Haute Event: Grand Opening of Sony Boutique at Willoughby’s

On Thursday, Dec. 9, a handful of New York’s elite braved the bitter cold to celebrate the grand opening of the Sony boutique at Willoughby’s. The event was hosted by Willoughby’s CEO Joseph Douek, along with fashion photographer Nigel Barker and Willoughby’s Creative Director Alex McCord.

The opening marks a unique partnership between two of the most iconic brands in photography. Founded in 1898, Willoughby’s is New York’s oldest and most comprehensive photographic equipment and accessories store; and Sony is a world leader in photography products. Douek remarked, “Sony engineers and designs the best products and Willoughby’s puts it on display, making it available to the public.”

The event also celebrated Barker’s first book, “Nigel Barker’s Beauty Equation: Revealing a Better and More Beautiful You.” The book guides readers through a series of self-photography challenges that intends to help them build up their confidence and inner beauty, which in turn will help enhance their outer beauty.

Guests of this red carpet event included Barker’s wife, Cristen Chin, New York City Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, Honorable Ambassador Richard Butler and the entire cast of the “Real Housewives of New York” (Cindy Barshop, Kelly Bensimon, Simon van Kempen, Ramona Singer and Jill Zarin), among many others. Alexander Dexter-Jones provided the music for the evening.

The Sony Boutique at Willoughby’s is located at 298 Fifth Ave. at 31st St., New York. Visit www.willoughbys.com for more information.

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