The invitation to come toast Dr. Barbara Sturm and her latest product launch was appealing to guests who know and adore the skin care founder, yes — but most were also thrilled at the chance to have dinner at New York’s hardest to book restaurant, Torrisi.
Guests including Diane Kruger, Justin Theroux, Nicky Hilton Rothschild, Alton Mason, Bambi Northwood-Blyth, Athena Calderone, Isabella Massenet, Rachel Roy’s daughter Ava Dash, Pritika Swarup, Anh Duong and Cynthia Rowley were unusually prompt to the Noho restaurant (fashionably late who?) for a brief cocktail hour, before buzzing over to the long tables for a multi-course dinner of the Italian hot spot’s highlights.
The occasion was to celebrate the launch of Sturm’s Glow Cream, which officially launches in May but had been sent to most guests earlier in the day so they could prep their skin with it for the night.
Kruger had never met Sturm before, “which is why I wanted to come,” she explained.
It was one of the last such nights out she’ll have before she dives into prep for the Cannes Film Festival, where she has a film.
“I’m doing fittings this week. It’s an undertaking,” she said. “I think in Cannes what works best is color. It’s about counting the events you have to attend, and the photo calls.”
The fashionable German actress added that this year for Cannes she’s forgoing a stylist and doing all the work herself to acquire looks, one of which will be made by friend Jason Wu.
“Sometimes it’s easier just to talk to designers directly,” she said.
Sturm, who earlier this year sold her business to Puig, said that while she and her team will work to prep people for the Met Gala, they’re skipping Cannes this year.
“I’ve done [Cannes] so many years, I’m kind of over it,” she said.
The doctor was dressed in a pair of leather HotPants and textured knit T-shirt from Khaite for the night.
“My outfit arrived 10 minutes before I left the house,” she said. “I saw it and I was like ‘that’s actually me.’ I had all these dresses and I was like ‘no, I have to be comfortable.’”
Between the starters and pasta course, she hopped to her feet to thank the room for their continued support of her business, now 10 years old — and pay them some compliments for their Sturm glow, as well.
“By the way, everybody looks so chic and I’m so excited about this place; it’s the most amazing place in New York,” she said. “Hot people, hot restaurant, hot friends…”
“HotPants,” someone shouted, to hoots from the room.
“You have to stay relevant,” she shot back.
