Soigné Francophiles clad in gowns and tuxedos floated through the doors of a grand private club in midtown Manhattan on Thursday evening in celebration of the French Heritage Society’s Black & White Masquerade Ball. Punctuated by the sound of freeing Champagne corks, the society’s supporters—whose mission is to protect the French architectural legacy both in France and the U.S.—buzzed about the evening’s distinguished honorees: famed designer Geoffrey Bradfield and art supporters Margaret and Gregory Hedberg.
Former Condé Nast editrix, longtime patron of the arts, and FHS cochair Barbara Tober gushed about Bradfield’s storied career as guests including Tara Rockefeller, Debbie Bancroft, William Featherby, Jean Shafiroff, and Liliana Cavendish filled the ornate ballroom. (AD100 designer Timothy Corrigan is also a chair of the organization, and, although in absentia last night, was the honorary chair of the event. Similarly, patron Philippe Étienne, ambassador of France to the United States, was sadly unable to attend.) Many of the evening’s attendees supported Bradfield the night prior in celebration of his latest book, Geoffrey Bradfield: 50 Years of Style.
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“In the words of Marcel Proust, ‘If we are to make reality endurable, we must all nourish a fantasy or two,’” said Bradfield to the elegant crowd, who dined on a primary course of smoked salmon and caviar. “For me, this is a magical moment that transcends fantasy. It is a wonderful, extraordinary reality.”
Bradfield’s sentiments certainly rang true as filet mignon à la Bordelaise was served while Margaret and Gregory Hedberg received their honor. “When you support the French Heritage Society you go to French heaven—and it has much better food,” said Gregory, who helped found the New York Academy of Art. “I think this is the chicest crowd in New York,” said his wife, who serves as director and general chairman of the International Debutante Ball, an annual evening in Manhattan that was founded by her aunt in 1954.
Following a fundraising auction led by Heritage’s Kathleen Guzman, the bejeweled crowd filled the dance floor to the sounds of a big band as Bradfield succinctly stated the evening would be “a moment in my life I shall always cherish,” while another guest said that the gala was, indeed, like going to French heaven.
