Ciara, Julianne Hough, and Kris Jenner Celebrate Honorees at The Accessories Council’s 27th Annual Ace Awards

On Wednesday evening, accessory aficionados gathered at Cipriani’s majestic midtown location to commemorate the 27th Annual ACE Awards. Guests and honorees alike sparkled in dazzling ensembles, illuminating the space with a mesmerizing spectacle of glitz and glamour. Upon entering the venue, attendees were welcomed with Cipriani’s signature white peach bellini and delectable canapes before they were seated.

The evening began with an opening remark from Karen Giberson, president and CEO of the Accessories Council, welcoming attendees to the lustrous affair. Giberson couldn t help but express her enthusiasm for spring; delighted by the idea of wearing open-toed shoes, bringing out her favorite summer tote, and the start of baseball season—yes, baseball. In what way do these diverse interests correlate, you may ask? “A curveball can be one of the hardest pitches for a batter to hit,” Giberson tells the audience. “But if they make a quick adjustment and connect with a ball, it’s going to be a powerful hit—and tonight s honorees hit the ball out of the park.”

Mickey Drexler, who received the Visionary Award this year, amused guests with his touching speech about his journey in the industry—he ultimately finished his heartfelt address by extending an invitation for coffee to anyone interested in hearing more about his illustrious career. Grammy winner Ciara graciously accepted the award for Sustainability on behalf of her brand, House of LR&C, and jovially embraced Drexler s offer for a cup of coffee. And Alexis Bittar, who received the award for Brand Innovation, was met with a thunderous round of applause from the audience. “When I stepped away from the industry for seven years, I spent that time with my kids and was just parenting full-time,” Bittar, who accepted his third ACE award in his career, tells Vogue. “And coming back, it definitely feels like a resurgence—I love to design, and to be recognized this way since returning a year and a half ago is such an incredible feeling.”

Among the many memorable moments of the night, none shone brighter than the appearance of momager and Kardashian matriarch Kris Jenner, who stole the show with a sea of phones held up high in unison, building a wave of excitement as the reality star presented the award for Emerging Designer for her good friend Dee Ocleppo. In a sparkling Etro dress, bedazzled with mesmerizing green sequins, Ocleppo (who is also creative director of Judith Lieber, which received the Hall of Fame award of the year) expressed her deep appreciation to her friends and partner, Tommy Hilfiger, with heartfelt words of thanks.

The celebration ended on a high note, with a thrilling finale that left guests shaken and stirred, reminiscent of a James Bond film. Tony Drockton, the founder of Hammit, and Giberson brought the bejeweled evening to a close as they bid farewell to the guests with special mementos.