An Alfresco Evening
Goop and Loro Piana orchestrate an elegant poolside gathering at Gwyneth Paltrow’s home
Written by Elizabeth Varnell
Photographs by Jason Sean Weiss/bfa.com
On a Friday in May, Gwyneth Paltrow welcomed friends and neighbors to an alfresco dinner at her Montecito residence, hosted by goop and Loro Piana. The gathering, in celebration of the Italian fashion house’s Summer Resort 2024 collection and complete with elegant linens and cashmere blankets from the line, also offered a first look at the seasonal clothing capsule worn by Paltrow’s family and numerous guests. The natural palette blended with the stone walls and bronze doors of Paltrow’s house, a collaboration with Roman and Williams’ Robin Standefer and Stephen Alesch, visible across a rectangular pool from tables set for the evening feast.
The goop founder and CEO has said she felt the region’s pull long before falling in love with the land and its views. She briefly studied at UC Santa Barbara before pursuing an acting career, and she returned for holidays while living in Europe. Now a resident, she began the evening’s festivities with basil margaritas and rhubarb white negronis while she and her son and daughter, joined by husband Brad Falchuk, greeted guests.
“The gathering offered a first look at the seasonal clothing capsule worn by Paltrow’s family and guests.”
As drinks made the rounds, Loro Piana’s inspiration for the summer looks—a nod to the Tahitian embrace of la vie heureuse, French for the happy life—also became a theme of sorts for the tranquil gathering. The natural linens, silks, and cottons used to create flowing silhouettes, including wide-legged trousers, wrap skirts, kimono-sleeved shirts, jumpsuits and jackets proved to be ideal for the shift from daylight to evening. Expanding on the collection’s island theme, floral motifs of hibiscus flowers and tree-of-life patterns joined the subtle multicolored stripes on the pillows decorating outdoor couches and the nature-derived neutrals worn by many in attendance.
The line’s palette, which included Loro Piana’s signature kummel red and a deep blue, was reflected in the elegant blue-and-white porcelain dinnerware, part of the L’Art de la Table offerings, arranged atop long tables. The blue hue echoed the color of crockery inside Paltrow’s kitchen, where she and the house’s architects, along with interior designer Brigette Romanek, devised a wall to display her collection of patterned china. Wicker vases and trays held seasonal blooms, while matching leather-and-wicker baskets contained cashmere throws to offset the evening chill.
Local band Django Foxtrot, comprising CalArts graduates, played its blend of jazz and pop covers on the main lawn. Once guests took their seats, Paltrow toasted the celebratory evening devoted to the art of living well, a philosophy prized by both goop and Loro Piana, which is known for its range of innovative textiles and understated designs.
As the sun set, guests dined on Italian-inspired fare, including spring vegetables and burrata, carciofi alla giudia, striped bass, and Wagyu steak bavette. Desserts, including fragrant basil semifreddo and torta al cioccolato, made the rounds before everyone began their farewells.
