Ideas and Resources for Events and Meetings   Saturday   09.16.06   4:03PM
Fendi Makes Roman Palazzo for Halloween Party
To mark its 80th anniversary, the fashion house made over the landmarked Cunard Shipping building with tented lounges, custom-built terraces, and a fountain.
Fendi celebrated its 80th anniversary with a Roman-theme Halloween bash hosted by designers Karl Lagerfeld and Silvia Fendi (granddaughter of the fashion house’s founders), and C.E.O. Michael Burke at the former Cunard Shipping building in the financial district. Paige Pedersen, Fendi’s director of communications for North America, worked with event designer David Monn to create a lavish fete filled with costumed celebrities, Italian-inspired decor, and a bevy of circus-inspired performers.
Fendi 80th anniversary and All Hallow’s Eve party
25 Broadway
Saturday, 10.29.05, 9 PM to 2 AM
Catering/StaffingCreative Edge Parties
DJDJ Mark Ronson
EntertainmentParty Productions NYC
Event Design/ProductionDavid E. Monn
Event Production/PRNadine Johnson Inc.
SecurityGSS Security Services
In a nod to the fashion house’s original location in Rome, Monn made over the downtown space—a landmarked abandoned building with lofty 85-foot-high frescoed ceilings as well as marble columns and archways—as a Roman palazzo with tented lounges, custom-built terraces, and a fountain. Potted lemon, lime, and orange trees were scattered throughout the venue, as well as 40-foot Italian cypress trees. The end result was a less scary and theme-y Halloween event that still retained a fun vibe for those who had dressed up for the occasion. (Burke’s Caesar outfit and designer Zac Posen’s zombie ringmaster look were a sampling of the night’s creative costumes.)

Forgoing the season’s usual ghosts and goblins, Party Productions NYC provided more refined entertainment: two stilt walkers dressed as Asian princesses, another in a grasshopper costume performing for arriving guests outside the venue, and a pyrotechnic performer, Flambeaux. DJs Mark Ronson, Q-Tip, and Jeremy Healy spun music, and singer Angela McCluskey sang “Happy Birthday” to Fendi when the clock struck twelve.

Creative Edge Parties supplied a selection of northern Italian Caesar-style nibbles including seedless kalamata olives with basil; rosemary focaccia bread served in baskets; assorted cheese and aged Italian salami; and antipasti on small swings hanging from tree branches. At midnight guests feasted on bowls of penne with black truffles.

—Anna Sekula

Photos: Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images (stilt walkers), courtesy of David E. Monn (fountain, lounge)


For a Halloween party celebrating Fendi’s 80th anniversary, event designer David Monn transformed the Cunard Shipping building into a Roman palazzo complete with a fountain and citrus trees.
For a Halloween party celebrating Fendi’s 80th anniversary, event designer David Monn transformed the Cunard Shipping building into a Roman palazzo complete with a fountain and citrus trees.
Tented bedroom-style lounges allowed guests to relax like a Caesar—feasting on grapes and Italian nibbles served by Creative Edge.
Tented bedroom-style lounges allowed guests to relax like a Caesar—feasting on grapes and Italian nibbles served by Creative Edge.
Instead of ghoulish costumed entertainment, Party Productions NYC provided two stiltwalkers dressed in Asian-inspired attire.
Instead of ghoulish costumed entertainment, Party Productions NYC provided two stiltwalkers dressed in Asian-inspired attire.
A stiltwalker in a grasshopper costume greeted guests outside the venue.
A stiltwalker in a grasshopper costume greeted guests outside the venue.