An elegant celebration of design, culture, and French artistry will unfold in New York City this November.
The French Heritage Society will host its annual Art Deco Ball on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at The Metropolitan Club on East 60th Street. This highly anticipated black-tie evening will honor the storied French fashion house Lanvin and its Artistic Director, Peter Copping, recognizing their continued influence on both couture and cultural preservation. The event will include cocktails at seven o’clock, followed by dinner and dancing at eight, with music provided by the Alex Donner Orchestra and an after party extending the night’s festivities.
Under the gracious patronage of His Excellency Laurent Bili, Ambassador of France to the United States, His Excellency Jérôme Bonnafont, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations, Mr. Cédric Fouriscot, Consul General of France in New York, and Mr. Mohamed Bouabdallah, Cultural Counselor of the French Embassy in the United States, the evening reflects a seamless bond between French diplomacy and cultural heritage.
The distinguished Gala Chairmen—Liz McDermott Barnes, Jean Shafiroff, CeCe Black, and Ann Van Ness—will oversee an event that brings together leaders from design, philanthropy, and international society. The Honorary Chairmen include Geoffrey N. Bradfield, Stewart F. Lane and Bonnie Comley, Timothy Corrigan, Kazie Metzger Harvey, and Odile de Schiétère-Longchamp, each known for their longstanding commitment to heritage and the arts.
Dinner Chairmen Ben Barnes, Lanvin, Lee Black, Martin Shafiroff, Jennifer Farrell, Bill Van Ness, Lady Maria Fishel and Kenneth Fishel, and Rebecca and Stephen Whyte will guide the evening’s elegant meal and program. Co-Chairmen Brenda and Jim Howard, Eily Kunze, Monica and Scott Laurans, Allen Maines, Denise Littlefield Sobel, Richard and Donna Soloway, Will Steele and Chris Drake, Barbara Tober, and Jennifer C. Schünemann ensure that the evening’s celebration reflects both artistic precision and social warmth.
Among the Vice Chairmen are Erin and Christophe Berthoux, Sharon Bush and Bob Murray, Yann Coatalem and James G. Brooks, Francine Crocker and Dirk Adams, Randolph Fishburn and Andrew Sands, Katherine and Daniel Gordon, Susan Gutfreund, Rosann Gutman, Emily Kunze, John C. Harvey, Marifé Hernández and Joel Bell, Frédéric de Joybert, Mrs. Helen K. King, Michael Kovner and Jean Doyen de Montaillou, Elizabeth F. Stribling and Guy N. Robinson, Lynn and Pascal Franchot Tone, and Jean and Donald Wolf. Their presence represents a network of patrons who have devoted decades to the society’s mission of preserving the architectural and cultural treasures of France.
The Young Patron Chairmen, a new generation of enthusiasts, include Pauline Argenson, Elena Ayot, Dr. Bettina Bennett, Melanie Boude, Gert Dekegel, Galina Fendikevich, Dr. Claudine Holt, Luis de Lencquesaing, Davy Malinur, Stephanie Mattera, Johnsonie Mazuryk, Christina Bott Murphy, Michael Gregson Reinert-Sessions and Jonathan Reinert-Sessions, Derin Sezercan, Victoria Sherman, Lauren Summa, Flore-Yanha Thervil, Ilona Velez, Baroness Allison von Arnim, and Nina Yacavino. Together they embody the continuity of cultural stewardship through a younger lens.
The Committee’s members bring together individuals from both sides of the Atlantic, including His Highness Jaime Eduardo de Borbon, Baroness Lulu Sezercan Dalkanat, Lynette Dallas, James Demmert, Gigi Fisdeil, Anne H. Fitzpatrick, Michelle Fox, Penny Grant, MD, David M. Gray, Lou Rena Hammond, Kenneth Hausman and Malathi Srinivasan, Lucia Hwong Gordon, and Hon. Brenda LaG. Johnson. Additional committee members include Margo Morton Langenberg, Isabelle de Laroullière, Valerie A. Lettan, Maribel Lieberman, Kamie Lightburn, Marcy Maguire, Vicky McLoughlin, Maureen Nash, Frederick X. Schwenker, Arthur and Roberta Sandeman Houghton, Mark A. Walter, and Jacqueline Wilson.
Rosann Gutman and Ann Van Ness will serve as New York Chapter Chairs, with George P. Sape as Wine Consultant, bringing refinement and expertise to the evening’s table.
Since its founding, the French Heritage Society has been devoted to preserving and promoting French architectural and cultural heritage in both France and the United States. Over the past forty-three years, the organization has awarded more than seven hundred restoration and cultural grants, ensuring that historic properties endure for future generations. Nearly six hundred university students have crossed the Atlantic under its support to complete internships at esteemed institutions, linking two nations through education, history, and art. With eleven active chapters—ten in the United States and one in Paris—the society remains a vital bridge between continents and cultures.
For this November’s Art Deco Ball, the French Heritage Society invites guests to step into a world of artistry, elegance, and purpose. The Metropolitan Club’s storied rooms will provide a fitting backdrop for an evening defined by gratitude and preservation, honoring the legacy of Jeanne Lanvin and the creative vision of Peter Copping while celebrating the living bond between France and America.
