Lucy Akin, Orlagh McCloskey, Henrietta RixLinnea Stephan/BFA.com
The season of garden dinner parties is in full swing. Most recently was the celebration of California brand Ciao Lucia and London brand Rixo’s new ready-to-wear collaboration, which, among the offering, includes an array of colorful and billowy dresses and airy matching sets—a collection primed for summer. Ghia House’s pebble-stoned backyard became the perfect backdrop for the occasion.
In one corner, a cocktail bar served up Signature Tequila Don Julio Rosado cocktails and surrounded with greenery, a pair of dinner tables were planted in the middle of the yard’s open space. A floral tablescape welcomed guests to a family-style spread of spring crudo, corn risotto topped with Sabatino Truffles, and butterflied branzino (to list only a portion of the night’s menu), with the likes of Laura Harrier, Jordan Johnson, and Olivia Welch among those present to commemorate the collection.
With colorful martini glasses filled with The Original Southside Gin Cocktails lifted to the night sky, dinner opened with a toast from Ciao Lucia founder Lucy Akin and Rixo founders Henrietta Rix and Orlagh McCloskey, who found the perfect marriage in having brands that are each female-founded and rooted in fun-loving color and silhouettes. Their relationship actually pre-dates Ciao Lucia (now seven years old), Akin tells Vogue, having met Rix and McCloskey when she owned a multi-brand store that carried styles from Rixo at the time.
While some bid farewell just after a plum and custard dessert, there was a bit of a second cocktail hour for the remaining bunch as a few lingered behind to chat with friends new and old a while longer.