High fashion is nice, but when you have to hike across Central Park, comfort is the real luxury.
The Central Park Conservancy Women’s Committee Fall Luncheon sees the city’s most fabulous ladies spreading out across the park to assume their seat at one of a number of dining areas, each set up at an especially lovely spot on the sprawling grounds, such as the Glade Arch or Bethesda Terrace.
Before the COVID-19 lockdowns, the event was all in one spot but they switched it up for social distancing purposes and it stuck. And it seems that the newly nomadic social set have now figured out the secret.
At Wednesday’s event, we spotted several ladies-who-lunch slipping out of their sneakers once they’d traversed the grounds and strapping into high heels ready to face the appetizer.
Socialite and philanthropist Gillian Miniter was spotted walking over in a pair of blue and white Keds to match her blue and white floral shift dress, before switching out her shoes.
“It’s a little tricky getting in and getting down all the stairs in your high heels,” Miniter tells us. “I wear my Keds and then before anyone can see me, I do a little switcheroo.”
Adding that “part of what is great about this event is that we are all over the park.”
Socialite Dori Cooperman was heard saying she had brought a pair of Chanel Espadrilles for the walk from Fifth Avenue.
Page Six also overheard a conversation in which one guest said it was hard getting back to tottering around in stilettos after such a long break for social occasions during the pandemic — to which a woman cracked that it wasn’t life “post COVID” that was the problem so much as life “post 50-years-old.”
For those who didn’t have dual footwear, there was a mini car to ferry the swans to their various tables. Socialite Muffie Potter Aston, decked in Italian leather boots, was heard declaring, “It’s like the Pope Mobile!”
Also at the event, sponsored by the Shops at Columbus Circle and South Flagler House, were Fe Fendi, Elyse Newhouse, Emily Chen, Susan Magrino, and Margo Nederlander.
After lunch, guests like Sharon Jacob, Katherine Gage Boulud, Ainsley Earhardt and Fiona Rudin congregated at the Bethesda Fountain to toast raising nearly $430,000 to help keep the park beautiful.