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And while the celebs weren't quite Costume Institute caliber (remember George, Julia, JLo, Tom and Katie?), there was nevertheless plenty of eye candy, from Victoria Beckham to Maggie Gyllenhaal, Ashley Olsen, Eva Mendes and Kim Cattrall, who seems to find it increasingly difficult to differentiate herself from her fictional character Samantha Jones, as she purred her way through her presentation of the men's awards. This being an industry event, designers were in abundance: Ralph Lauren, Donna Karan, Calvin Klein, Vera Wang, Michael Kors and Marc Jacobs. Womenswear Designer of the Year winner Francisco Costa brought Mendes for the second year in a row. "It's quite romantic," Mendes said of her and Costa's pre-party routine. "He always picks me up and we have a cigarette on the way."
Mendes was responsible for one of the evening's more awkward moments. With Gyllenhaal representing nominee Proenza Schouler, Beckham in nominee Marc Jacobs and Mendes in Calvin Klein Collection, the trio were on stage to present the award for Womenswear Designer of the Year to Costa. Beckham opened the envelope and Mendes, seeing Costa's name, gleefully shrieked and snatched the envelope from the Spice Girl's hands, leaving Posh and Gyllenhaal momentarily stunned. Costa handled the moment with his signature grace, dedicating his award to Klein and Barry Schwartz. And even Klein seems to have mended some fences between him and his successor. "It's great for Francisco, and well-deserved," he said of Costa's win.
Guests walked from the library to the Bryant Park Grill for the seated dinner at long family-style tables among charming bouquets of peonies and sweet peas. It all made for an intimate affair — so much so that one wing had guests and waiters maneuvering the tightly packed tables, while the other had them praying for additional air-conditioning. The cooks' interminable pace left the industry that supposedly doesn't eat ravenous, and had von Furstenberg, Steven Kolb, and KCD's Julie Mannion in the kitchen hastening speed. Not in time for some. "I'm leaving; I'm hungry," said Jacobs, whose entire table, including Beckham and Lil' Kim, cleared before the main course, prompting Posh's BFF Naomi Campbell to do the same. Others stayed till the end, table hopping the night away. "It felt like a family," von Furstenberg said. "It really felt like we were a community, and that is nice because we all need each other."
Mendes was responsible for one of the evening's more awkward moments. With Gyllenhaal representing nominee Proenza Schouler, Beckham in nominee Marc Jacobs and Mendes in Calvin Klein Collection, the trio were on stage to present the award for Womenswear Designer of the Year to Costa. Beckham opened the envelope and Mendes, seeing Costa's name, gleefully shrieked and snatched the envelope from the Spice Girl's hands, leaving Posh and Gyllenhaal momentarily stunned. Costa handled the moment with his signature grace, dedicating his award to Klein and Barry Schwartz. And even Klein seems to have mended some fences between him and his successor. "It's great for Francisco, and well-deserved," he said of Costa's win.
Guests walked from the library to the Bryant Park Grill for the seated dinner at long family-style tables among charming bouquets of peonies and sweet peas. It all made for an intimate affair — so much so that one wing had guests and waiters maneuvering the tightly packed tables, while the other had them praying for additional air-conditioning. The cooks' interminable pace left the industry that supposedly doesn't eat ravenous, and had von Furstenberg, Steven Kolb, and KCD's Julie Mannion in the kitchen hastening speed. Not in time for some. "I'm leaving; I'm hungry," said Jacobs, whose entire table, including Beckham and Lil' Kim, cleared before the main course, prompting Posh's BFF Naomi Campbell to do the same. Others stayed till the end, table hopping the night away. "It felt like a family," von Furstenberg said. "It really felt like we were a community, and that is nice because we all need each other."
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