(L-R) Genevieve Jones, Humberto Leon, Terence Koh

Last Friday, Converse hosted a party in honor of the launch of artist Terence Koh’s new Converse shoe for its 1HUND(RED) project. In true Terence form, the event was in an obscure painting studio in the clock tower atop the Cooper Union building. I found this out only after popping into the Cooper Square Hotel, the new Thom Mayne–designed Cooper Union glass structure, and some random basement of the original 1859 building. Someone needs to read his invitations better!

The room was filled with the prerequisite hipsters and downtown denizens such as Paper’s Mr. Mickey, Opening Ceremony’s Humberto Leon, social butterfly Genevieve Jones, and Nylon’s Faran Krentcil. To amuse the partygoers, Converse had a bevy of models in tighty-whities and the new all-white, leather Koh Converse sitting in a circle mock-painting (and boozing!) to bring the painting studio to life.

Converse 1HUND(RED) project Launch party

I was honored with an audience with the scandalous Koh, who reminds me of that old description of Lord Byron as someone who is “mad, bad, and dangerous to know.” He is quite charming in his lilting accent. When I asked him why he went white for the shoe, he responded, “I was inspired by innocence. We all need a bit of innocence in the world today.” And what’s up with the all-white outfit? “Because I am the purest person in the world!” he said with a grin as he drifted away.

Converse 1HUND(RED) Chuck Taylor All Stars by Terence Koh

Through 1HUND(RED), a percentage of the price of the shoe will go to help fight AIDS in Africa. The shoe launches globally on Saturday, November 21, and will be available in the U.S. at Opening Ceremony in New York and Los Angeles. Perfect timing for your winter-white look!

PHOTO CREDIT: Elizabeth Lippman