On Wednesday night, Michael Kors checked another item off the NYC-bucket list.
“People sometimes say, ‘You’re a lifelong New Yorker. You’ve been in business for 45 years. What haven’t you done?’” said Kors. “I have never been to the Rockefeller Tree lighting.”
And he wasn’t going to do it alone. Kors rallied the fashion crowd past the police barricades and crowds huddled along Fifth Avenue and into Le Rock, where he was hosting a festive viewing party, steps away from the ice skating rink and tree. “It’s the epicenter, not just of New York at the holidays, it’s the epicenter of Christmas in the world. So we’re thrilled to be here for it,” said Kors. The party was also just a short walk from his Rockefeller Center flagship boutique, which recently reopened after a 13-week renovation. “It was sort of a perfect way to celebrate New York, celebrate the store, and see friends before everyone heads off to points around the world,” he added.
Like Kors, many in the crowd were taking in the tree lighting for the first time.
“My mom had actually said, ‘let’s go into the city for the tree lighting,’” said Emma Roberts. “And so we were gonna come in, and then we got invited to this beautiful soiree. I said to her, she manifested it. It’s mother-daughter date night.” The duo toted coordinating sequined Michael Kors bags for the festive occasion, and Roberts was bundled in the brand for the outdoor portion of the evening. “ I’m a sucker for a furry holiday coat,” she added of her outerwear look. “It’s going into the holiday rotation for sure.”
Guests making their way through the restaurant’s revolving doors throughout the evening in the lead-up included Rachel Zegler, Zoey Deutch, Barbara Palvin, Francesca Scorsese, Olivia Jade Giannulli, Bailee Madison, Delilah Belle, Georgia Fowler, and Auli’i Cravalho.
“ This is a huge deal,” said actress Chiara Aurelia, later catching up with her former “Dilaria” costar Christopher Briney near the cookie station. “I’ve lived here for just over a year now, so this is my second Christmas in New York, and I’m glad that I can experience the most historic moment in New York City for Christmas,” she said.
Just before 10 p.m., the crowd made their way outside the restaurant, huddling near heat lamps with hot ciders in hand to watch the tree’s colorful lights get illuminated for the first time of the season. Kors, Roberts and Deutch marked the moment with a celebratory cheers as the DJ queued up the epicenter of holiday pop music: Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You.”
Christopher Briney and Chiara Aurelia
Nina Westervelt/WWD