Going Coastal with Gray Malin
Beach, please.
We were thrilled to throw a seaside-inspired soirée to celebrate our cherished friend and renowned photographer, Gray Malin, for the launch of his newest book, Coastal. Gray has a fantastic sense of humor and style, so we festooned our Charleston Flagship store in iconic Gray Malin whimsy for a picture-perfect party in his honor, inspired by his breathtaking aerial beach photography and rather magical motto of, “make everyday a getaway.”
Taking a page from his book - so to speak - our coastal cocktail party was an homage to his idyllic, glamorous, and often irreverent style, with a color scheme of bright blues and vibrant colors paired with our sparkling Bohemian glassware to echo his light-filled photographs and crystal clear seas.
Diving right in, we turned up the music (a little louder than usual to rock those summer vibes!) with a playlist curated by Gray, that instantly had us feeling like we were at a poolside party in Palm Beach. Guests in a sea of sunny dresses sipped Don Julio Cocktails served in our stunning Chloe goblets, adorned with fresh herbs and slices of citrus.
With a nod to Gray’s book cover we created a color-drenched candy bar, with our vases filled to the brim with macarons and confections as sweet treats to nibble on the spot or take home for fun and festive party favors. To balance the cheery decor, we infused relaxed and soothing textures and tones, layers of neutrals, and natural accent pieces to evoke a casual coastal style. Linen tablecloths and layers of napkins in a subdued palette of sand and stone were the perfect anchor to the overall scheme.
Just to make Gray chuckle, we outfitted a toy helicopter with a Ken doll attired as Gray flying through the air as he does when he shoots his aerial photography. Thoroughly inspired by Coastal, we cannot wait to throw our picnic blankets, pretty plates, and hampers in the car and head to the beach to bask in the glorious sea and sunny skies - and with sand in our toes - pop some bubbly and toast to the splendor of summer.
