Avenue Insider: Bergdorf Goodman's Celebrates Alexandre Birman

One of AVENUEinsider's favorite recent events was an intimate gathering that proved a welcome break from the overstuffed schedules, endless lines, and overcrowded venues that ? for better or worse ? have come to characterize much of fashion week. On Valentine's Day, Alexandre Birman and Dori Cooperman welcomed a cozy group of 35 ? close friends, clients, and editors ? to a luncheon at Bergdorf's BG Restaurant to celebrate the debut of Birman's Spring/Summer 2012 collection on the store's newly renovated second floor shoe salon.

Guests like Brad Goreski, Fabiola Beracasa, Olivia Palermo, Jennifer Creel, Bettina Santo Domingo, Marisa Noel Brown, Daniel Urzedo, Robert Burke, Francesco Missoni, and Nicole Mellon were lured away from their usual fashion week rounds to Bergdorf's seventh floor for a leisurely afternoon celebration of blinis and pink champagne (appropo for Valentine's Day, no?), followed by a three course meal that was capped with macaroons, chocolates, and petit fours.

The main attraction, of course, was the center table display of the collection, inspired by the sea elements of St. Barths, which was displayed alongside eclectic travel books with exotic florals, colorful coral, starfish, and sand from the island. The spring line is full of bold-hued python heels, Italian-made leather pumps,braided flat sandals, and ballerinas that have made loyal fans out of A-list starlets like Kate Hudson, Blake Lively, andCharlize Theron.

Not surprising then, that post-luncheon, nearly all of the guests continued on to the second floor, where Birman was scheduled for a public appearance and cocktail event. Eugenie Niarchos and Jessica Hart joined Birman on the sales floor; more champagne was passed around; and a lot of purchases were made. Of course all good things eventually must come to an end, and back it was to the fashion week grind for AVENUEinsider and the rest of the guests. But it is gems like this that make the week worthwhile.

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