With the Rainbow Room in New York City as its backdrop, Fashion Group International celebrated its 42nd annual Night of Stars gala Wednesday night. Themed “The Modernists,” the gala brought together leaders from the fashion, beauty, entertainment and business worlds to honor influential visionaries.
Among those who attended were Vera Wang, Linda Fargo, Brandon Maxwell, David and Sybil Yurman, Ruben Toledo, Kate Barton, Jean Shariroff, Olympia of Greece, Rachel Scott, Kerry O’Brien, Jason Schupbach, Olivier Bron, Jeffrey Banks, Fern Mallis, Gary Wassner and Aiste Hong, an FGI Rising Star winner.
Wes Gordon, global creative director of Carolina Herrera, received the Fashion Visionary Award for his creative direction and contributions to modern American fashion. In accepting the award, presented by Paige Paul, Gordon said, “Everyone always asks me what’s a piece of advice Mrs. Herrera gave you, and the number one is that speeches should be short.”
“There’s a saying that the days are long, but the years are short, and it feels like just yesterday that it was 2011, and I was standing receiving [FGI’s] Rising Star Award, very nervous. Tommy Hilfiger was sitting like right there. It was terrifying….That award still sits proudly on my shelf,” Gordon said.
“You know, I operate under the belief that happy people make happy clothes, and most of all, I am who I am as a designer because of the amazing women I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know in my life. I respect them, I love them, and I approach my job with the simple task of making pieces that would make them feel beautiful and happy, optimistic and joyful,” Gordon said.
Roksanda Ilincic, founder and creative director of Roksanda, received the Fashion Star Award, presented by Jonathan Saunders, creative director of Kate Spade New York, recognizing the London-based designer’s distinct approach to color, form and craftsmanship. In accepting the award, Roksanda said, “I feel truly humbled to be here with all of you and one of my greatest friends [Saunders], and to be receiving this award so far from London…and to be in great company with all the other companies.”
She thanked her team and family, as well as all the inspirational women who face challenges in their lives and inspire her to create clothing for them.
Accepting the Beauty Award was Jane Hertzmark Hudis, executive vice president and chief brand officer of The Estee Lauder Cos. Presented by Aerin Lauder, the award recognized Hertzmark Hudis’ impact as a brand builder and global beauty industry leader.
“I especially want to thank all of my many friends, family and colleagues who are here tonight. You mean the world to me, each and every one of you,” she said. She said she has her dream job as chief brand officer at Lauder, where she oversees more than 20 “extraordinary beauty brands,” such as Estée Lauder, Clinique, La Mer, Tom Ford and Bobbi Brown.
“I found my passion when I started in beauty. For me, it turned out to be the perfect combination of my love of art history, which was my major in college, and my MBA that followed. I absolutely love brands, focusing on building each brand’s unique and distinct brand equity, while always looking to the future, connecting to culture and building powerful relationships with our consumers around the world.
“Tonight I stand on the shoulders of [chairman emeritus] Leonard Lauder. I met him just three weeks after I joined the company, and he was my mentor and teacher. For Leonard, brand equity was absolutely everything, as was being kind to others and always sending handwritten thank you notes. I would not be here today without Leonard’s 40 years of teaching and mentorship, along with the unwavering support of every single member of the Lauder family.”
Micaela Erlanger, celebrity fashion stylist, received the Style Award in honor of Edith Head. Erlanger’s award was presented by Christian Siriano, recognizing her contributions to red carpet fashion, visual storytelling and the business of styling. Erlanger is known for styling such celebrities as Meryl Streep, Kelly Clarkson, Lupita Nyong’o and Ego Nwodim. She has also styled campaigns for major fashion, beauty and luxury brands such as L’Oréal, Lancôme, Nike and Cadillac. In presenting the award, Siriano said, “I think Micaela doesn’t just put people in beautiful gowns, she creates cultural moments.”
Erlanger said, “Receiving an award bearing the name of Edith Head, a visionary who defined how we view cinema, character and glamour, is surreal. Edith understood that clothes aren’t just worn on the screen, they tell a story before an actor ever speaks a word. That knowledge has framed my entire career of image making.
“Whether it’s preparing for an iconic press tour like ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ that I just finished, with the incomparable Meryl Streep, no less, to creating the visual identity on the day-to-day ‘Kelly Clarkson’ TV show, or even prepping a client for an award show or the Met Gala, the goal remains the same. It’s about building character, inspiring confidence and telling a visual story that resonates and the world.”
Lucien Pagès, fashion communications leader, received the Media Leadership Award, presented by Nicole Phelps, director of Global Vogue Runway, for his influence in shaping the global narratives of leading fashion houses and creative talent. In accepting his award, Pagès said, “Exchanging ideas with journalists has always been an immense source of inspiration, and in a world where the future is supposed to be AI, I want to pay tribute to them. Thank you.”
The final honoree was Henry R. Munoz 3rd, business leader, Tony- and Emmy Award-winning producer, media executive, architectural designer, activist and philanthropist, who received the Changemaker Award from Tonatiuh, actor, writer and producer, and Maria Nicanor, director of the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum in New York. The award recognized Munoz’s impact on design, architecture, culture and institutional equity.
In accepting his award, Munoz said that he grew up in San Antonio, Texas, with a father who was a lawyer and a mother who worked at his side. “It always struck me that everybody always wanted to talk about my father, who was kind of famous in San Antonio, but it was my mom who used fashion to create empowerment in her own family. She designed the windows in our fancy department store and that’s how she put seven kids who followed her, her brothers and sisters, through school. And she always made sure that we had the best clothes, even if she had to put them on layaway….She understood that fashion is power, and that it represents opportunity, and I think she must have understood that fashion is a reflection of the society that we live in at the moment that we’re living. For me, that’s a reminder that it’s usually everyday heroes that create change, and they never do it alone.”
He accepted the award on behalf of his mother, and made a $25,000 gift in her name to FGI for a scholarship to the fashion leaders.
Night of Stars is one of FGI’s signature annual fundraising events. The evening supports the organization’s year-round commitment to nurturing and connecting fashion and beauty professionals at every stage of their careers. Proceeds benefit education programming, mentorship, scholarships, professional development resources and community grants, including initiatives administered by The Fashion Group International.
Maryanne Grisz, president and chief executive officer of Fashion Group International, who was dressed in a black dress by this year’s Rising Star Aiste Hong, said, “Fashion Group International was founded almost 100 years ago by visionary women who understood the power of bringing creative minds together. Their legacy lives on in our mission to connect, educate, mentor and champion talent at every stage of a career. Tonight, as we celebrate extraordinary achievement, we also invest in the next generation of visionaries.”