On a sub-20 degree evening in New York City, Sézane’s inner circle gathered at the brand’s Elizabeth Street store for an intimate dinner hosted by founder Morgane Sézalory. Actors, tastemakers, and editors turned out en masse, eager to spend time with Sézalory outside of Paris and celebrate the eighth anniversary of DEMAIN, the brand’s social impact fund. “I don’t come to New York City often,” she said, “but I wanted to come here to share my story and why DEMAIN is so important to me.”
The evening highlighted the initiative—which has expanding access to education, culture, and literacy for vulnerable communities—and its ongoing collaboration with Libraries Without Borders. For the celebration, the flagship store was transformed into ‘La Bibliothèque’ for the night; its famed sweater wall and racks of Parisienne-inspired clothing suddenly nowhere to be found. Instead, hidden behind romantic white draping, there were thousands of books. Novel spines were stacked atop one another, filling the space to the brim, with art and clothing also nestled amongst the hardbacks.
Attendees dressed head-to-toe in Sézane navigated the stacks—French 75s in hand, jazz softly humming in the background—and traded book recommendations. “I’m losing my mind over Heart the Lover by Lily King,” Lily Rabe told Vogue. “I brought The True Cost of Happiness with me tonight,” shared Nicole Ari Parker. “I just read All Fours by Miranda July. It’s the most delicious representation of desire I’ve ever seen,” Molly Gordon added with a smile.
About an hour into the evening, the draping was pulled back, signaling the shift from buzzy cocktail hour to something more intimate. Guests were invited to find their seats among book-lined shelves at one of two candlelit tables. The tablescape was intentionally pared back, featuring tall candles and subtle flower arrangements. “I like simplicity at home, and this is our New York home,” Sézalory said. “I want everyone to eat well and feel really chill because of how simple it is.”
And chill they did. The dimly-lit room, warm leeks and beef cheek, and never-empty wine glasses made it feel less like an industry event and more like a spontaneous dinner held in Sézalory’s Paris apartment. When she raised her glass for a toast, those in attendance, including Leslie Bibb, Nicole Brydon Bloom, Busy Philipps, Laura Brown, and Pat Cleveland, responded with murmurs of “so true”and “”absolutely”—turning the speech into a shared conversation. “It’s always inspiring to see how Sézane brings people together,” Sarita Choudhury praised.
Friends of the brand, such as Leandra Medine Cohen, Indré Rockefeller, Selby Drummond, and TyLynn Nguyen, spent the rest of the evening reminiscing about holiday travels and raving over the mousse au chocolat and cheese selection. Many also flocked to pet a King Charles spaniel who made a surprise appearance as dinner plates were cleared. Around 10 p.m., guests picked up burgundy gift bags labeled 254 Elizabeth Street, which held the photobook James Barnor: The Roadmaker as a keepsake of the evening before making their way out. After a last perusal of the books on display, they filtered back out onto the Nolita streets, carrying the warmth of the evening with them.
