Starriest Night

(NEW YORK) "Welcome to the Golden Globes!" laughed Michael Kors, as he stepped up to the podium to accept his fashion award from gorgeous presenter Iman. He might not have had the right award show, exactly, but the Fashion Group International's Night of Stars was just as glamorous as any Hollywood to-do. The night's emcee, Simon Doonan, had the same comparison. "I used to be incredibly nervous, but this is my five billionth time hosting and I've gotten used to the fact that it's very fun and casual," he said pre-show. "People don't take it so seriously; it's more like the Golden Globes. People get drunk. My goal is to give people a bit of a chuckle."

The Barneys creative director certainly achieved his goal. "I'm not quite sure what Margaret [Hayes, FGI president] was smoking when she came up with this theme, but I like it!" he announced, before launching into a story of his own. The Daily couldn't possibly recount it in its entirety here (see the full transcript here!)--but suffice it to say it included an Oscar de la Renta-owned strip club in Paris called Le Sexy J'Adore, and it had all of the audience, including Vera Wang, Tommy Hilfiger, Emmy Rossum, Evan Rachel Wood, Prabal Gurung, Mark Ronson, and many, many more in sitches, practically spilling their Cointreau Teese cocktails (Dita Von Teese's signature drink) from all the laughter.

One speaker was not quite so at ease: "I hate doing this," admitted Gwen Stefani, who presented the beauty award to Coty's Catherine Walsh. "I don't want to say much, because I'm going to throw up!" The camaraderie among presenters and honorees was clear, though. "The last time we worked together, we ended the day by jumping into a pool with our clothes on!" recalled James Franco as he and Mary J. Blige presented to fashion award winner Frida Giannini. The third fashion award was presented to a crowned Stephen Jones by Dita Von Teese, who sported an equally elaborate headpiece, and a bunny-eared Victoire de Castellane accepted her award from Dennis Friedman, saying, "I would like to thank the women who wear my jewelry, as well as the men who buy it for them!"

André Leon Talley sported a cape (naturally) as he presented the sustainability award to SCAD's Paula Wallace, and Fern Mallis was happy to give the architecture award to her friend Clodagh, but one particularly star-studded presentation came from R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe to Renzo Rosso, who accepted the corporate leadership award. Jon Bon Jovi, similarly, got the crowds in a tizzy (Gurung pulled out his best air guitar as Bon Jovi's "It's My Life" came on) as he presented the humanitarian award to Kenneth Cole.

The biggest award of the evening, the Superstar award, was presented by Hamish Bowles and Grace Coddington to de la Renta. "You're awesome," gushed Coddington in a refreshingly unrehearsed intro. "What else can I say? You're really a great superstar." Attendees surely concurred, and the crowds gave the great designer a standing ovation as he accepted his award.

"Oscar is hosting the afterparty at Le Sexy J'adore!" announced Doonan as the event wound to a close. If only...
EMILY GYBEN and EMILY POPP