The mystique and fanfare of the ultra exclusive secretive club called Diner en Blanc took over Union Square on last night. The eclectic group of financiers, models, editors, doctors, lawyers, influencers, movers and taste makers all converged together at a secret location revealed only minutes before it was shared to table leaders in charge of their hand-picked attendees. I was one of the lucky ones invited to attend, as a guest of Tinu Naija, our Editor-in-Chief.

As Blanc-ers scurried from all over the NYC area to rush home in order to transform into all white clad, a whimsical and ethereal entities complete with rhinestone masks, Cleopatra headdresses, Angel winged entities, toga clad city dwellers, city cowgirls and masked British fascinaters or “maskernators” like the one worn by my Table Leader, Tinu Naija. 

So, exactly what is le Dîner en Blanc? Well, Dîner en Blanc, French for “Dinner in White” is a worldwide event spanning six continents in which members dressed in white have a meal in a temporary dining setup in a public space rain or shine. Diners are required to provide their own food, tables, chairs and tablecloths. The location of the event is kept top secret from the majority of participants until minutes before the event, at which point all attendees generally converge in an iconic urban location.

Founded in 1988 by François Pasquier in Paris, the event has grown exponentially and has popped up in over 90 locations worldwide.

This was my first year attending the famously whispered Blanc party and it did not disappoint. I was mesmerized as I saw hundreds of people emerging from the subway, buses, taxis and Ubers filling in like soldiers. The location this year? The iconic New York City landmark Union Square. Each Table Leader directed their guests like army generals as they orderly took over the plaza and created a makeshift dining room hall. Each leader instructed their guests how they intricately popped up, set up and decorated individual tables all joined into multiple rows of 100+ foot long dining tables. They all fit so perfectly. I didn’t quite understand just how did everyone’s table match? Well my table leader, the beautiful, Tinu Naija, editor-in-chief of Shoeholics Magazine let me in on the secret. One of the requirements is that each Table Leader and their guests purchased the niftiest portable tables that somehow pops up, unroll and all fit together in seconds making rows of endless dining tables dressed with the required table cloth all draped in unison.  

In minutes, the plaza at Union Square was transformed into an elegant open-air dining room with each table decorated with flatware, sparkling glasses and crisp linen dinner napkins ironed to perfection. Some tables were minimal and austere and others were over the top vignettes with maximalist flair. Some chose to create bridges, others decorated with high fashion dolls, extreme bouquets of flowers, fairy lights, jeweled centerpieces, several pergolas and even the Eiffel Tower which gave homage to its French roots. 

Is it time to dine? Not until 7:00pm. Everyone had two hours to get their area sorted and then you could enjoy drinks and appetizers while groups get situated. As the 7 o’clock hour approached, instead of a dinner bell, the moment was signified by thousands of people lifting their napkins and swirling them in circles above their heads! It was a beautiful scene as thousands of attendees created the picturesque moment whipping their pristinely ironed napkins in the air with a sea of white swirling as the members hooted and cheered in celebration. Photographers, videographers and cell phones captured the ultra stylish moment. Napkins were simultaneously lowered  placed on laps while toasts were made over a speaker and everyone began to dine. 

As spirits flowed and New Yorkers mixed and mingled creating the biggest happy hour and dinner that was nothing less than an experience. In my seat was a beautiful white bag. It sat erect like a soldier with a simple zipper and “le Dîner en Blanc” stamped on the front. I sat it down, unaware of its contents as I dressed my table with my sleek white vintage CB2 square sushi block and placed my fresh Wholefoods sushi on it and gently unwrapped my twenty year old white porcelain chopsticks and began to dine. What I thought would be a lite sushi dinner turned out to become just an appetizer because the social butterfly, Tinu approached the table and told me to open the large gift bag. At this point I am feeling like Carrie Bradshaw from “Sex and The City”. You know that lost, fashionable character spinning around in her whimsical tutu as she travels through a type of “Alice in Wonderland” / New York City experience? To my surprise, the bag contained the most exquisite 5 star Michelin restaurant quality meal all individually packed and labeled for my enjoyment. Inside was food to feed an army, but not a U.S.army.  Matter of fact, the meal was suitable for King Charles and The Royal Family. Can I let my hair down here? I’m talking the finest, flakiest Miso Arctic Char sitting in a bed of Kabocha Squash Purée, Umeboshi Purée, Miuna and Red Watercress. Accompanied by sliced and glazed baguettes, Bagna Cauda Crudite red endives, white carrot, romanesco and daikon salad. Citrus brined chicken on arugula drizzled with French wine salsa verde. The most exquisite charcuterie board, Kelp and sunchoke salad, and a sumac tomato and cucumber Tabbouleh salad. Topped off with a tres leches cake that was beyond decadent. It was the kind of meal that you eat slowly and kiss your fingers as all of the flavors dance on your palate. Now, as a celebrity stylist and fashion editor, Ty-Ron Mayes (yes I’m talking in third person) has dined around the world and I can tell you that this was more than a meal, this was decadence on a plate. 

As the sun disappeared behind the skyline of Manhattan, spotlights filled the sky and rapidly moved around as it erratically highlighted and illuminate each guest as the world’s chicest dance party broke out into full swing.  Several toasts were made, strangers became friends and humanoids transformed into angels, bunnies and horned white creatures of all sorts. Several men opted for “Phantom of The Opera” masks. There were Victorian masks, some fixed with rhinestones and feathers and a sea of white suits, dresses with trains and white accouterments fluttered and sparkles as bodies undulated and danced the night away to sexy tunes from Tyla, Whitney Houston, Afro Beats and iconic rap artists.

On that note, I continued to venture out from my section to mingled and I discovered so many fun moments provided by several attendees. How do the uber chic throw a block party? Well, they pose in front of a real life Cinderella carriage with a handsome footman taking your photos for prosperity of course. And then there was a fun 360 cam kiosk that swirled around and documented the dancing Dîner en Blanc guests in the round. And wait… did I see a mini elevated New York Fashion Week runway set up in the middle of Blanc?!? You know I ended my night strutting back and forth in my Louboutins giving my best “horse walk” on a la Tyra Banks style. And that’s what you call the ultimate “le Dîner en Blanc” experience. See you in Paris! 

Be sure to watch the event’s video posted on instagram

Written by Celebrity Stylist Ty-Ron Mayes for Shoeholics.

Celebrity Stylist Ty-Ron Mayes and Tinu Naija at Diner en Blanc

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