The J.Crew team once again showcased their knack for celebrating in style, hosting their 2023 holiday party at the legendary Bemelman’s Bar. Nestled within The Carlyle Hotel, the space features murals by the eponymous Ludwig Bemelmans, the German artist behind the beloved Madeline children's books. The bar took the artist’s name upon opening its doors in 1947, and legend has it that in exchange for his paintings, Bemelman was offered complimentary stays at the hotel for life. For more than seventy years, Bemelman’s has attracted a diverse crowd of socialites, politicians, and movie stars, and the guest list for J.Crew’s soiree was no exception.

The brand’s friends and family flocked to to the Upper East Side for an old school night of cocktails and cabaret. The room radiated an air of understated elegance with golden candelabras casting a warm glow throughout the space. Bartenders dressed to the nines in red tuxedos took center stage, serving an array of classic drinks. The pièce de résistance? An ice-cold martini, adorned with a sleek custom J.Crew cocktail pick. Servers circled the room with a strong lineup of nibbles - Osetra caviar on buckwheat blinis, shrimp cocktail, truffled deviled quail eggs, and mini croque monsieurs. It was a night where even the canapés knew how to make a statement.

Guests filed in decked out in J.Crew's holiday collection, flooding the room with a sea of rich burgundy, black, gold, and sequins. Laughter gave way to excited whispers as everyone picked up word of a surprise acoustic performance by the talented singer and actress Dianna Agron, who offered her unique take on seasonal classics. But hold the applause, as the music didn’t end there. The guests were also awarded with an unplanned surprise when the Bemelmans in-house jazz trio began taking song requests from the crowd. By the time that Frank Sinatra’s ‘New York, New York’ came on, strangers and friends alike were on their feet singing and swaying in unison.

Soon, savory bites were swapped out for a sweet mix of mini macarons, cheesecakes, and chocolate truffles. As guests grabbed their coats and prepared to exit into the brisk wintery night, a team of cigarette girls' evoked a sense of nostalgia, offering guests elegant takeaways as they kissed their goodbyes: Everyone went home with a set of custom linen napkins and branded gold lighters. All in all, it was a New York night that hit all of the right notes, effortlessly blending timeless glamor with contemporary flair in J.Crew’s signature fashion.