Jeanne Damas, Helena Christensen, Julianne MooreDanté Crichlow/BFA.com
Leave it to the French to master that elusive mix of effortlessness and insouciance. Last night, inside a soaring Tribeca loft, Jeanne Damas—founder of cult-favorite French label Rouje—proved the point in style, fêting her latest collaboration with supermodel and photographer Helena Christensen. Rather than hosting at a candlelit bistro, Damas, in town from Paris for just a few days, chose to recreate the warmth of one in a home setting.
“My father was a chef, and I grew up in restaurants. I love Lucien, but tonight, I really wanted to do this,” she said, gesturing toward her friend and “lady of the loft,” Constance Govare, who had just curled up on the floor deep in conversation. Across the room, Christensen and Julianne Moore huddled over iPhone photos, while J.Crew creative director Olympia Gayot, stylist Elly McGaw, and actress Nicole Ari Parker mingled.
The scene felt equal parts French bistro and downtown cool: signature “Rouje-ritas” flowed alongside bite-sized riffs on steak tartare and oeufs mayonnaise, plus an artfully arranged raw bar with razor clams and oysters crowned with pickled rhubarb granita. “French bistro, spring, and pink,” summed up chef Tara Thomas, who designed the menu in collaboration with Hannah Musante.
The bistro vibe carried through in the details: a live jazz trio from Juilliard played softly in the background, while the hum of French accents filled the room. Guests debated one of New York’s eternal questions—shoes-on versus shoes-off at home (“I’m really fine if this rug gets dirty—I’ve spilled red wine on it,” Govare reassured)—and shared their favorite parts of springtime in the city.
Nicole Ari Parker, meanwhile, matched Vogue’s enthusiasm for the forthcoming third season of And Just Like That (premiering May 29) with news of her own: she’s officially a New Yorker again. “We just moved back—last week!” she beamed. “I’m originally from Baltimore, so I’m an East Coast girl.”
As the night stretched on and the kitchen crew quietly tidied up, the hosts kept the lights glowing and the mood alive—proving once again that when it comes to chic soirées, the French always get it right.
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