“Everyone back up!” Someone called out to a crowd of people surrounding model and actress Christie Brinkley, who was standing near a neatly manicured garden on a hot, sunny Saturday afternoon.
Mrs. Brinkley had just arrived at the Polo Hamptons, an annual cocktail party and polo match held over two weeks in July at Fishel’s sprawling private estate in Bridgehampton, New York.
“I always go to polo all the time I’m here because it’s so east coast,” said Ms. Brinkley, 69, sipping from a small bottle of rosé from Bellissima, her wine label, which people have been drinking nearby. “And there are usually some nice polo players.”
Saturday’s event, which drew more than 900 people, was organized by Social Life, a lifestyle publication based in the Hamptons that celebrated its 20th anniversary. The afternoon drew a crowd that included Jan Shaferoff, a philanthropist, Lizzie Usher, president of Macchu Pisco, a spirits company, and Maria and Kenneth Fishel, who own the property.
As the match began, spectators sat under the crisp white tents that lined both sides of the stadium, watching the horses and jockeys gallop.
Directly behind the seats was a row of new BMWs (the automaker was a sponsor of the event) and a bevy of cabanas from brands including Oscar de la Renta, Piaget, and Permanent Touch Cosmetics, an anti-aging skin spa advertising various treatments.
“When she put it on,” said Mrs. Brinkley, “there was a hat that was bigger than the woman who was wearing it.” “It’s so fun to see all the activations.”
Later that evening, about 20 minutes away in East Hampton, young women playing flutes in long white dresses stood along a sandy path that led to a benefit in LongHouse Reserve. (The theme was “A Midsummer Dream”).
A landscaped 16-acre garden featuring sculptures by Sol LeWitt and Willem de Kooning, it was founded by Jack Lenor Larsen, the famous textile designer who passed away in 2020. Mr. Larsen lived on the property and opened it to the public a few days a week, but it is now open five days a week.
The event included a dinner, auction, dance party, and tribute to artist Mary Hellman and author AM Homes. In attendance were Candace Bushnell, Cindy Sherman, Renee Cox, Bill T. Jones and Robert Wilson.
“The LongHouse has had a summer party over 15 years ago, but there hasn’t been a dinner since before the pandemic,” said Carrie Rebora Barratt, the hotel’s manager. “Tonight was really a post-pandemic comeback.”
According to the organizers, the benefit has raised more than $650,000. As the attendees left, they were presented with gift bags of potted herbs including thyme, mint, and fennel.
What were you thinking about when you got dressed?
“I just thought of bringing some color into the world.”
David White
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