Lauren Santo Domino and Vanessa de Viel Castel Host an Ultra-Chic Dinner For CVC Stones

“I have to say, the only thing I thought about was just don’t break it, just don’t break it,” Charlie de Viel Castel of jewelry label CVC Stones said of his latest collaboration with the Korean artist Young Sook Park. He was speaking to a table of almost unfathomably elegant partygoers who were summoned by Moda Operandi’s Lauren Santo Domingo and Vanessa de Viel Castel (wife of Charlie) to the Upper East Side gallery Salon94 for dinner.

Charlie was referring to the Moon Jars for which Park is known—her glossy ceramic vessels pay homage to the centuries-old Korean handicrafts heritage of milky white containers shaped like a full moon. But some of her most recent creations were sent to Charlie, who drilled holes into them (hence “don’t break it”) and inserted a diamond into each crevice. The process is not unlike what is required in the making of his stone pendant necklaces—those diamond sprayed pebbles worn around the necks of the fashion set. Only in this particular instance, it was prized work of an artist that Charlie was carving into. “We received this beautiful moon jar, and Park was incredibly generous because she said, ‘Charlie, I’ve done my part. Now you do yours.’” 

Pieces from this collaborative collection—25 pieces of milky-white earthenware that glint with the decoration of hundreds of diamonds available for sale at Moda Operandi—filled the space. They were on view for guests like Sienna Miller, Karlie Kloss, Isolde Brielmaier, Lameka Fox, Cate Holstein, Kate Young, Derek Blasberg to behold and marvel. 

“When Charlie launched the first collection for CVC Stones, I have to say I was a bit skeptical, also a little nervous because I knew I would have to buy them and probably sell them on Moda,” joked Santo Domingo, dressed in a cinched-in-the-waist grey Proenza Schouler look. She spoke of her closeness to the designer, having met him on the same night she met her own husband. Plus, Charlie’s wife, Vanessa, was also a close friend. “So I was very happy when they turned out to be so incredibly beautiful.” 

Jewelry pieces from Charlie’s latest collection, in addition to his Moon Jar creations, were also on display and on the necks of several guests: Sienna Miller, Melodie Monrose, Jihae, and Veronica Webb. It all made for an incredible atmospheric evening—sand lined the tables and CVC Stones-style pebbles were strewn about the centerpieces. And sometime between courses, Santo Domingo spoke to her guests. “Thank you for making the effort come up here. I know that after the pandemic, we’re all very excited to get out and about, but at the same time, also stay home and watch Succession.” Luckily, Santo Domingo had thought of everything—in the room sat the show’s new cast member Jihae. Between the company to the generous tins of caviar dolled out to everyone in attendance, the guests could really want for nothing.