The threat of rain loomed over Los Angeles this Grammy weekend — but within the hallowed walls of the storied Chateau Marmont a different kind of storm was brewing as forces from music and fashion came together for a one-of-a-kind soirée. Highsnobiety and fashion powerhouse Maison Kitsuné threw the celebration of song and style, hosted by our very own Willa Bennett. The Garden at the Chateau provided a breathtaking backdrop for the intimate pre-Grammys dinner, as guests filled the restaurant’s idyllic terrace with electric energy on the eve of music’s biggest night.
The meal itself took place under an ornate arched colonnade, at a table dotted with delicate florals. Hand-inked place cards bore the first names of each guest for an extra-personal touch. Dozens of candles illuminated the long table set for dinner, but their shine was no match for the stars in attendance. Partygoers including Bennett, Ross Lynch, María Isabel, and Between Friends were dripped out in Maison Kitsuné’s most-coveted SS24 offerings—from wool jackets to nautical striped button-downs and beanies bearing the multi-faceted brand’s signature fox motif.
“The outfits are hot. They’re sexy. They’re sleek,” gushed Savannah Hudson, ½ of the alt-indie sibling duo Between Friends. Her brother Brandon added that the curated playlists from the Kitsuné Musique record label—founded in 2002, three years prior to the brand’s first ready-to-wear collection—introduced them to “a lot of music that went on to inspire us.”
Indeed, the dinner was far from the first time the Maison married the realms of fashion and music. Brand founders Gildas Loaëc and Masaya Kuroki first met in Loaëc’s Paris record shop, and their label helped develop artists like Tkay Maidza and La Roux while building their sartorial empire.
“This event is a really nice marriage between two brands who care a lot about supporting the arts,” shared Maison Kitsuné CEO Vinod Kasturi, referencing the variety of creative industries represented at the dinner. As garden salads were set down, the musicians and producers of the group traded insights and anecdotes with stylists, designers, and photogs, including Isabella Lalonde, Telsha Anderson-Boone, Justin Boone, Veneda Carter, and Cam Hicks. Someone had made custom business cards specifically for the dinner, and fellow guests enthused over the quirky keepsake.
Between courses, Blu De Tiger joked around with Towa Bird and soon the members of MUNA were laughing along. The drinks kept flowing as the decadent main courses came out: a rich spaghetti bolognese and herb-roasted chicken. Old friends caught up and new connections were sparked as conversations swirled between Westside Gunn, .idk., and Rapsody. A refreshing dessert of berries and cream finished off the meal.
As the candles burned low, the pleasant murmur of voices continued to float around the table. Despite the Chateau being not-so-far-removed from the entertainment capital’s hustle and bustle, it’s well-insulated—hence its reputation as the quintessential Hollywood hideaway where Golden Age starlets could find peace from fans and pursue secret flings. In the garden, one forgets about the rest of the world. The chaos and noise of Grammys weekend cannot coexist with vases of fresh baby’s breath and a never-ending supply of champagne flutes. Camera flashes, deadlines, FIJI Water, snubs and victory speeches fade away, leaving only a memorable evening spent breaking bread in good company, in good clothes, with good vibes.
