Naomi Campbell and Matt Smith Toast Burberry’s Holiday Campaign in New York

Naomi Campbell and Matt Smith Toast Burberry’s Holiday Campaign in New York

When Burberry throws a party, it does it right. To celebrate its holiday campaign, the heritage brand turned its New York flagship into five stories’ worth of seasonal delights. With a full choir performing hymns, a forest of pine trees, and calligraphers crafting handmade cards, there was plenty for guests to take in—but the evening’s biggest thrill came courtesy of the campaign’s stars. Naomi Campbell—clad in Riccardo Tisci’s elegant designs for the house, and joined by her mother, Valerie Morris-Campbell—and Matt Smith sent the crowd (which included everyone from Misty Copeland and Lily James to Carolyn Murphy) into a frenzy.

The Juno Calypso–directed film, Close Your Eyes and Think of Christmas, represents a first for Tisci, whose debut collection was revealed back in September. With its tony cast, familial slant, and tartan-lined trenchcoats, it adheres to the codes of the house while adding an appealing new dimension. For Smith, who has played royalty and time-traveling doctors, and is set to join the Star Wars franchise in 2019, being a part of the ads was an honor. “It was a privilege, really,” he shared. “I’m proud to be involved with Burberry. It’s a wonderful brand with a rich heritage, and I think the direction that Riccardo is taking it is so vivid and interesting.” Dapper in his slate gray suit, the actor was keen to be involved in a project that celebrated his favorite holiday. “Christmas is my favorite thing in the whole world,” said Smith, who will be ringing in the season back home in England with friends. “The fact that I could do Burberry and Christmas was really exciting for me—I was all over it.”

Though she’s famously served as the face of Burberry multiple times, the experience of modeling alongside her mother made this an especially meaningful shoot for Campbell. “Riccardo knows my mom, so it was just lovely for us [both] to be asked,” said Campbell. “The Burberry family has always been great to work with. Christopher [Bailey] was great and now, working with Riccardo, being a part of his first Christmas campaign, it made me so happy.” Shot in July on one of the hottest days of the year, Campbell and her mom had to keep the details under wraps for months, but, per Morris-Campbell, the final reveal was well worth the wait. “To be honest, when she first told me, I didn’t even think it was a campaign,” said Morris-Campbell, who initially expected to be a part of a smaller interview or a photoshoot. “When I understood, I just thought, Wow, I can’t believe it—it was fun, just lovely.”

Clad in a custom transparent lace dress designed by Tisci, the supermodel was a walking advertisement for the designer’s luxurious aesthetic, and, upon taking in the show, she was struck by the accessibility of the fashion offered. “There was truly something for everyone,” she said. “There’s not one person who cannot find something, [and] that’s what you’ve got to do today.” Something to keep in mind this holiday season.