Miami Beach – On Saturday night, Roberto Cavalli and Saks Fifth Avenue, Bal Harbour pulled out all the stops at SLS Hotel South Beach, to deliver an exuberant 30th birthday celebration, in honor of the legendary producer and songwriter, Rico Love, for this year’s most exclusive invitation-only event during Art Basel Miami Beach.
As the welcome cocktail reception began, poolside guests enjoyed an assortment of GREY GOOSE Cherry Noir cocktails, as commencement with the red carpet celebrity arrivals ceremony was marked by an unmistakable rapid-fire array of flashing cameras. The evening’s cocktail menu included a choice of GREY GOOSE® Cherry Noir Trey Noir, GREY GOOSE® Cherry Noir Triple Platinum and GREY GOOSE® Le Fizz, all of which seemed distinctively colorful and vibrant.
National media outlets on the red carpet were treated to an all-star attendance by Eva Cavalli, Kelly Rowland, Fat Joe, Pharrell, Russell Simmons, Andre Harrell, Janice Combs, Angie Beyince, Kenny Burns, Manning Summer, DJ Cassidy and Adriana de Moura, to name a few.
Rico stepped on to the red carpet as photographers yelled “Happy Birthday Rico,” and Eva Cavalli soon joined him for a couple’s photo session by the paparazzi. The Roberto Cavalli Spring/Summer 2013 collection was inspired by the poetic decorations of the Art Nouveau period, as the fashion forward crowd experienced a dazzling selection of both men’s and women’s lines during the 45-minute presentation. Cavalli did not show his collection at New York Fashion Week this year, making this special presentation for Rico’s birthday the only showing in the U.S.
DJ Affect provided the beats throughout the cocktail reception and fashion show.
As the fashion show came to a close, invited dinner guests quickly made their way inside Katsuya, the hotel’s Asian-inspired restaurant, for the private dinner portion of the evening.
NEXT…
Approximately 100 invited guests were seated for the private dinner, with Rico’s table of 10 facing the entire room around him. As the first course began, Rico’s five-layer birthday cake was wheeled in to the side of the room, encased with notes and bars of music etched in to each tier with Rico’s name on the very top in red, and a HUBLOT logo written in white icing on the middle layer. The base of the cake illustrates the keys on a piano, with ‘Happy 30th Birthday’ written beneath it. A Hublot watchcase with watch inside was designed in cake to resemble a replica of his own.
As the second course was presented, Sean “P Diddy” Combs, made a grand entrance with an entourage of Rico’s friends. Photographers leapt to take shoulder-to-shoulder shots of Rico and Combs together around Rico’s table. Shortly after a series of group shots with Rico, Combs, Pharrell and Fat Joe, the group assembled next to the birthday cake and the dinner crowd fell silent.
“I knew Rico while he was growing up in Harlem,” Combs said. “I was blown away by his music then, and I still continue to listen to it now. Please raise your glasses to our friend, Rico Love.”
A long series of flashing bulbs from photographers ensued as Rico and Combs embraced once more. Owner of Hublot Americas, Rick Delacroix, then made a birthday gift speech to Rico, and presented him with a limited edition Hublot Miami watch, named the “Hublot 305,” of which only 10 were made. Rico took the watch from its box and wrapped it around his other wrist and showed it next to his existing Hublot timepiece. Sparklers on the giant birthday cake were lit, and photographers began shooting Rico and Combs as sparks started to fly around them.
At the end of the night, Ivana Trump, Jason Binn and Jonathan Cheban joined the dinner party.
