Some galas are dinners in nice clothes. The FGI Night of Stars reads more like a roll call of fashion’s most influential people. On Wednesday, October 14, Fashion Group International hosted its 42nd annual FGI Night of Stars at the Rainbow Room. Designers, beauty executives, stylists and tastemakers filled the room for a black-tie evening themed “The Modernists.”
The Modernists Take the Rainbow Room
The setting suited the theme. Under the Rainbow Room’s glowing dome and crystal chandeliers, with Manhattan sparkling through the windows, the evening started with a cocktail reception hosted by Simon G. Jewelry COO Brooke Brinkman. A seated dinner and the awards ceremony followed.
FGI Chairperson and Night of Stars Co-Chair Alyce Panico defined the theme in plain terms. She said being a modernist “isn’t simply about what’s new or what’s next.” It means challenging convention and moving an industry forward. Six honorees made her case.
Meet the 2026 FGI Night of Stars Honorees
Fashion and Media
Wes Gordon, Global Creative Director of Carolina Herrera, received the Fashion Visionary Award from Paige Paul. Nicole Phelps of Vogue Runway presented the Media Leadership Award to communications powerhouse Lucien Pagès. Kate Spade New York’s Jonathan Saunders honored Roksanda Ilinčić with the Fashion Star Award for her command of color, form and craft.
Beauty, Style and Change
Aerin Lauder presented the Beauty Award to Jane Hertzmark Hudis, Chief Brand Officer of The Estée Lauder Companies. Christian Siriano handed celebrity stylist Micaela Erlanger the Style Award in Honor of Edith Head. Actor and producer Tonatiuh presented the Changemaker Award to designer and philanthropist Henry R. Muñoz III, recognizing his work across design, architecture and institutional equity.
A Guest List Worth the Elevator Ride
The crowd was worth the 65-floor trip. Vera Wang, Brandon Maxwell, Linda Fargo, Fern Mallis, Sybil and David Yurman, Ruben Toledo and Olympia of Greece were among the guests. Sergio Soldano’s Creative Directors Giovanni Premoli and Dario Di Bella arrived with Olga Ferrara, who wore a Sergio Soldano gown.
Brooches, Totes and a Bigger Purpose
Sponsors brought their own keepsakes. Simon G. Jewelry designed a commemorative brooch for each honoree. The Italian heritage house Sergio Soldano sent guests home with its exclusive Sinopia Tote Bag.
The glamour has a purpose. FGI President and CEO Maryanne Grisz noted that the organization was founded almost a century ago by visionary women. Those founders, chartered in 1930, included Eleanor Roosevelt, Edith Head and Helena Rubinstein. The FGI Night of Stars gala funds scholarships, mentorship, education and community grants through The Fashion Group Foundation. That support reaches a global membership of more than 2,500 professionals.
So yes, the brooches sparkled. The real investment, though, is in the designers who will hold these awards a few years from now.
To learn more about Fashion Group International and its programs, visit fgi.org.
Photos: Sean Zanni/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images
