A Family Affair at Borgo: Yara Shahidi and Her Mother Celebrate Gucci Together

It was a family affair at Borgo, the quietly buzzy Italian trattoria tucked away on East 27th Street. On Wednesday afternoon, actress and activist Yara Shahidi and her mother Keri arrived in coordinated pastel hues—blush pink and butter yellow—for an intimate luncheon hosted by Gucci to fête Gucci Together, the brand’s latest Mother’s Day campaign starring the dynamic duo.

The Shahidis didn’t come solo. The entire family—Afshin, Sayeed, and Ehsan—joined in the midweek merriment, and even rapper Nas, Keri’s cousin, made a cameo to show his support.

As in the recently debuted campaign video—which captures Yara and Keri arranging flowers and reflecting on their bond—blooms took center stage at the event. Guests were welcomed by towering branches adorned with florals, while inside the sun-drenched dining room, rows of tall, freshly cut stems doubled as dreamy table runners.

Unlike most, who might balk at the notion of mixing business with family, Yara and Keri have embraced their joint creative journey. Since founding 7th Sun Productions in 2020, they’ve made it their mission to spotlight hopeful, transformative storytelling. While this isn’t their first time sharing the screen, this particular campaign holds special resonance. “I associate it with having a wonderful time,” Yara told Vogue.

Fresh off a 7th Sun documentary on the late artist Faith Ringgold and with a new season of Yara’s podcast on the way, the pair remain fueled by curiosity and shared purpose. “We create projects [with people] we want to learn more about,” Keri said. “We want to stay rooted in optimism in everything we do. That’s what’s made this all so fruitful—and fun.”

If the luncheon offered a glimpse into Mother’s Day at Casa Shahidi, expect quality time and plenty of good food. Actress Jessica Chastain also leaned into the theme, arriving with her own mother, Jerri Hastey, in tow.

Over a meal of lemony flatbread, escarole and fennel salad, and branzino with smoked chickpeas, guests took in the charming backyard setting and compared notes on whether they’d dined there before. Most hadn’t—but with this marking the first Manhattan outpost of Brooklyn hospitality icon Andrew Tarlow, it likely won’t stay under-the-radar for long.

As the last sips of Italian white were savored and Meyer lemon sorbet made its final appearance, guests prepared to step back into the still-chilly spring air—now a little warmer, perhaps, thanks to their Gucci parting gift: a silk scarf in the house’s signature Flora print.