Emma Stone, January Jones, and Amber Valletta Join Makeup Artist Rachel Goodwin for an Avant-Garde Dinner in Los Angeles
June 29, 2017 9:24 PM
by Rachel Marlowe
Los Angeles is not short on buzzy restaurants and star-studded dining rooms, but only an under-the-radar spot like Wolvesmouth, known as the toughest reservation in town, can compel the likes of Amber Valletta to endure L.A.’s notorious cross-town traffic. “And because I love Rachel,†Valletta, a longtime client of hostess and red carpet makeup artist Rachel Goodwin, explained. The model-actress was joined by a glittering group of guests including Emma Stone, January Jones, and Kat Dennings; Hollywood power stylists Arianne Phillips, Elizabeth Stewart, and Samantha McMillan; A-list hairstylist Mara Roszak; and makeup artists Lottie Stannard and Kathy Jeung for an avant-garde concept dinner inspired by color. Goodwin, a serious foodie, had spent weeks working with chef Craig Thornton, founder of the underground supper club, to create a seven-course meal based on the new NARS Powermatte Lip Pigment color palette. “Brie Larson hosted a dinner here after the Oscars a couple of years ago,†said Goodwin, who was appointed director of pro artistry and red carpet by NARS earlier this year. “I’ve been wanting to collaborate with him on something ever since.â€
Though the restaurant is housed in an unassuming bungalow on an unremarkable stretch in Silver Lake, the dress code for the evening was cocktail attire and a statement lip—but for those who missed the memo, there was plenty of talent on hand to help with a quick application of color. “There were so many different rumors flying around about this place,†said Roszak over jewel-toned pre-dinner cocktails. “Someone told me you had to send a handwritten letter to request a reservation. Someone else said you had to eat the whole meal with your hands.†Although guests had been asked to refrain from posting on social media during the dinner, that rule went out of the window as soon as the first course arrived on the table. “I know you asked us not to, but I have to take a picture of this,†said Dennings over a Pollock-esque plate of short rib splattered with dashes of cream, lilac, deep purple, and charcoal-hued sauce and a raspberry meringue that could easily have done double duty as a Calder sculpture.
The supper was modeled on the Jeffersonian-style tradition of engaging in conversation and debate over a particular topic—in this case, each guest’s first experience with lipstick. Unsurprisingly, talk soon took a nostalgic turn down memory lane. “This is going to age me,“ said Stewart. “But my first memory of lipstick is Bonne Bell.†This led to Jones promptly pulling a tube of Strawberry Frosting Lip Smacker from her clutch to the delight of the table. “I was obsessed with the Dr Pepper flavor,†said Phillips. “My look in high school was Wet n Wild white frosted lip gloss with a brown lipliner,†Jones admitted. In between courses, guests popped out for sittings with Lipsologist Pamela Passmore, who gives readings based on kiss marks. “She told me I was very grounded,†said Stone after having her lip print analyzed. “Sadly, that’s completely untrue.†Phillips was more impressed with her session: “She completely got me.†On their way out, guests were invited to have their portraits taken inside a bower of cherry blossom trees bathed in an array of colored light, an installation specially created by Thornton for the night. “We wanted to create a different experience, a wonderland,†he said. “This complete immersion an appreciation for color sometimes gets lost in our everyday lives.â€
