(NEW YORK) A parade of fashionettes showed up at The Plaza last night to celebrate the Gordon Parks Foundation Awards, which celebrates those who have changed the face of photography, music and fashion. And while the chairs included powerhouse names like honorary chair, President Bill Clinton and co-chairs, Karl Lagerfeld and Alicia Keys, the powerhouse trio got tied up ruling their respective fields to show. However, Keys’ husband record producer and recording artist, Kasseem ‘Swizz Beatz’ Dean was on hand, and was in good spirits as he received is award from friend and designer, Tommy Hilfiger.
Another industry stalwart getting the Gordon Parks Award treatment last night? Donna Karan, who was presented by longtime friend, Calvin Klein. Karan laughed as she recalled once approaching Klein back when she was a young designer at Anne Klein, to start a label together. The conceit: the designers would alternate designing seasons so they could vacation. Wishful thinking! Of course, the two ended up separately becoming two of the biggest faces in American design, but Karan has nevertheless managed to work in some vacation this summer. “I’m going to L.A. this week and then I go to Israel, then I go to Spain, and hopefully Africa,” Karan told The Daily. That’s quite an itinerary, non?
Other recipients of the prestigious award included photographer Peter Beard, presented by Theodore Stebbins, curator of American painting at Harvard university, as well as visual artist, Carrie Mae Weems, who was introduced by Deborah Willis, chair of photography and imaging at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts.
Also in attendance at the star studded event: Sofia Vergara (looking stunning in an ultra-tight blue body-con dress that showed off her famous curves), Isabel and Ruben Toledo, Lauren Hutton, Bernadette Peters, Debbie Mazar, Carmello Anthony, Karlie Kloss, Julie Macklowe, Zang Toi, Stefano Tonchi, Olivier Theyskens, and Constance Jablonski, to name a few. The night ended with a performance of “What A Wonderful World” and an after-party was held at The Plaza’s Terrace Room, where attendees danced the night away to DJ sets by Swizz Beatz and DJ Runna. A wonderful world, indeed!
PAIGE REDDINGER
