LETO’S LUGGAGE: In New York, where store openings are a dime a dozen, a few things are sure to get some attention: a traffic-stopping red carpet; a Victoria’s Secret model; a buzzy, art-world collaboration, or the promise of an A-List actor sighting. Tuesday evening’s Rimowa store opening had all of the above. To fete the debut of the luggage brand’s first Manhattan boutique, located at 535 Madison Avenue, the German company enlisted the help of Alessandra Ambrosio to cohost the affair. The model, who serves as the face of the brand, is no stranger to travel herself. “I was just in Dubai, Australia, Milan, Paris, Spain…” she rattled off. “It’s been nonstop for about a month.” Next stop: Los Angeles, where she would be celebrating Halloween with her children. Her costume plans, however, were kept under wraps. For the opening, she’d selected a very tight Anthony Vaccarello for Versus Versace LBD.
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Toward the front of the store, a particularly shiny object distracted writer and curator Neville Wakefield: his reflective silver suitcase done in collaboration with the brand. “We made these pieces that will travel from New York to Brazil, and then to Miami for Art Basel,” he said. Proceeds of the limited-edition suitcase will be donated to three different charities, including the Centro Especial Vik Muniz, an art institute in Brazil that provides free classes for local children ages five through eight.
The arrival of Jared Leto, his enviable ombré locks free of his typical man-bun style, caused quite the scene (especially given the fact that the setting was a luggage store on a Tuesday night). While a seemingly random appearance for a recent Oscar winner, Leto pointed out that his band, Thirty Seconds to Mars, holds the Guinness World Record for “Longest Concert Tour by a Rock Band” — plenty of miles for his Rimowa to travel. “One of my bags must have been to over 100 countries,” he said. “And if you saw the abuse my bags went through, I might get a ticket or something. It may be illegal. So, I’m here to shed a light on what wonderful work is being done. I’m a believer.” The band, for the record, is still on tour. “We have a couple of Halloween shows and then we go to South Africa,” he said. “I really love South Africa. It’s a magical place.” It should be noted that Leto’s physical Guinness World Record plaque has a permanent home hanging in his guest bathroom. And how about that Oscar? “It’s in my kitchen,” he said. “It just kind of landed there.”