On Tuesday night (Feb. 25), actress, television personality, and VIBE alum Bevy Smith gathered her glamourous friends to celebrate awards season with H&M. The upscale event at the brand’s Hollywood showroom offered a toast to Black excellence with the guestlist, menu, drink offerings and affirmation of H&M’s commitment to supporting diversity. Guests were greeted with charming wine offerings and the melodic sounds of a live jazz band. As attendees were encouraged to mix and mingle, heartfelt hugs reunited some, while the warming environment platformed new connections for others.
Catered by Chef Keith Corbin, who leads at the Alta Adams restaurant in Los Angeles’ historic West Adams neighborhood, the event treated attendees to small bites, including fried chicken lollipops, black-eyed pea fritters, deviled eggs, braised oxtail over potato cakes, stuffed mushrooms, and honey butter-glazed cornbread. The bar poured mostly Black-owned wine and spirits like Issa Rae’s Viarae Prosecco, Ingrid Best’s IBest Wine, and Uncle Nearest’s Premium Whiskey. A curated cocktail menu boasted tasty sipping offerings named after influential women in Black Hollywood history including Ruby Dee, Cicely Tyson, and Hattie McDaniel.
The showroom’s decorative pink and plum floral arrangements were elevated at a special photobooth moment where guests could pose solo or snag group photos for the duration of the party. Also highlighted throughout the space were pieces from H&M’s latest collections, including their H&M’s Spring/Summer 2025 Studio Collection and the latest Men’s Atelier collection, which Moses Sumney will wear at Thursday’s ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards Luncheon sponsored by the retailer.
As the event neared its end, Bevy Smith and Donna Dozier Gordon, Head of Inclusion & Diversity at H&M, shared remarks before supportive applause.
“H&M was so thrilled to bring together diverse tastemakers from across the fashion and entertainment industry for an inspirational evening that featured great conversation and important networking,” stated Gordon.
VIBE attended the soirée as well as Cynthia Bailey, Estelle, Lady London, Novi Brown, Yvonne Orji, Yvette Nicole Brown, Ingrid Best, Claire Sulmers, LaLa Milan, Chanté Moore, and more. Take a look inside Bevy Smith and H&M’s cocktail party below.
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