It seemed everyone was at Ian Schrager’s Public Hotel last night to celebrate industry-beloved photographer duo Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott on their long-awaited retrospective book, Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, for Taschen. Over cocktails between the swanky lounge and rooftop areas, both of which offered prime photogenic views of New York’s skyline, attendees came excitedly by to flick through the 300-odd page work that was 20 years in the making, many of them searching for their own portraits. With guests including Cindy Crawford, Kim Kardashian West, Kendall Jenner, Naomi Campbell, Nicki Minaj, Gigi and Bella Hadid, and many more, the evening opened to a veritable parade of the fashion industry’s greatest hits. Each had something wonderful to say about Alas and Piggott, whose bold depictions of their likeness have empowered not only their image, but their spirits as well.
“For me, they were like the new generation of photographers, and I remember thinking about their great love of fashion when I first worked with them,” said Cindy Crawford. “They love making women look beautiful. Their photographs are such a celebration of their respect for the past, but interpreting it in their own way, and I’ve been fortunate enough to work with them many times.” Turning to her mini-me daughter, who walked her first runway show for Calvin Klein just hours before the party, Crawford noted that one of Kaia’s very first shoots was with the men of the hour. “You actually worked with them when you were just 10 years old, right?” Kaia confirmed: “It was amazing.”
For Adriana Lima, too, working with Alas and Piggott in a campaign for Givenchy was a life-changing experience. “They’re so visionary, and their images are incredibly dramatic and all about lighting and color,” she explained, turning pages featuring stunning black and white shots of Kate Moss rocking slicked-back hair and a motorcycle jacket for a magazine shoot in 2010. “They’re so easy to work with, but I think the best part about them is just knowing that, no matter what, they’re going to make an iconic image of you.”
As the night continued, more of Alas and Piggott’s champions continued to pour in, filling the lounge to near-capacity. “I can’t wait to sit down and actually go through the whole book,” shared Doutzen Kroes over a loudspeaker, perched atop a chair. “Finally it’s here!” Lupita Nyong’o concurred as well: “It’s wonderful, working with them was such a specific experience. I love the book.”
By the evening’s end, guests headed down to the after-party featuring a disco-style club setup in PUBLIC ARTS, lit up in gorgeous saturated hues of purple and pink before calling it a night. And as for what Alas and Piggott thought of the book, the evening, and everything else? “We’re so excited that we can finally sleep tonight!” they said laughing as they made their way out.