Walton Goggins Celebrated His Emmy Nomination with GQ and Canali in New York

The string lights in the stone-tiled courtyard twinkled beneath a leisurely setting sun. The breezy live guitar music was punctuated by the sound of clinking Negroni glasses and staccato conversations. There was an abundance of sublime tailoring—crisp suits and elegant sport coats in every direction. At first blush, you’d have been forgiven for assuming this scene was taking place on the grounds of some venerable Milanese estate.

That was the general intent behind last night’s intimate dinner at Manhattan hotspot Borgo co-hosted by GQ global editorial director Will Welch, Canali CEO Stefano Canali, and actor Walton Goggins. The evening was a celebration of Canali’s forthcoming fall-winter 2025 collection, and Welch seized the opportunity to import one of his favorite Italian customs.

“I often point out that Italians quite literally invented the concept of lifestyle—la dolce vita, the good life,” Welch told the invited guests, which included Adults star Jack Inannen, photographer Tyrell Hampton, and musician Cameron Winter. “Which means that on a hot summer evening in Milan, you might find yourself standing in a beautiful and discreet piazza, wearing some beautiful, lightweight, handmade tailoring, maybe drinking a spritz. Inevitably somebody is friends with the person who owns the restaurant, who takes pride in a couple of very specific house specialties, which he then brings out without bothering with a menu.”

Welch was quick to add that “the idea tonight was not an imitation of Italy, but a night inspired by Italy in the New York style.” That meant the aforementioned music wasn’t played by a minstrel with an acoustic guitar, but by indie rock legend Matt Sweeney on a Gibson Les Paul, who serenaded the crowd with a rendition of his band The Hard Quartet’s “Rio’s Song” before everyone headed inside for dinner. And the food was handled not by someone’s nonna but by Borgo owner Andrew Tarlow, the hip restaurateur behind the beloved North Brooklyn haunts Diner and Marlow & Sons, whose kitchen staff served up luscious platters of perfectly al dente casarecce and whole roasted branzino.

The evening took on an especially celebratory tone thanks to Goggins, who earlier that very morning received an Emmy nomination for his role as Rick Hatchett on the third season of The White Lotus. “It’s quite humbling, to be quite honest with you,” Goggins told GQ of the honor. “It was such an incredible experience, and so many people from The White Lotus got nominated in so many categories. It’s a life experience that none of us will ever forget, and I’m just grateful to be invited to the party.”

Of course, the true star of the evening was Canali’s exquisite Italian tailoring. “Italy, as you know, is renowned for three main things: food, fashion, and design,” Stefano Canali, the third generation to lead his family’s business, said in a toast. “And as a matter of fact, Canali happens to be based in a small region called Brianza, which is home to the most important interior design companies that became an inspiration for our upcoming fall-winter 2025 collection. So tonight, we celebrate Italy and Canali through the interior design and Italian food offered by this wonderful restaurant Borgo here in New York City.”

Goggins, who looked especially graceful in his louche linen Canali suit, made a winking request to Stefano in his own salute to the group. “I have three wishes in life,” Goggins said. “I want to live in Italy, I want to speak Italian, and I want to wear Italian clothes for the rest of my life. So if you guys know anybody, hook me up.”