Café Society American style was a New York City nightclub opened in 1938 in Greenwich Village by Barney Josephson to showcase African American talent and also to honor the political cabarets in Europe before the war. It was also the first integrated nightclub in America. Josephson intended the club to defy the pretensions of the rich who fancied themselves ‘cafe society’. The club was advertised as ‘The Wrong Place for the Right People’.

Karl Lagerfeld picks up the theme of ‘Cafe Society’ for Harpers US March issue. Joan Small looks like she’s having more fun that anyone on Karl’s set — and that’s not saying a lot. Nevertheless, Saskia de Brauw, Arizone Muse and Joan cut a sophisticated swath of uptown elegance wearing Marc Jacobs, Ralph Lauren Collection, Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti and more, all styled by Andrew Richardson. Travis Cannata, Malthe Madsen and Charlie Siem are the future barons of Karl’s cafe society universe.