AFTER DARK

To the Serpentine’s annual summer soirée this week. To be clear, this wasn’t its normal bash, per se, but a rebrand of the annual event to the Serpentine Summer Evening, in keeping with the current social climate post-pandemic (an important detail, apparently). Romy xx saw the funny side of a biblical downpour, playing ‘It’s Raining Men’ as soon as the sun made a reappearance. One friend went into free fall upon being introduced to long-time slebrity crush Alison Mosshart. ‘Why the f*** am I dressed like something out of The Handmaid’s Tale?’ she bemoaned as she went to greet her. ‘Why didn’t I think, “Be more Alison”, when I was getting ready?!?’ Shoulda, woulda, coulda. ‘Great set,’ we congratulated fashion sax favourite CKTRL as he came off stage. ‘I think everyone spoke all the way through it,’ he responded. ‘Still, I’m getting paid.’ Superstar. Attendee of the night, according to an excited gaggle of gays — including an Oscar-winning singer, no less — was American singer Ciara. ‘Did you see her?’ One exclaimed. ‘Oh my God, she looked incrreeeeedddible,’ replied the other as they one, two stepped to chase her down…

Another summer shindig having a makeover next as we headed to the V&A, which had replaced its summer party with the opening of a new exhibition, Africa Fashion, celebrating the diverse creative output of the continent. ‘I love that they’re doing this now,’ designer Ozwald Boateng told us as we perused the show. We couldn’t agree more. Over in north London was the inaugural Cîroc Iconic Ball at Camden’s Koko, celebrating 50 years of the UK LGBTQ+ Pride movement. Something of a hybrid between New York’s legendary vogue and drag balls, the event featured cocktails named after the legendary house mothers. New fashion kid on the block, CSM graduate Maximilian Raynor, dressed host for the night Jack Mizrahi (on who Billy Porter’s Pose character was based) and Edward Enninful led proceedings with Ted Brown, he of the 1972 Trafalgar Square kiss-in. Last but not least, a pit-stop at Maison Assouline to celebrate the release of the book, Arabian Leopard. There we chewed the cud with Ed Balls (a first), while we heard of the plight of the endangered leopard, to which the Royal Commission for AlUla has pledged $25 million.

Edie Campbell, Nell Kalonji, Molly Goddard and Laura Jackson

Charles Jeffrey, Alexandre Arsenault, Raphaelle Moore, Charlotte Knowles

Kris Thykier, Claudia Winkleman and Josh Berger

Theaster Gates, Sadiq Khan and Sir David Adjaye

Dame Anna Wintour and Michael Bloomberg

David Downton and Virginia Bates

Tish Weinstock, Conner Ives and Ella Richards

Giovanni Testino and Antony Gormley

Harris Reed and Sam Smith

Ciara and Russell Wilson

Jade Thirlwall, Jourdan Dunn, Melanie C, Sinia Alaia and Amy Jackson Dylan

Sophie Ashby, Charlie, Margaret and Gus Casely-Hayford, and Ozwald Boateng

Kenya Hunt, Charlotte Mensah and Eva Omaghomi

Lady Janet Boateng and Lord Paul Boateng

A group of guests take the evening’s smiliest selfie

Audience members who were invited on stage

Jonny Woo, Ted Brown and Edward Enninful

Baroness Lawrence and Emma Weymouth

Dame Zandra Rhodes and Julien Macdonald

Aindrea Emelife and Mason Smillie

Lola Gucci and Jusss Kelly

Layton Williams