Monday evening saw Manhattan’s Alice Tully Hall play host to the Lincoln Center Corporate Fund’s third annual gala, and we were thrilled to be part of the celebrations.
This year’s event was dedicated to Valentino Creative Directors Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli, who were presented with The Women’s Leadership Award by Keira Knightley, looking exceptionally elegant in Valentino, of course.
Pierpaolo Piccioli, Kiera Knightley & Maria Grazia Chiuri / Photo: Harper's Bazaar
The talented design duo, who previously worked solely in the accessories department, were appointed to the helm of the storied Italian fashion house in 2008 after founder Valentino Garavani stepped aside in 2007. Since, they have brought a new language and sense of modernity to the legendary brand.
The event is a relatively new fixture on the fashion calendar, and co-chairs including Harper’s Bazaar’s Editor-in-Chief Glenda Bailey and CoutureLab Founder Carmen Busquets were joined this year by Diane Kruger, Liv Tyler, Olivia Palermo and other stars of fashion and film.
The event aims to raise funds to support ten residential arts organizations on the Lincoln Centre campus, and previous recipients of the night’s award include Karl Lagerfeld and Stella McCartney.
Stefano Sassi, CEO of Valentino, with gala co-chairs Steven Swartz & Glenda Bailey, designers Pierpaolo Piccioli & Maria Grazia Chiuri & Lincoln Center President Jed Bernstein / Photo: Harper's Bazaar
Perhaps fittingly, given that Maria and Pierpaolo invented the now iconic Rockstud, rock star Debbie Harry took to the stage with Blondie keyboardist Matt Katz-Bohen to perform for us during the event. And we were also treated to an exclusive one-night-only viewing of the designers’ Mirabilia Romae Fall 2015 Haute Couture collection, providing the ideal backdrop to an already perfect evening.
Debbie Harry with Giancarlo Giametti, co-founder of Valentino / Photo: The New York Times