South Coast Plaza has a new gem.
Tiffany & Co. unveiled its newest luxury creation — a 15,000-square-foot flagship designed by Peter Marino — at a black-tie celebration Thursday evening that hosted VIPs, clients, press and notable celebrity attendees like Zoey Deutch, Charles Melton, Laura Harrier and Kelsey Merritt. The elegant affair, said to be “inspired by the natural beauty of California” and set against the backdrop of glittering high jewelry, one-of-a-kind artwork and pieces from Tiffany’s archives, also featured an inspired and night-ending performance by rising pop star Ashe.
Tiffany & Co.’s Matthieu Garnier, president and CEO of North America, kicked off the evening with brief remarks to welcome guests and offer context for the celebration. “It’s a great pleasure to have all of you here today in this magnificent new boutique we have in South Coast Plaza, the largest on the West Coast,” he noted of the space that features nods to both the house’s history and the Southern California address.
There are major art works from such artists as Damien Hirst and Michelangelo Pistoletto displayed alongside Tiffany high jewelry offerings and a rare morganite from Mesa Grande, Calif. “All around and through the store is where you can see local elements of California,” Garnier added, calling them “treasures” of the state. He then turned his attention to a treasure of the Tiffany & Co. universe, the Blue Box Café led by acclaimed chef Daniel Boulud, which anchors the rear of the boutique and marks the first location outside of New York.
The café boasts a seasonal menu with French influences, afternoon tea service and, of course, iconic Tiffany & Co. blue boxes hanging from the ceiling. Boulud was on hand for the celebration and Garnier shouted him out for preparing a “fantastic dinner” for the guests. Later, once everyone was seated inside the store for dinner amid the glass jewelry cases and California poppies-inspired floral arrangements, Boulud took a moment with the microphone to detail the night’s menu. It featured a starter of Santa Barbara spot prawns with hearts of palm, grapefruit and citrus coulis, an entrée of wild turbot with celery root, potato Saint Florentin, spinach subric and artichoke truffle sauce and a frozen soufflé for dessert.
“I am so proud to have just opened the Blue Box Café here at Tiffany at South Coast Plaza,” Boulud said before introducing the team there including executive chef Alberto Ragoni and general manager Lucian Vasile. “It’s one big family at Tiffany and I want you to feel so welcome here.”
After dessert, guests were promptly welcomed to the Blue Box Café for that Ashe performance which featured her global hit “Moral of the Story,” “Stop the Wedding!” and her newest track, “Funeral,” which she called the best love song she’s ever written. But the song that got the crowd most pumped was a tribute to her personal hero, the late Dolly Parton, with a rendition of the iconic hit “9 to 5.” Electric applause followed as Ashe blew kisses to the sky.
Laura Harrier, fresh from walking the runway at Vogue World in Milan, wearing a Bird on a Rock by Tiffany necklace in platinum and yellow gold with a 12-carat rubellite necklace and diamonds.
Credit: BFA/ Owen Kolasinski
Charles Melton, in an aquamarine Bird on a Rock Brooch and Tiffany Timer Chronograph watch in titanium and platinum, with Tiffany’s Matthieu Garnier.
Credit: BFA/ Owen Kolasinski
Chef Daniel Boulud
Credit: BFA/ Owen Kolasinski
The atmosphere inside Tiffany and Co.’s grand opening.
Credit: BFA/ Owen Kolasinski
South Coast Plaza gurus Jennifer Segerstorm and Anton Segerstrom.
Credit: BFA/ Owen Kolasinski
Zoey Deutch, wearing an exclusive and yet-to-debut Hardwear Color collection medium link necklace in yellow gold with pearls and turquoise.
Credit: BFA/ Owen Kolasinski
The atmosphere inside Tiffany and Co.’s grand opening featuring delicate china.
Credit: BFA/ Owen Kolasinski
Kelsey Merritt and Laura Harrier
Credit: BFA/ Owen Kolasinski
Chef Daniel Boulud introduces the team inside Tiffany and Co.’s grand opening celebration including executive chef Alberto Ragoni and general manager Lucian Vasile.
Credit: BFA/ Owen Kolasinski
Chef Daniel Boulud poses with his menu creations.
Credit: BFA/ Owen Kolasinski
The atmosphere inside Tiffany and Co.’s grand opening.
Credit: BFA/ Owen Kolasinski
Deutch and Melton catch up.
Credit: BFA/ Owen Kolasinski
Melton, Deutch and Harrier
Credit: BFA/ Owen Kolasinski
Kelsey Merritt wearing Sixteen Stone by Tiffany necklace in platinum with diamonds, a Sixteen Stone by Tiffany earrings in platinum with diamonds and Sixteen Stone by Tiffany ring in platinum with diamonds.
Credit: BFA/ Owen Kolasinski
Ashe, wearing Tiffany offerings here and below that include Bird on a Rock wings necklace in gold and platinum with pavé diamonds, Bird on a Rock wings drop earrings in gold and platinum with diamonds, Bird on a Rock wings bracelet in gold and platinum with pavé diamonds, Elsa Peretti high tide earrings in 18k gold and Elsa Peretti bone cuffs in yellow gold with pavé diamonds.
Credit: BFA/ Owen Kolasinski
Ashe performs to close out the night.
Credit: BFA/ Owen Kolasinski