barricades separated the real party from the rest of the ravers. Naturally, a few groupies weaseled their way past the bouncer and into the cool kids club where Knowles, Arsenault, Thom Bettridge partied with Offset, The Kid Laroi, Richie Shazam, Matt Healy, Julia Fox, and Hayley Williams.

Whether you were in VIP or not, the pulsing room definitely felt damp, but it was hard to tell if it was residue from the torrential downpour outside or sweat from the dancefloor. As we inch closer to the finish line of NYFW, this all-nighter proved that when the sun goes down, after-parties are just heating up.