On Saturday evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon over Austin’s stunning Lady Bird Lake, V and Clarins raised a glass to the French brand’s innovative, earth-friendly skincare . With a name that captured the golden light of the evening, the Golden Hour event celebrated Clarins’ iconic power pair: the Double Serum—an anti-aging breakthrough with a dual-phase formula that smooths and brightens the skin—and the Total Eye Lift, known for visibly lifting and smoothing the under eyes in just 30 seconds.

Guests sipped signature cocktails from Utah’s cult-favorite franchise Swig, loved for its unexpected flavor pairings, alongside organic zero-proof sparkling wine from French Bloom. As the night unfolded, attendees enjoyed exclusive James Bond-inspired boat rides on the lake, adding a playful twist to the waterfront gathering. VIPs flew in from across the globe, with appearances from Olivia Jade, Ken Eurich, Ashley Greene, Levi McConaughey, Chris Harrison, Rebecca Donaldson, Mason Gooding, and more. The evening struck a perfect balance between natural beauty and modern city energy—a reflection of Clarins’ unique blend of plant-powered ingredients and cutting-edge science.

Take a look inside the event below.

The Driskill Hotel on Sixth Street in downtown Austin is famed for its grand architecture, its roster of presidential and Hollywood guests, and, most notably, its tales of lingering spirits. As the city’s oldest continuously operating hotel, its rich history continues to draw travelers from around the world — some for the landmark itself, others for its unexplained ghostly activity. 

Here are some of the most popular ghost stories of the Driskill Hotel: 

Colonel Jesse Driskill, a cattleman who supplied beef to the Confederate Army and Texas Rangers during the Civil War, opened the Driskill Hotel in December 1886, according to Austin Ghosts. Despite his fortune, Driskill was forced to sell the hotel in 1888 after a harsh winter and drought devastated his cattle herds. 

Two years later, he died in 1890, but his spirit, usually accompanied by the smell of cigar smoke and flickering lights, is said to still watch over the hotel’s lobby and bar because he never got to enjoy its success during his lifetime. Austin Monthly reports that guests and staff have noted his ghost as a cigar-smoking male dressed in 19th-century cowboy clothing. 

He’s also been known to touch traveling women, particularly musicians, on the arm or back as a romantic gesture. 

Legend has it that a young girl rumored to be named Samantha Houston tripped and fell to her death on the Driskill’s grand staircase in the late 19th or early 20th century. Although historians have never been able to find evidence to support this tale, guests have reported hearing giggling and a ball bouncing on its steps late at night. 

According to Austin Ghosts, hotel staff have found toys and small objects mysteriously moved or placed in unusual locations, leading many to believe the little girl continues to make her presence known to anyone who visits. 

The Driskill apparently also has its own haunted suite, where a bride is said to have stayed and never left. In the 1990s, a heartbroken bride is said to have died by suicide in Room 525 after her fiancé called off their wedding. Guests have claimed to have seen a woman in a wedding dress roaming the halls with shopping bags in tow since she allegedly went on a massive spree with her lover’s credit card before her death, per Austin Monthly.