Indochine’s 25th-anniversary book party

‘Tis the season to start loading up on books for Christmas presents, apparently, as I went to yet another book launch party last week. However, Indochine’s 25th-anniversary book (Indochine: Stories, Shaken and Stirred) launch wasn’t your average little cocktail party. What do you expect from a party in honor of Jean-Marc Houmard’s Indochine? Traveling up to the third floor at Bergdorf Goodman, I took two turns past that trademark Indochine banana-plant wallpaper and found myself in the midst of a packed crowd of people dancing and downing exotic cocktails. Beautiful people were everywhere, including the boys behind the bars and the girls serving those famed Indochine spring rolls. If it hadn’t been for the mannequins donning Stella McCartney dresses and Balenciaga coats, I might have thought I was at Indochine.

The party was great, but finally seeing the book was the real treat of the night. When Jean-Marc asked me to collaborate, I agreed immediately. Looking through and seeing everyone’s photos and reading everyone’s stories was a great trip down memory lane. The photographer who accompanied me, Nick Hunt, was not even born when the restaurant opened its doors.

Aidan Kemp and Linda Fargo

FULL FRONTAL FASHION contributor Lynn Yaeger

Friends Veronica Webb, Cecilia Dean, Bergdorf Goodman’s Linda Fargo, NY Post’s Richard Johnson, the photographer Jessica Craig Martin (who, by the way, was a waitress at Indochine when she first moved to the city) and fellow FULL FRONTAL FASHION writer Lynn Yaeger were all in attendance, as well as a few revelers who had gotten into the Halloween spirit a little early. I ran into Jim Servin, who did most of the interviews for the book, and asked him for his favorite story from the four months he was on the job. He immediately mentioned Naomi Campbell, one of the many supermodels who were Indochine fixtures in the 1990s. Naomi was given his number, and Jim ended up missing a few of her calls. “I had these voicemails saying ‘Hi Jim, it’s Naomi. I’m trying to get a hold of you. Call me back,’” Jim explained.  “It was pretty surreal.”

Jean-Marc Houmard, busily signing books all night and looking great (as usual) in a perfectly-fitting suit, said he was just grateful that so many people wanted to be part of this project. Of course everyone wants to take part Jean-Marc. Who doesn’t want to lavish praise on a restaurant that stays relevant after 25 years? It’s a New York institution; everybody wants in.

Edris Nicholls with Jean-Marc Houmard

Check out more photos from Patrick’s night in Launch Parties and Benefits – By Patrick McMullan.

PHOTO CREDIT: Joe Schildhorn & Nuck Hunt/patrickmcmullan.com