Polo Season Kicks Off With a Stylish Bang

NEXT »

The East End came out in full Hamptons regalia to open the 2008 season of the Mercedes Benz Polo Challenge in Bridgehampton. Hardcore polo fans pulled up their cars on the west side of the field and tailgated while the east side was occupied by the seen-and-be-scensters sipping bubbly under the VIP tent. A gaggle of paparazzi buzzed like mad, snapping shots of the entire scenario, and for a minute it was easy to forget that there were two teams duking it out on the field.

This year's competing teams were White Birch, led by Peter Brant, Mariano Aguerre, Ulysses Escapite, and Todd Offen, and Jumeirah Culu Culu led by Larry Austin, and Alessandro Bazzoni, Gaston Lisiloi, Naco Taverna, and Marcele Frassinet.

As usual, the T-Mobile tent rocked the house as DJ Sky Nellor held down the turntables. And for the first time ever, Ralph Lauren had an onsite store, which was mobbed as their polo player-cum-model of the moment Nacho Figueras stood at the helm beating back media like I have never seen. The ever-beautiful Stephanie Seymour, whose husband Peter is the White Birch team captain, made an appearance to promote Interview magazine where she is now a contributing fashion editor. And the grand host of the afternoon was Gossip Guy, Chace Crawford, who was swarmed by giggling girls and bloodthirsty women. The fashion is always wild at the tents with everything from full-on Ascot style hats to paint splattered suits, and by the way, White Birch won and went home with the trophy.