FGI stars shine at Cipriani
Sarah Parker

Across the bustling intersection that is 42nd Street, commuters in Grand Central Station were hurrying home after a hard day’s work. But inside the stately former bank building that is now home to Cipriani 42nd Street, the evening was just beginning as stars of film and fashion gathered to celebrate Fashion Group International’s 22nd annual Night of Star Awards honoring “The Romantics” in a ceremony sponsored by Saks Fifth Avenue and hosted by “America’s Next Top MC” Simon Doonan.
Under a soaring vaulted ceiling, an army of white jacketed waiters stood at the ready, proffering trays of Bellinis and luxe appetizers (tuna tartare, salmon and capers, goat cheese and endive, prosciutto wrapped asparagus, blinis with American caviar) while the black tie crowd of 500 fashionistas milled around the lobby waiting for Sandra Bullock, Valentino, Meryl Streep, Donald Trump, Olivier Theyskens, Alberta Ferretti, Patricia Clarkson, Ralph Rucci, Pat McGrath, Naomi Campbell and Andre Leon Talley to walk the red carpet that had been set up just off the entrance.
“Meryl Streep is coming?” asked a wide-eyed blond waitress. Yes, indeed. Streep - who is currently playing the boss from hell in the film adaptation of “The Devil Wears Prada” - was presenting the Superstar Award to her good friend Valentino. “Who’s that?” replied the blond. She was, perhaps, the only person in the crowd unfamiliar with the legendary Italian designer, who was celebrating his 45th year of being in business.
“It’s not because I’m here tonight, but I think the highlights of my career were always in the United States,” the dapper Valentino told Fashion Wire Daily after he had obligingly posed for photographers. “In the United States, they are always giving awards for fashion and, unfortunately, in my country, they don’t do this type of thing. So this is very glamorous. Now I would love to put together a museum collection of my clothes, but I’m not going to do it in Italy but in America, because in America you are concerned about fashion so it’s the perfect place to do it.”
Valentino confided that he had asked Meryl Streep to present the award when they had lunch back in June, while Streep was vacationing in Italy with her family. “I’m so honored because, to me, she’s the top of the top.”
“I’m so proud and flabbergasted that he asked me, who is like a contra-fashionista,” countered Streep, who arrived a bit later looking slim and elegant in a white Valentino evening suit.
Sandra Bullock, who was being given the Humanitarian Award (presented by Sri Lankan Ambassador Bernard A.B. Goonetilleke) for providing financial aid to disaster-struck countries, most notably her $1 million donation to help tsunami victims, swanned in looking pretty top of the top herself in a gray lace Valentino gown.
“I haven’t quite figured out the vibe yet, but once everyone has a couple of glasses of wine I think everyone will be on the same page,” the gracious actress told us as she made her way from the red carpet to the cordoned-off VIP cocktail lounge that overlooked the main bar.
“I don’t believe in awards or strive to get them,” added Bullock, who had been proceeded down the red carpet by “Vogue” editor Andre Leon Talley and designer Peter Som. “But it’s nice to be able to say thank you tonight to those people that do the work that I can fund. That’s what it is. I sign a check, but they actually do the work.”
British makeup artist Pat McGrath, meanwhile, was being honored with an FGI Star Award presented by her good friend Talley.
“I haven’t collected many awards before so I’m very nervous,” McGrath said. “But it means a lot to be recognized, and being with Andre is gonna help cause I know he’ll make it really easy for me.”
Her model pals Karen Elson, Tiiu and Missy Rayder were also on hand to lend support to the warm, gregarious woman they all affectionately refer to as Mother.
“She’s just an incredible person,” said Rayder, who looked lovely in a full-skirted velvet and taffeta Marc Jacobs gown. “She’s so welcoming to everybody and so supportive.”
“I’m here because Pat’s the most amazing makeup artist of the planet,” gushed Elson, who was also wearing Jacobs (a dusty blue chiffon column that twinkled in the light). “Come on Mother, let’s go,” said Elson sweetly as she linked her arm through McGrath’s and the foursome made their way down the red carpet. Actress Patricia Clarkson arrived next in a strapless black tulle Alberta Ferretti creation, setting off a flurry of flashbulbs.
“I’ve known Alberta for years,” said Clarkson of the woman to whom she was presenting another of the evening’s Star Awards. “Her designs are so beautiful and they’re kind of fantasy yet still real. I always feel like I’m absolutely dressed as I should be [in Ferretti]. I don’t feel like I’m wearing someone else’s event.”
She laughed and confessed to being “a little bit” nervous. Even after all the time she’s spent in front of the camera and at Hollywood soirees? “Yes, because I so adore her that I want my speech to go well,” said Clarkson. “Now I really need a glass of champagne. Where’s the bar?”
Rochas’ artistic director Olivier Theyskens also looked in need of a drink when we caught up with him after his red carpet walk, as he stood by himself behind the still-intact marble and glass bank teller windows (some of which bore signs urging investors to “Buy Super Low-Cost Life Insurance”), surveying the celebrity madness going on around him.
“It’s meaningful and important to receive an award from the people who have supported me since the beginning,” said Theyskens, who was also being honored with an award. “And I’m happy to receive it in New York and in this country because I’ve received real encouragement and support [here].”
And why did the endearingly shy designer ask Bee Schaffer, an editor at “Teen Vogue” and Anna Wintour’s daughter, to present him with his FGI Star Award? “I chose my friend Bee Schaffer because I love her and because I know we understand each other and she likes what I do,” he replied earnestly. “I wanted somebody that I really emotionally love [to give me the award].” McGrath chose Andre Leon Talley for the same reason, and the Jolly Green Editor clearly returns the sentiment.
“Pat McGrath is absolutely the most refined lady in the world of beauty and style,” Talley gushed while making his way through the marble pillared dining room, which had been outfitted with a stage and podium for the evening. “I’ve always been inspired by her sheer presence, and the calm in her soul is so big and generous. She’s just an extraordinarily gifted artist. So this is an honor for me.”
Donald Trump was also on hand to receive the Visionary Business Leader award, which was being presented by his offspring Donald Trump, Jr. and Ivanka Trump, both of whom now work for him.
“Any time you’re called visionary in any industry it’s great,” the swoopingly coiffed Trump told FWD while his four-months-pregnant Valentino-clad wife, Melania, beamed at his side. “And I’m honored to be here with some other great recipients, too.”
“He is a great visionary and he’s recognized as such within the business community, so I think it’s nice for him to hear that from his friends - and his kids,” Ivanka, who was glowing in peach Alberta Ferretti, added with a laugh. “Elle” fashion director Nina Garcia was also wearing Ferretti (“She’s one of my favorite designers”), while her “Elle Accessories” colleague Kelly Bensimon was looking hot-to-trot in a black Azzedine Alaia minidress and said she and husband Gilles Bensimon had come to support Fashion Oracle Award honoree Prosper Assouline of Assouline Books, who had published two of her books.
“I think the great thing about Prosper is that he does books in a magazine style format so they’re very quick, immediate and provocative,” said Ms. Bensimon. “And they’re on interesting subject matter, whether it’s Buddhism or American style, and very approachable and tangible.”
Architect William McDonough was honored with an FGI Award being presented by Diana Revson. And designer Ralph Rucci, who was being given a Star Award by his longtime friend Joan Kaner (the recently retired fashion director of Neiman Marcus who calls Rucci “probably one of the most important designers we have in America today”), told us that being honored for his work “was extraordinary” and allowed him to “be in touch with a sense of humility.”
As 8 o’clock approached, the FGI organizers encouraged everyone to take their seats so the dinner (lobster and haricot verts and green salad with goat cheese followed by lamb or halibut) and awards ceremony could begin, and it was then that Naomi Campbell dashed in (wearing Valentino, natch), with Zac Posen hot on her heels.
“Olivier Theyskens and Valentino I’m both huge admirers of, so that’s why I’m here,” said Posen. Campbell, for her part, had also come to support Valentino.
“His designs are always so feminine and elegant. I’m very happy when I wear Valentino; I feel like I’m back in the Elizabeth Taylor era.” Surrounded by the bevy of elegantly dressed fashion and film luminaries who had come together for the FGI Awards, Fashion Wire Daily felt exactly the same way.