Nicolas Ghesquière, Superstar
FGI Honors the Balenciaga Designer and Many More at Night of Stars
The theme of the Fashion Group International's 27th annual Night of Stars was "The Globalists," and appropriately, the evening's big-name presenters and guests of honor seemed to have arrived at Cipriani Wall Street from all ends of the earth. And some of them have attempted to sell their wares to all ends of the earth, too. Pierre Cardin, for one, was taking an expansive view of his trade. "Clothes, shoes, leather goods, bags, luggage, jewelry, hair—it's everything," the designer declared.
Joseph Altuzarra, with his Asian roots, Parisian upbringing, New York headquarters, Italian production facilities, and worldwide sales, might seem the epitome of today's designer, but elements of the global marketplace are still beyond him. "Every time I've been to London, fur is really looked down upon. And we sell so much fur in England. I don't know what that's about," he confessed. Not too long ago, Michael Kors got a surprise in Singapore: "It was New Year's Day, almost midnight, and the stores were open," he recalled. "And I took a stroll on Orchard Road and the next thing I knew, I was surrounded by girls with shopping bags who were like, 'Can I get your picture?' I was blown away."
Meanwhile, Superstar award winner Nicolas Ghesquière has been exploring the mysteries of the Arizona and Utah deserts. "The atmosphere is very special, so mineral—you're surrounded by beautiful rocks and colors," he said. "I will not say it's an inspiration—it's just, voilà. But it might be an inspiration." His dinner companion was Jennifer Connelly, one of several notables in the room with an honorary place inside the fashion fold. Presenter Mayor Bloomberg just had a walk-on role on Project Runway, and Richard Gere mentioned during his introduction of Diego Della Valle that their lasting friendship began when the Tod's founder gave him a pair of brown suede shoes. "I didn't take them off for ten years," the actor said. Sometimes, the most important things happen at ground level.
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