Inside Alexander Wang’s secret party with Rihanna and Leo

Designer Alexander Wang hosted 100 of his nearest and dearest friends at a secret event in Manhattan last week, a stellar group that included Rihanna, Leonardo DiCaprio, Zoe Kravitz, Teyana Taylor, R Kelly, DJ Jesse Marco, Anjelah Johnson in character as Bon Qui Qui, along with dozens of socials, influencers, and music world personalities. Rihanna snuck into the party after it was well under way.

The VIP-only gathering took place in the iconic former Police Headquarters, a landmarked building at 240 Centre Street. The reason for the event was the Launch of Beats Studio Wireless Headphones – an Alexander Wang Special Edition event. (The limited edition headsets, designed with croc-embossed leather ear cups, will retail for $599.) Wang, who has been collaborating with Beats since 2013.) has long found design inspiration in music, often saying how it is “integral to his life and work. Guests at the party, set within the Clock Tower,  were asked to wear “strictly black” (Wang often designs with black) and to check phones at the door so everyone could enjoy themselves without coverage on social media. DiCaprio attended with friend Kevin Connolly and sang along to every word of R Kelly’s Ignition Remix when he took to the stage, after being introduced by Wang, as the surprise performer. DJ Jesse Marco served as DJ for the night of dancing. Guests were served specialty Tequila Don Julio cocktails created by Jeff Bell, a buzzy and award-winning mixologist, of New York’s PDT (which stands for”Please Don’t Tell”) a much loved “speakeasy,” including the Slay Bell and the Ignition Remix, a nod to surprise performer R Kelly. Don Julio 1942 (named one of the best tequilas in the world) was also served at the party.