“Princess Grace is a symbol of elegance of the mind—and, obviously, a symbol of wearing couture dresses,” declared Christian Dior Couture president and CEO, Sidney Toledano, at last night’s annual Princess Grace Awards Gala held in partnership with Dior at Cipriani in New York. The occasion celebrated her legacy—a foundation which has provided grants to more than 800 up-and-coming talents in the performing arts since 1982—and this year, recognized Hamilton Tony Award–winner Leslie Odom, Jr., choreographer Camille A. Brown, and Queen Latifah, for their strides on stage and screen. Guests, in turn, paid tribute through their formal attire. “This reminded me of a princess dress,” said Dee Hilfiger, accompanied by husband, Tommy, in frothy Marchesa tulle which offered a modern take on Cinderella style. Real-life royal, Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene of Monaco opted for a stunning Christian Dior Couture embroidered dress in crêpe silk, but perhaps it was Naomi Campbell who took home the crown for her black-tie quick-change: The evening s hostess held court on the red carpet in caped Ralph Russo, only to trade it for a second, yet equally stunning, draped number mid-ceremony.
When it came time for Prince Albert to introduce 2016 Prince Rainier III award Award recipient, Queen Latifah, a movie reel played with memorable clips from her turns that included Chicago, Bessie, and Beauty Shop. “I was starting to enjoy it, like, ‘I’ve got to watch that one again—that was funny!” she said in a speech she delivered while dressed in a Christian Siriano gown with diamanté collar detail. “I looked up to Grace Kelly when I was a kid; I thought she was so beautiful and so talented, but never in a million years did I think I would be having dinner with her son.” Leslie Odom, Jr. revealed that he and wife, Nicolette Robinson, would be making the journey to Los Angeles as soon as the next morning. “My sweet Nicolette—who is also a Princess Grace Award winner and really the personification of grace in my life—and I are expecting a child. So we’re going to have our sweet baby out there,” he said. And though the couple is keeping the gender of their child under wraps for now, Odom Jr. gave reason to believe the name “Grace” could be a possibility. “ ‘Grace’ has long my favorite word in the English language,” he said. “The word has always meant elegance and refinement, simplicity, dignity.” Looking quite dapper himself in a David Hart tuxedo, the second-time Princess Grace Award recipient continued: “My fifteen-year association with the word has felt like a cosmic wink,” he said. “And I can t help but feel like I’m at the start of act two of my life.” All in all, it was an evening and a cause worthy of an encore.
