Serpentine Summer Party 2018, London
Rock stars, royalty, supermodels and world leaders partied long into the night at the annual art-world event. By VASSI CHAMBERLAIN
It was the usual beautiful and exotic confluence of art, power, politics, royalty, fashion and music at the annual Serpentine Summer Party. Co-hosted by the gallery’s two charismatic directors, Yana Peel and Hans-Ulrich Obrist, along with Chanel, the event was in celebration of this year’s temporary pavilion, a low-built, beehive-like structure designed by award-winning Mexican architect Frida Escobedo. After the initial fashion parade of arrivals – Alexa Chung in sexy-strict lace Chanel; Lady Kitty Spencer in Dolce & Gabbana; nearly everyone else in either Alessandra Rich or Emilia Wickstead – it was time to flirt and flit around and drink margaritas.
Fashion designer Duro Olowu introduced everyone to artist Lynette Yiadom-Boakye; the Dellals – Andrea, Charlotte and Alice – came en famille, as did the Aboahs, Camilla and Charles, with their daughter model Adwoa, who teamed her black Chanel dress with lace fingerless gloves and metallic-green eyeshadow. There was also a gathering of young British actresses including Ellie Bamber, exquisite in a pale pink and fuchsia baby-doll; Suki Waterhouse, who looked like she’d just stepped out of Andy Warhol’s Factory; and Victoria’s Jenna Coleman, who was accompanied by her co-star and boyfriend, Tom Hughes. Edie Campbell was artfully dressed down in a blue jumpsuit with red and white cowboy boots.
The surprise performer was Nile Rodgers, the charismatic multi-talented singer-songwriter, whose 40-minute set included hits from his Chic days, such as I Want Your Love, Lost In Music and Everybody Dance. Yana Peel danced with girlfriends at the front of the stage that had been created by designer Es Devlin, who U2, Beyoncé and Kanye look to for their mammoth sets. DJs including Mimi Xu took over and the dancing continued until the park closed at midnight.
The after-parties were split into three distinct socio-economic camps: the art crowd converged on the small and perfectly formed Mark’s Club; socials, royals and Euros went to Annabel’s, the old but very shiny new kid on the block; and fashion, as ever, got flirty and messy until late in the bar at the Chiltern Firehouse. And, of course, there were a few who managed all three.