June 15, 2010 | Celebrity

In the Garden | The Whitney Art Party

Adam Lippes & Natalie Joos | Christina Ricci & Lubov Azria

It may be a socialite’s worst nightmare to have a glass of red wine spilled on her dress at a benefit but for Arden Wohl, it was all in the name of performance art and philanthropy.

At The Whitney Art Party on June 9th, hosted by the Whitney Contemporaries, Wohl was one of the willing participants in the live art installation where four former ISP (Independent Study Program) visionaries – Ellen Harvey, Jason Middlebrook, Liz Magic Laser and Ryan Humphrey - were invited to turn BCBG white dresses into original pieces of art.

There to witness the show, sponsored by BCBG Max Azria, were a bevy of downtown socials, fashion darlings and Hollywood it girls including Christina Ricci, Emilie de Ravin, Lubov Azria, Rachel Zoe, Charlotte Ronson, Ivanka Trump, Carly Cushnie and Michelle Ochs. As for the boys, who were decidedly more dressed down this year, the list included co-chair Adam Lippes, Michael Carl, Prabal Gurung and Chris Benz, who perused the extensive art auction and sipped signature cocktails by Belvedere and Grand Marnier.

Playing event maestro for another year was designer Bronson Van Wyck who transformed a fresh new venue – 82 Mercer Street – into a tranquil garden paradise. The private rooms were defined by whimsical hedgerows with “windows” cut out of them and spotted with brightly hued peonies for color. Van Wyck’s design was meant to “metaphorically transport guests out of New York City and into a garden maze,” which, with the torrential rains outside, was a welcomed and stylish escape.