A FABULOUS NIGHT WITH SIMON DOONAN

By Katlean De Monchy —

Simon Doonan turned up the volume on camp at Camp-O-Rama, a fabulous evening produced by the Fashion Group International at the Love Binetti shop in Sag Harbor. The evening celebrated his book The Camp 100. It was a night of clever banter, cultural references, and unapologetic fun—minus the glitter.

Simon Doonan at the mic, while Jonathan Adler plays interlocutor (Photo credit: John Roma)

Jonathan Adler, Simon’s husband and a design icon in his own right, stepped in as interviewer, sparking a hilarious and heartfelt conversation that danced through a pantheon of camp legends. Doonan, as always, was pitch-perfect—delivering rapid-fire commentary on everyone from Louis XIV to Lil Nas X with biting humor and encyclopedic flair.

Jeffrey Banks, Fern Mallis and Nolan Meader (Photo credit: John Roma)

The guest list glittered with fashion royalty. Fern Mallis, the force behind New York Fashion Week, held court alongside Jeffrey Banks, the celebrated menswear designer. Nicole Miller, known for her campy ties and conversation print dresses, was there. The celebrity stylist Nolan Meador was there.  Maryanne Grisz, president of the Fashion Group International, welcomed guests and reminded us that camp, like fashion, thrives on individuality and on fearless self-expression.

Katlean De Monchy, Maryanne Grisz, Simon Doonan, Fern Mallis (Photo credit: John Roma)

For me, it was a reunion decades in the making. When Simon and I were young and living in Los Angeles, he was a textile designer creating dreamy fabrics and designing the windows at the Maxfield Bleu boutique, where I think the budget was $50 a week. He even created prints for my collection—regal, whimsical patterns that I turned into taffeta bloomers fit for a king, but worn by women with confidence and style.

Two men smiling, one kissing the other on the cheek, holding a book.

A congratulatory kiss from Diego Binetti for Simon Doonan, and the book (Photo credit: John Roma)

To reconnect now, still young at heart and curious about the idiosyncrasies that make life interesting, was magic. Because when Simon Doonan speaks camp, even the most understated crowd feels a bit more fabulous.

Proceeds from book sales and select Binetti pieces supported Fashion Group’s mentorship and professional development programs, reinforcing the organization’s commitment to the future of style. August 2 will be the fifth anniversary of Love Binetti in Sag Harbor. Diego Binetti will have a  reception.

Take note. Simon Doonan is always ahead of his time, and Maryanne Grisz knows a trend when she sees one. The drink of the summer is the Espresso Martini. Chocolate martinis are so 2012. Those sticky, fruity things are passé and so are non-alcoholic drinks. The year 2025 demands something stronger. Enter Nigel Barker’s prepackaged Espresso martinis. Barker has been many things. A reality show contestant. A judge at beauty pageants. A fashion photographer. A model. Primarily he is an entrepreneur. Last fall, he seemed to know that 2025  was awould need a double kick: the Espresso Martini. Chilled.

His Barker line of alcolic prepackaged drinks, developed with Philippe Roederer of the esteemed Roederer wine family, is a vegan blend of espresso, vodka and caramelized brown sugar with an alcohol content of 20 percent, about the same as schnapps or a regular martini, served shaken, which is 40 proof.

 

Woman smiling, holding two bottles of wine inside a striped tent.

Espresso Martinis on ice (Photo credit: John Roma)

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