Art Production Fund’s Gangs of New York Gala

It seemed only appropriate that the Gangs of New York–themed Art Production Fund gala was held at the Down Town Association, Lower Manhattan’s first social club, established very near to the actual Five Points both chronologically and geographically.

All four floors of the grand Romanesque Revival house were put to use. Cocktails and canapés in the main bar transformed the stuffy men’s club into a lush S&M lounge with black leather hides draping sofas and fauteuils and black silk fringing dangling off every light fixture courtesy of Kara Mann, designer of the to-be-revamped Hotel Chelsea. Upstairs in the reading room, guests were busy applying temporary tattoos, and the third floor was dedicated to honoree Haim Steinbach’s art installation.

The dress code, “On the Fringe,” conveniently coincided with honorees Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez’s spring 2015 Proenza Schouler collection which was nothing if not full of fringe benefits. Naturally, a handful of the chicest guests donned just that, with fringe-y frocks hugging the figures of Liv Tyler, Lauren Santo Domingo, Rachel Feinstein, and Cindy Sherman.

Art Production Fund cofounder Doreen Remen paired black fringed gloves with her knit dress by the designers. “It’s my tacky addition to the Proenza,” she confided of the gloves. Maria Baibakova channeled a much classier version of the red-headed wench from the 2002 Scorsese film, with a corseted fringed shawl: “I was very inspired by Cameron Diaz’s character!” So was Bettina Prentice, who as a fellow redhead to Diaz’s Jenny Everdeane wore a sweeping skirt and gloves. “Bettina and I are dating tonight because I’m the Bowery Boy and she’s the lady!” said Indre Rockefeller, wearing a tweed Delpozo pant suit.

Finally dinner was served on the fourth floor with Hanna Liden’s stacked bagel candelabra centerpieces, described by Art Production Fund director Casey Fremont as, “a taste of our next project with Hanna this summer.” Outside, snow was the forecast, so hopefully summer will one day arrive!