Across a damp weekend in London, the film and fashion sets said “I do, I do, I do” to just about every ’do possible. For the weekend of the BAFTAs, in the lead-up to and including the ceremony’s day, every stoic institution and cloistered private members club played host to a glitzy gathering that serviced the influx of stars to the capital.
Celebrations kicked off as early as Thursday, with Brunello Cucinelli hosting a dinner at the Chiltern Firehouse in London. Here, guests included Rege-Jean Page, Vanessa Kirby, Sam Claflin, Henry Golding, Malachi Kirby, Thomasin McKenzie, and Paul Forman, in head-to-toe Brunello Cucinelli looks.
On Friday afternoon, the aforementioned celebrity haunt in Marylebone was evacuated following a fire. Fortunately, no one was hurt, but the venue has been closed. Chiltern Firehouse is Netflix was set up to host its annual event, but things have moved quickly and the starry party will relocate to Twenty Two in Mayfair for guests following the ceremony.
On Saturday evening, Chanel once again co-hosted a glamorous evening with Charles Finch at the infamous and lavish Mayfair club 5 Hertford Street. Nominee and awards season frontrunner Demi Moore and Scout Willis made a cute mother-daughter duo having their photos snapped outside, while Lupita Nyong’o floated in with a collar of white feathers. Menswear was taken for an interesting spin, by way of Rege-Jean Page, Jeff Goldblum and Jared Leto’s jaunty neckties and skinny scarves, and Joe Alwyn’s gray velvet suit. Lily James and Ellie Bamber opted for classic Chanel tweed skirt suits, in sumptuous black and powder blue respectively. Inside 5 Hertford Street, the labyrinth space coyly unfurls into low-lit enclaves ensconced in aubergine velvets, swirling chintzy wallpapers and plush sofas (the upholstery staves the travelling of private conversation and gossip-gathering), and agate-topped cocktail bars. After their dinner, guests filtered into the downstairs in the club space Lulu’s, where they danced to percolating house music.
A hop, skip, and a swift black cab ride down the road to the National Portrait Gallery, and to the Bulgari pre-BAFTAs party. Many people were able to comfortably make both bashes work: including the EE Rising Star Award nominees Marisa Abela, Jharrel Jerome, David Jonsson, Nabhaan Rizwan, and (our winner!) Mikey Madison. Isabella Rossellini—with a sharp pinstripe suit, spectacles, and a big smile—and a Bulgari bejewelled Anna Kendrick surveyed some of the gallery’s most recent acquisitions and commissions, like Gillian Wearing and Zadie Smith by Toyin Ojih Odutola, while Hugh Grant worked the room, and Kelly Rutherford looked like she was sitting for her own portrait in a chic bright red silk gown, anchoring herself on one of the gallery’s long benches to take in the evening. Adrien Brody, Mikey Madison, and Brady Corbett huddled together for a convivial conversation over the pumping jazz, and Vogue columnist Raven Smith and British presenter Clara Amfo shared some cackles. Everyone enjoyed dinky hors d’oeuvres and blinis, and sipped on champagne and Tommy’s margaritas with Don Julio.
