Fashion Plates: The Perfect Outfit For The Mark Restaurant

Truth be told, the high 70s on the Upper East Side is not exactly our jam. But when you hear the names Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Jacques Grange in the same sentence, a trip uptown seems more of a thrill than a trek. The collaboration between the chef and interior designer in question is The Mark Restaurant, the new eatery in the totally refurbished, NYC institution The Mark Hotel. The tony establishment is more Hermès than House of Holland, but lest you think that implies a geriatric bent, the spot rocks a bronze-and-glass ceiling, a translucent wine-wall, a smoking terrace, and a swingin' bar with oversized pony-hide chairs, funky bar stools, and an aluminum counter (trust, the Grapefruit Gimlets will make you forget this heat). The food also dispels any dated notions, with spot-on, not too fancy (and, for the experience and locale, surprisingly affordable) fare that comprised one of the best meals we've truly had all year— we rec the Sweet Pea Soup with Parmesan, the Veal Milanese, or the The Mark Cheeseburger with Black Truffle dressing that gives good sex a run for its money. As for fashion, we suggest going with a little Olivia Palermo-meets-Carolina Herrera—lots of polish, some understated sparkle, and elegance with just the tiniest edge. Our perfect dinner (or drinking) outfit: a pastel, floral cocktail dress, a satin black blazer, some vertiginous heels, subtle bling, quilted bag, and a dab of No. 5 that'll have you saying "on your mark, get set, go!"