21 Super-Glam Pics From DVF’s Benefit (Hello, Afternoon Color Shock!)

While the weather in the Big Apple might blow today, last night we got to ditch the jackets and roll sleeveless to the Junior Spring Benefit for the Lincoln Center Institute. Held at The Bowery Hotel — which, oh-so-conveniently, we can spy from our office windows —the Diane von Furstenberg-sponsored dinner (and, naturally, after-party) was basically open air; The giant paned glass windows let in a downplayed draft that was mercifully not humid. We almost thought Serena Merriman, the tireless organizer of the annual fundraiser, paid for the breeze: She dramatically opened those heavy velvet curtains and let in le air at the same exact time as the arugula was served.

While hostess Carey Mulligan couldn't make it (re-watching, we hope, Baz Luhrmann's deliciously addictive Gatsby trailer), plenty of young thespians, editors, and general girls-and-guys-about-town took advantage of Mother Nature's easy chill to experiment with color in a way that's got us clicking over to DVF's e-commerce site, like, five minutes ago. Vogue's Valerie Boster donned an electric lilac silk plunger, Lily Kwong neon-ified some Hermès orange, and Chelsea Leyland's patterned Diane frock made us think of sherbert on adderall (oh yeah, our own Kristian Laliberte went for a Seize Sur Vingt suit that could double as a chic traffic cone). Though we stayed for Chairlift's sweet set, the Acme after-hours do just wasn't happening — we had to go home and research tangerine bathing suits. Overnight delivery, obviously.