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In-store cocktail fêtes are nothing new, but throw a bit of live music into the mix and the chicsters will come flocking. Last night at the Fendi store on Fifth Avenue, Sharon Coplan Hurowitz’s book John Baldessari: A Catalogue Raisonne of Prints and Multiples, 1971-2007 was celebrated with a performance by jazz pianist Eric Lewis, who got the masses (including one Fendi-clad Brooke Shields, above) on their high-heeled feet. Party-planners, take note: bring on the music!

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Before trucking to the Crosby Street Hotel for the Cinema Society screening of Broken Embraces, several guests stopped off at the Gramercy Park Hotel. Not for the usual pre-film cocktail, but to check out Dani Stahl and Elena Kiam’s Lia Sophia Midnight II collection. Kate Lanphear, Fabiola Beracasa, Stacey Bendet, Ali Wise and J Errico all dropped in to mix and match the rocker-chic baubles and wash it all down with a cocktail or two. Stahl, a natural born stylist, piled on the pieces with abandon. “I guess it really is true,” she said. “More is always more!” (more…)

Who knew you could get so sporty–literally–in your Sportmax? The little sister of Max Mara put on quite the performance last Thursday in the second installment of the brand’s collaboration with Sebastien Agneessens of Formavision and musician Kyle Fischer. Acclaimed choreographer Jodi Melnick took to the New York boutique’s space for a performance…while wearing a look from the Fall 2009 runway collection.

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Blake Lively was the woman of the heure last night at the screening of The Private Lives of Pippa Lee, presented by the Cinema Society and A Diamond is Forever. On her left? Boyf Penn Badgley. On her right? None other than David Yurman, the designer of the baubles she wore for the evening. Let the campaign speculation begin!

Crowds flocked to H&M’s 5th Avenue flagship store this Friday, as Choo enthusiasts sifted through goodies from the limited-edition capsule collection, which includes accessories and apparel for both men and women. The new line marks Jimmy Choo creative director Tamara Mellon’s first foray into the world of apparel, and the first time H&M has teamed up with an accessories brand. Jimmy for H&M? Well, doon’t mind if we Choo.

© Patrick McMullan

That’s right, darlings–Ali Wise is back in business. Fashion’s favorite chic hackerette is hosting an event again! This Friday night from 7-9, Wise will be on-hand at the Alice + Olivia pop-up shop at Scoop on 73rd and 3rd Avenue along with Bettina Prentice, Dabney Mercer, Tinsley Mortimer, Cory Kennedy and more. Expect camera crews.

No cheating! Last night at the book launch of François Nars’ photography book, 15X15, we had to take the opportunity to challenge the pretty faces of the evening to a battle of the brains. So how much is 15×15, anyway? After hours of scouring Industria Superstudio, we finally found one designer who dished out the correct answer. Ring the alarms! A hearty congratulations to smarty (Virgo) pants Phillip Lim! Olivier Theyskens deserves an honorable mention, as he got it right after a second try. For the most part, the answers were, well…you’ll see.

How much is 15×15?
Simon Doonan: Let’s see…4×15 is 45 so…wait…it’s 60…so 15×15 is 180.
Dayle Haddon: 150? This is my worst area!
Erin Fetherston: 175.
Daphne Guinness: 150. No, it’s175.
Amber Valletta: 835?
Anja Rubik: I don’t know!
Lisa Marie Smith: I failed at math.
Francois Nars: I have no idea. I’m terrible at mathematics.
Selita Ebanks: I was an English major!
Jenny Shimizu: 1,734.7. I’m Japanese. I’m good with numbers.
Tyson Ballou: 200?
Olivier Theyskens: This is easy. 175. That’s not it? Can I have a second guess? 225?
WINNER! Phillip Lim: 225.

© Patrick McMullan

Chic spotting! Last night, we spied the incomparable Mr. and Mrs. de la Renta dining among friends at the Pierre’s haute new resto Le Caprice. At midnight, the red wine was still being poured…

“People always ask me if it’s true that roots are back in style, and I always answer the same way: ‘Roots will never be in,’” explained renowned colorist Rita Hazan. As a natural blonde who craves to be blonde-blonde, I sat down with the famed Hazan for a much-anticipated color treatment at her eponymous salon located at 720 Fifth Avenue. I was feeling a bit mousy and in need of a major color boost, and so I felt completely at ease at the hands of Hazan, who announced, “Let’s make you super blonde!” The celebrated colorists knows a thing or two about what it means to be super blonde; she’s highlighted the best of them! From Michelle Williams to Renee Zellweger to Jamie Pressly, Rita Hazan has colored a bevy of famous tresses. Many of her celeb clients have been known to hop a plane for the sole purpose of a little hair care courtesy of Hazan. If you’re in the mood for more than a cut and color, don’t despair! Rita and her team offer the absolute works; the salon boasts a myriad of ultra-relaxing and glamorous services, so you can top off your blow out with a mani/pedi, eyebrow groom, facial, makeup application and spray tan.

Stunningly down to earth, the colorist wunderkind dished about the effects of a fresh new set of highlights. “You just feel so clean afterwards. It really does make everything seem a little better,”  gushed Hazan. While it may seem trite to those who have never sat in a Hazan chair, injecting a little color into your locks undoubtedly puts a spring in your step and breathes new life in your day. After a cut and blow dry from stylist Luden Henriquez, I was instructed to take a ceremonious look in the mirror, and I was thrilled with my newly golden mane and ready to paint the town a lustrous shade of blonde!

Photo Illustration © David X Prutting and Chance Yeh/PatrickMcMullan.com

The Gramercy Park Hotel’s Rose Bar was the place to be Saturday night…especially for camera shy celebs thanks to host Nur Khan’s Heroes & Villans party. The doorman who donned an All-Access costume was anything but while keeping a close reign on his clipboard. Hugh Grant, Sienna Miller, and Kirsten Dunst all popped by–and magically bypassed the paparrazzi–while Jason Statham very visibly held court with girlfriend Alex Zosman. Models Lily Donaldson and Caroline Weinberg  added the fashion factor along with Agyness Deyn (who was Wayne to Alexa Chung’s Garth in an ode to Wayne’s World). Also spotted were Lizzy Jagger, Mazdack and Zanna Rassi, Lauren and Andreas Santo Domingo, Ally Hilfiger, and Christian Sirano in full Little Mermaid fierceness (natch).