Leave it to the residents of a place where nobody walks to really appreciate the genius of a good stiletto. On Thursday night, shoe king Manolo Blahnik received the Rodeo Drive Walk of Style Award from the city of Beverly Hills. Celebrating a career that spans over 30 years, Blahnik's friends and fans took over Two Rodeo Drive for cocktails, a flurry of French desserts, and a performance by acclaimed electric violinist Lili Haydn. "It's a different breed of women here in Los Angeles," said the man of the hour as he surveyed a crowd that included the likes of Nicky Hilton, January Jones, and Hilary Duff. "They love the life they are living." The compliment was quickly returned. "The first pair of shoes I ever stepped in were Manolos because they were my mom's," said China Chow. "He's been in my life ever since." Added Lucy Liu: "He's so chic and lovely. And you can't turn away from a man in a bow tie." A special outdoor exhibition, featuring sketches and images of Blahnik's shoes, will decorate Rodeo Drive and its surrounding streets through October 5.

— Victoria Namkung