A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again

Diane Keaton starred in J.Crew’s 40th anniversary campaign at New York Fashion Week.
Diane Keaton starred in J.Crew’s 40th anniversary campaign at New York Fashion Week. Photo: Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images
Lauren Sherman
September 7, 2023

I didn’t make it to the J.Crew 40th anniversary party on Tuesday night because of another engagement, although several people tried their darndest. “They have seating, I know how you love that,” was the pitch, but in the end there just wasn’t time.

I’m not a big party person, and I don’t care about The Strokes, despite growing up in New York during indie sleaze. But I was a little sad not to witness campaign star Diane Keaton posing for photos in her turtleneck (super sweaty weather be damned), and former creative director Jenna Lyons dancing in her midriff with girlfriend Cass Bird. It will probably be the quote-unquote coolest party of the week—that we know about. Credit goes to C.E.O. Libby Wadle, who has put together a team (including designers Brendon Babenzien and Olympia Gayot) that has a better sense than most of how to grab the attention of coastal elites. (Who, by the way, you need to attract first in order to reach the masses—it’s that trickle-down marketing effect.)