Last night Reese attended the annual Tiffany & Co. Blue Book Gala in New York City. Reese looked elegant in a floor-length teal gown by Brandon Maxwell, accessorising with Tiffany jewellery. She posed on the red carpet with other celebrities including Claire Danes, Jennifer Hudson, Hayley Bennett and Ruth Negga, and spoke to reporters about why she loves Tiffany’s and her jewellery must-haves. The company are backing an initiative to stop global trafficking for elephant ivory, and Reese voiced her support for this too. We have the first few photos from the night in our Gallery (more are sure to follow), and further down this post are articles and videos from the red carpet:

• Tiffany & Co. Blue Book Gala

Dinner at Tiffany’s? Reese Witherspoon, Ruth Negga, Claire Danes and More Glitter at the 2017 Blue Book Gala

“My first piece of Tiffany’s was the little silver heart on the chain that Elle Woods wears in all the Legally Blonde movies,” said Reese Witherspoon, who eschewed her sorority girl look in lieu of a Hollywood goddess vibe in Brandon Maxwell’s strapless emerald dress, punctuated by Tiffany & Co’s diamond jewelry. “Every time I do get to wear one of his [Maxwell’s] dresses, they’re just exquisitely tailored and you can just feel the love in every stitch.”

And it wasn’t just Witherspoon gussying up on a Friday night. Joining the Academy Award winner at the jewelry house’s Blue Book gala at St. Ann’s Warehouse was fellow Oscar-goer, Ruth Negga in an animal print frock from Gucci. Of her status as one of the red carpet’s most closely watched—and best dressed—Negga simply said, “Karla Welch. Two words. She has a psychic ability to understand the artist she works with.” As for what piece of jewelry Negga would design if given the chance, she offered, “it would involve emeralds, rubies, and it would definitely be a head piece,” said the actress who still spoke longingly of her Oscars Irene Neuwirth for Gemfields piece. “Something like Billie Holiday, [who] wore a flower in her hair.”

And sporting a new spin on her cropped ’do was actress Haley Bennett, who channeled Cinderella in J. Mendel’s ice blue dress with regal diamonds from Tiffany’s. “Anytime I’m choosing jewelry it’s based on instincts,” said the actress, adding, “I thought these would be understated but still make a statement,” of her diamond collar, bracelet, and ring suite. Bennett was also sporting an anklet she designed with celebrity favorite Jacquie Aiche, but if she had her pick for what would be inside her blue box, Bennett exclaimed, “a unicorn headband!”

But it wasn’t only the ladies upping the glam quotient of the night. Actor Dominic West, in a shawl collar tuxedo, shared the magic behind his dapper look. “This evening, my ritual was running around fretting I’d forgotten my watch and then realizing I had forgotten my tie and cufflinks,” said the actor with a devil-may-care grin. “It’s a blind panic and rush to get down the stairs.” And once he arrived, the actor was treated to one of Tiffany’s grandest affairs, which saw the American jewelry house transform the industrial St. Ann’s Warehouse into an enchanted rainforest replete with blooming walls and topiary chandeliers. Between the sips of Dom Perignon 2006 and bites of caviar, the night dazzled like a piece from the brand’s latest high jewelry collection, the reason for the lavish soiree. But the cherry—or rather ruby—of the night? Jennifer Hudson’s crowd-raising performance that had everyone dancing well into the late hours.

(Vogue)

Reese Witherspoon Speaks Out Against Elephant Poaching

Sparkly, exquisite diamonds were the draw but Reese Witherspoon’s thoughts were with something much larger — elephants.

The Oscar-winning “Big Little Lies” star attended a party in New York on Friday night to celebrate Tiffany and Co. and said she backed the jewelry company’s commitment to stop global trafficking and demand for elephant ivory.

“I’ve had the great opportunity to work with elephants in my career, and spend a lot of time in Africa with elephants. I love that they are doing so much for conservation, and helping save the elephants,” said Witherspoon.

Between 20,000 and 30,000 elephants are killed every year for their tusks. Last year, Tiffany & Co. partnered with the Elephant Crisis Fund to raise money to fight for the elephants.

“They provide a lot of information about what they’re doing to ethically source diamonds, gold, and silver, so it’s a very responsible brand; not only beautiful, but very responsible,” Witherspoon said.

Fresh from a film shoot in South Africa, Dominic West also cheered the impact that the Elephant Crisis Fund has made on the poaching of elephant tusks. He just wished it would also apply to rhinoceroses. Poachers are also killing them for their horns. “Oh, they’re killing thousands every year in South Africa. It’s just appalling,” he said.

Also attending the Tiffany event were Jennifer Hudson, Claire Danes, Haley Bennett and Ruth Negga.

As for “Big Little Lies,” the HBO miniseries starring Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman that had its season finale earlier this month, Witherspoon said she was hopeful a second season would happen.

“We love playing these characters, and we loved being together with this great, extraordinary group of people, so hopefully it will happen. Fingers crossed,” Witherspoon said.

(AP)

Claire Danes, Reese Witherspoon Celebrate Tiffany & Co. Blue Book Gala

Tiffany & Co.’s biggest spenders mingled with celebrities including Reese Witherspoon, Claire Danes and Haley Bennett Friday evening for the jewelry firm’s annual Blue Book gala event.

Held at the St. Anne’s Warehouse performance space in Dumbo, Brooklyn, the party saw Tiffany clients from across the globe convene as a ‘thank you’ from the brand.

Looking to make an impactful message, the company served cocktails on the Brooklyn waterfront promenade, allowing guests to ride the landmark’s carousel with drinks in-hand.

“I think this is one of the most beautiful vistas in all of the city. What we try to do this weekend is a New York immersion — we have people from around the world, several hundred, and I couldn’t think of a more New York view than the one we are looking at now,” said Tiffany & Co. interim chief executive officer Michael J. Kowalski.

“It’s about hospitality and building a customer family, so we have folks here for several days. It’s probably the most important moment of our year, obviously with the debut of the Blue Book but once again — it’s a time to express our appreciation and honor,” he added of the evening’s premise.

This year’s blue book designs — Tiffany’s annual suite of high jewelry creations — was created by recently ousted design director Francesca Amfitheatrof, who departed the label in January, replaced by newly-appointed chief artistic officer Reed Krakoff. Neither designer was present at the event.

So what will next year’s blue book designs look like? “I guess a question more properly asked of Reed,” said Kowalski. “I’m sure he has begun working on it already.”

One of the big-ticket Tiffany clients in attendance was former speaker of the House of Representatives and republican senator, Newt Gingrich — who arrived with wife, Callista, in tow.

“We are big Tiffany fans, it’s a great American brand that sets a world standard in style and jewelry,” Gingrich said the label.

He expressed more specific adoration for how Tiffany manufacturers much of its jewelry in the U.S. “I think [manufacturing in the U.S.] is a very important step and Tiffany is a classy example. It’s been a leader in design since the 1830s, it sells worldwide and is actually a remarkable foreign exchange earner for the U.S. It’s a company that — for sheer quality — we can be proud of. That’s what we want America to become again,” said Gingrich.

Witherspoon arrived from a day full of Tiffany-spearheaded programming. The jeweler had hosted a sustainability panel Friday afternoon, in which Witherspoon was an active participant.

“I was on a panel today where they talked about responsibility and passing on the idea about how socially conscious they are to the consumer,” said the actress.

Witherspoon, who has her own label called Draper James, considered this an inspiring message. “We’ve definitely worked a lot on finding factories in the south. We are a southern brand make, we make all the candles in south, all our stationary in the south. We try to pass on those stories to people, and let them know that what they are buying is made in America and made by American artisans,” she said.

(WWD.com)