As the East End readies for another season of curated soirées and polished weekends, Leesa Rowland gave Southampton a definitive cue that summer had arrived. On a sunlit afternoon at Marina St. Barth’s Southampton boutique, Rowland hosted an intimate celebration to mark her latest Mann About Town cover—and the unofficial kickoff to the 2025 Hamptons social season.
Effortlessly moving between scenes of fashion, media, and philanthropy, Rowland welcomed an elegant crowd of tastemakers and creatives. The actress and founder of Animal Ashram is no stranger to commanding attention, but this occasion struck a unique chord—bringing together her cinematic presence, her love of animals, and her unmistakable personal style into one elevated afternoon affair.
Located in the heart of Southampton, Marina St. Barth offered a fitting backdrop: equal parts French Caribbean flair and high-summer chic. The boutique’s current edit features effortless silhouettes, coastal prints, and statement pieces sourced for every moment of Hamptons living—from barefoot brunches to candlelit dinners. Founded by Marina Cocher, the store channels the aesthetic and ease of St. Barthélemy with locations in both Southampton and East Hampton, as well as online and in Florida.
This season’s curated offerings set the tone for the event, with flowing caftans, printed separates, and embellished accessories creating a visual harmony with the boutique’s tropical design codes. Adding to the fashion-forward scene, designer Carole Alexander presented her Alexander by Design handbag collection—meticulously crafted totes adorned with playful motifs and Mediterranean nods. Her Amalfi-themed designs struck a note of breezy luxury among guests browsing the boutique.
The afternoon was elevated by carefully considered details—chief among them the offerings from BIATCH Tequila and Wainscott Main Wine & Spirits. BIATCH, a 100% woman-owned tequila brand, poured its bold, small-batch expressions rooted in traditional Mexican production, while Wainscott Main’s chilled rosé kept spirits high and conversations flowing.
Notable attendees included Peter Thomas Roth, Jean Shafiroff, Victoria Schneps, Carole Alexander, Larry Wohl, Maribel Lieberman, Marina Cocher, Donna Rubin, Pamela Morgan, designer Kobi Halperin, and financier John Paulson, who, while passing by, paused to greet guests. The mix of fashion figures, philanthropists, and longtime Hamptons insiders lent the affair a refined ease without the pretense.
Beyond the glamour, the event carried a philanthropic mission. Proceeds benefited Hamptons Summer Songbook by-the-Sea, a celebrated musical initiative helmed by Donna Rubin and Josh Gladstone of LTV. The program brings Broadway-level performances to the East End through immersive concerts and theatrical programming, underscoring the Hamptons’ cultural gravitas beyond its beach clubs and galleries.
For Rowland, the moment capped another chapter in her multi-faceted journey. A classically trained actress from the Stella Adler Studio and a longtime animal rights advocate, she founded Animal Ashram in 2013 to promote animal welfare through education and rescue. She also serves as president of the New York-based nonprofit and has been affiliated with Last Chance for Animals since 1989.
Recently, Rowland has expanded her creative portfolio with a foray into comedy, studying at both the Upright Citizens Brigade in New York and with Three’s Company alum Richard Kline in Los Angeles. It’s this continual reinvention—of self, purpose, and style—that makes Rowland a fixture not just on red carpets, but within the philanthropic and creative circles she so naturally navigates.