“It’s not easy, finding a lot of pink dresses,” said Elizabeth Hurley last night at the Breast Cancer Research Foundation’s annual gala at the Waldorf Astoria. But after 20 years of working with the foundation—whose international symbol is a ribbon of that shade—she’s amassed an impressive number of rose-toned gowns, from Blumarine, to J. Mendel, to the Versace number she wore to yesterday’s event. “Some seasons there is no pink,” she continued. “[During the collections] I have a few people looking for it the entire time—then we beg, borrow, steal, pink dresses!” Another fashionable attendee who scouts her outfits months in advance? Lizzie Tisch, who wore a Peter Pilotto dress paired with an Edie Parker clutch, and whose outfit coordinated with her husband, Jonathan Tisch (“I’ve worn my pink Isaia jacket for three years,” he said, “but this year I have pink Leviev cufflinks too!”).
Inside the Waldorf’s grand ballroom (where Hailee Steinfeld, Reed Krakoff, and Donna Karan, among others, sat for dinner), fuchsia blooms covered the tables, which were swathed in white-sequined tablecloths. The entire space was bathed in pink light, and the Parisian skyline was projected onto a floor-to-ceiling screen, in keeping with this year’s can-can theme. “It’s fun, it’s frivolous, it’s French,” said Hurley. “We want everyone to have a good time as they donate their money, and it’s very important to us that people want to come back.” Performances by Sara Bareilles and Sir Elton John helped on this point, as did a live auction (the evening raised more than $5 million for the foundation). And the final selling point? “Great wine,” said Hurley. “That matters a lot!”
