Somewhere tucked into the skyline on Friday evening, a throng of famous faces were beaming. “We need to get something for Billy,” Matt Bomer exclaimed to Naomi Watts, who was window-shopping for her husband, actor Billy Crudup. The “something” in question? A new piece from Jonathan Simkhai’s Fall 2026 collection, which he presented in a sprawling gallery space a few hours earlier.
“I mean, my God—that looks more like an art piece,” chimed in supermodel Helena Christensen, gesturing towards a bordeaux-hued plumed column gown. “That would be so amazing for the Vanity Fair Oscars party,” she said, excusing herself to go take a closer look. (Any publicists reading, consider that your cue.)
Against the backdrop of the Brooklyn Bridge, the Fall 2026 collection was peppered throughout the gallery, with dinner guests invited to discover sharply-tailored suiting, draped dresses, and cape-adorned eveningwear. The space, conceived by Alexander May, layered twentieth-century design, sculptural metal works, and modernist furniture around the racks—turning the presentation into a high-gloss collision of fashion, art, and Friday night fun.
As a special surprise, Simkhai also revealed his Fall campaign within the mise-en-scène. Some of its cast—Naomi Watts, Malcolm McRae, and Betsy Gaghan—lingered salon-style beside life-size images of themselves, clad in the same looks they wore for the shoot, letting guests toggle seamlessly between image and reality in a perfect life-imitates-art moment.
“It’s kind of like therapy for me; bringing people together and interacting,” Simkhai told Vogue. “I think it’s one of the most rewarding parts of being a designer at Fashion Week. This community of people have been so gracious and so supportive throughout my journey. Tonight’s about being able to celebrate one another and celebrate together.” Per his guests, the feeling is mutual. “It’s a big love fest,” shared Watts. “Jonathan is the most charming, lovely, real person—which isn’t always the case in the fashion industry.”
The evening wound down with a candlelit dinner, punctuated by a breezy, captivating performance from Malcolm McRae, who serenaded guests effortlessly. Between sips of wine, plates of Parisian gnocchi appeared—a dish that was nothing short of divine. (Simkhai’s earlier promise to Vogue that “the food’s going to be good”—was no idle boast.) True to form, Simkhai sent attendees home with a signature parting gift: the brand’s famous oyster shell clutch, alongside a curated selection of treats from the evening’s sponsors. A Friday night during fashion week perfectly spent.