Daily Front Row

2010 October 29

Global Sessions

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Kate Bosworth in Proenza Schouler with Leighton Meester in Giambattista Valli and Ferragamo clutch
CLINT SPAULDING/PatrickMcMullan.com View Gallery

(NEW YORK) If the CFDAs are fashion's version of Oscars, then the FGIs have to be the Globes. Both merrier and more champagne-fueled, the FGI Night of Stars event even serves food while crystal trophies are handed out to fashion heavyweights. The 27th annual gala seems familiar every year. Because the dinner setting is almost always the same (at Cipriani Wall Street for the third straight time) and virtually every EIC and publisher in town fill out the ten-person tables. The only difference? The honorees.

With "The Globalists" as the theme, the 2010 Superstar award went to Nicolas Ghesquière, who at 39, is one of the youngest to ever receive that honor. “I might be the youngest, but I'm coming from the oldest house,” winked the Balenciaga designer. “And I don’t feel like a superstar at all. It’s like a fantasy book title!” In fact, before catching up with his muse Jennifer Connelly and her husband Paul Bettany, Ghesquiere took a pretty humble all-American journey. “I just took a Western road trip,” he shared. “I went to San Francisco, Utah, and Arizona just taking pictures and discovering the beauty of all the landscapes. I was in awe of Utah.”

Richard Gere also created a stir by arriving to the Financial District with more bodyguards than Mayor Bloomberg. He presented the Brand Visionary award to his good friend, Diego Della Valle. “I’ve presented at the Oscars before, but this is a bit of a different crowd," smiled the actor. "I'll try harder to charm them." And how did Valle get pumped for his big honor? “I woke up in the morning, took a jog in the park and then ate a splendid, huge American breakfast,” said the Italian. “Those eggs and bacon remind me that I'm in the States!” Speaking of Mr. Bloomberg, he presented the Humanitarian honor to Evelyn Lauder, who was was beaming with pride. “What could be better than for the mayor to give you your award?” she asked us.

As the ceremony began, Jane Seymour pondered this year's vague Globalist theme. “I travel around the world now and find the same designers in every obscure country I would go to,” said the actress. “But I used to take trips and come back with clothes from foreign designers and pray that no one else had them!” Meanwhile, Leighton Meester had another worry on her mind: the early Gossip Girl call time. “It seems that every time I go to one of these huge things, I have an abnormally early wakeup call the following morning,” she said. “Tomorrow, it's a cruel 6 a.m., but I'll be ready after a big, full dinner.”

At the podium, Marisa Berenson gave Pierre Cardin the Legend Award, Calvin Klein celebrated Frederic Fekkai in the Beauty category, and Simon Kneen stepped in for Elizabeth Moss to give the Entertainment Honor to Mad Men costume designer Janie Bryant. “Jon Hamm is hosting SNL this Halloween weekend, and I got an FGI, so we’re both having an awesome week,” said Bryant. “Now, I just have to worry about my Halloween costume.” Meanwhile, Akris’ Albert Kriemler received a fashion prize from Stefano Tonchi, while tablemates and friends Daphne Guinness and Steven Klein cheered him on. “I was shooting the campaign all day yesterday, but I have plenty of energy left,” assured the Swiss designer. “It's very cool to get my first big international award in my favorite city in the world!”

Other guests included Derek Lam, Tom Florio, Julie Macklowe, Michel Kors, Pat McGrath, Melissa George, Tory Burch, Thom Browne, Chris Benz, Victoria and Vanessa Traina, and Kate Bosworth, who presented an honor to Christopher Bailey a few years back. This time, she came to support Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez, who received their statue from Anna Wintour and Bee Shaffer. “Tonight, I'm just sitting as pretty as a Proenza peach," she exclaimed. "And playing a chic cheerleader role!”
VALENTINE UHOVSKI