Tucked away on a manicured property in East Hampton, Chanel’s Summer Salon has opened its doors to fashionable clientele. On Saturday evening, guests arrived at The Hedges Inn—a newly renovated historic property brimming with charm, hydrangeas, and, through July 28, Chanel.
A cobblestoned path marked by a Chanel signpost set the tone for a secret garden arrival, leading the way to the private residence: a multi-wing, dollhouse-like structure seemingly designed for a Chanel darling. Inside, fixtures from the Spring-Summer 2025 Ready-to-Wear collection lined the walls, while playful touches—a Chanel surfboard (très Hamptons), Chanel tennis racquets (très Wimbledon), and a selection of fine jewelry including Camélia diamond lariats (très sparkly)—were scattered throughout.
During cocktail hour, guests sipped rosé and spritzes as they floated between the blooming backyard and the salon, pausing to try on tweed jackets and oversized sunglasses or snap a mirror selfie or two.
On the deck of the Inn, the nostalgic scent of a campfire greeted guests as they took their seats for a candlelit dinner al fresco from Swifty’s, the on-property restaurant known for its decadent jumbo lump crab cakes and creamed spinach. A grilled peach, burrata, and heirloom tomato salad began the meal. Sarah Wetenhall, the creative force behind Palm Beach’s Colony Hotel and The Hedges Inn’s reinvention, beamed with pride at the evening’s impeccable service.
As entrées were served and glasses of Sancerre refilled, murmurs swirled about a surprise performance. When singer-songwriter Ashe took the stage, a wave of delighted applause broke out. Wearing a sunset-hued silk muslin dress from the 2019/20 Métiers d’Art collection, a bold red lip, and her signature blonde curls, Ashe evoked a Cindy/Margot/Marilyn screen siren hybrid under the lights. She performed hits like “Running Out of Time” and “Till Forever Falls Apart,” before launching into a cover of Natasha Bedingfield’s “Unwritten.” “That one wasn’t mine,” Ashe joked. “You probably thought, ‘I know this girl!’”
After the performance, two fans rushed up to gush over “Moral of the Story.” “It got me through my breakup. Legit!” one said through tears.
The night ended with a stylish take on a classic: a s’mores bar, complete with vintage silver trays stacked with graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallows. After a few valiant attempts at golden-toasted perfection, most guests surrendered to a perfectly scorched marshmallow—hand-assembled into sandwiches by Chanel-clad servers. Because if there’s one thing Chanel knows how to do, it’s bringing couture to the campfire.
