It was the distillation of a remarkable four-decade career into a single night. To begin with, there was the power in the room—the "room" being the tree-sheltered, terraced environs of the Conservatory Garden in Central Park, and the power being provided by a pair of actors (the of-their-generation kind: De Niro, Hoffman) and more moguls than you could pack on a fleet of G5s, not to mention dozens of other instantly recognizable high-achievers from film to fashion. That is the kind of company you get to keep when, like Ralph Lauren, you've built a $13.5 billion business that continues to gallop across the globe.

Then there was the mise-en-scène at the designer's 40th anniversary celebration, which followed seamlessly on from his runway show in an adjacent, specially constructed tent and had the same immaculate cinematic quality as one of his famous ad campaigns. Custom-made crystal chandeliers illuminated this enchanted corner of the park, hydrangeas spilled from supersized urns, and Champagne flowed from the bottles (700 of them in all) with which white-tuxedoed waiters filled guests' flutes. "I feel so honored to be here," said Sarah Jessica Parker, and for once that wasn't a sound bite. "I mean, look around—this is really something."

Following a meal of haricots verts, New Zealand lamb, and strawberry shortcake—washed down by a modest little Margaux—Michael Bloomberg addressed the black-tie crowd. And though the mayor did take personal credit for keeping the rain away, the rest of his praise was all for the man of honor's achievements. Perhaps what was most distinctive about the evening, though, is that it didn't feel like any kind of career summation but rather another perfectly choreographed chapter in an ongoing story. "Enjoy yourselves," said a jaunty Lauren, as he made his rounds among the tables. "You can stay all night."

— Staff