Aurora James Hosts a Warholian Dinner at Hotel Chelsea with Vogue100 and Friends of The CFDA

On a snowy night in downtown New York, Aurora James hosted a dinner to celebrate fashion’s past and support its future. Friends of The CFDA and Vogue100 partnered to kick off a sale of Andy Warhol photographs to benefit The Council of Fashion Designers of America. The collection, courtesy of Jim Hedges and Hedges Projects, features portraits of Yves Saint Laurent, Halston, Diane von Furstenberg, and other titans of the industry.

Fittingly, the event took place at Hotel Chelsea, one of Manhattan’s most storied addresses. The Gothic fortress on West 23rd Street was once home to many of the twentieth century’s beautiful and damned—Bob Dylan, Patti Smith, Leonard Cohen, Janis Joplin, and Sid Vicious among them. Edie Sedgwick, fond of romantic lighting and careless of her surroundings, burned down her apartment. Nico, another of Warhol’s doomed blondes, fled the country permanently after a violent outburst at the El Quijote Restaurant.

“It is so beautiful,” James said of the establishment, “if slightly haunted.”

Florist Ivie Joy transformed the Bard Room with white blooms and candles, which were luckily in votives to avoid recreating Sedgwick’s folly. Named for The Chelsea’s long-term proprietor, Stanley Bard, the ballroom glowed as guests entered. Golden chinoiserie fabric adorned the wood-paneled walls. Beneath the brass chandeliers that hung from the cement ceiling, colorful characters mingled.

Bethann Hardison, who became the first high-profile Black model after she walked in the famed 1973 Battle of Versailles, chatted with James Frazier, whose family foundation recently pledged $200,000 to support Black designers. Always unmissable, Dianne Brill—once a muse to Keith Haring and Warhol, as well as a model for Thierry Mugler, Jean Paul Gaultier, and Vivienne Westwood—posed for flashing cameras.

Creator of Sex and the City and Emily in Paris, Darren Star laughed with Hedges and Michael Waltz. Entrepreneur Ann Kaplan Mulholland bantered with two of New York’s top emerging designers: Henry Zankov of Zankov and Tanner Richie of Tanner Fletcher.

As guests enjoyed their first course of mixed greens in a sherry vinaigrette, Hedges and James stood to address their guests.

“A few months ago, I introduced my dear friend Jim Hedges to Steven Kolb [CEO OF CFDA] with an idea,” James said. “ I thought it would be very fun if we curated a collection of Jim’s incredible Warhol photography and created a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have pieces that would benefit the CFDA. The selection of photographs features fashion icons like Andrew Leon Talley, Dianne Vreeland, Dianne Brill…”

“Oh yes!” Brill exclaimed from the back of the room. “Oh yes! I made it”

The room erupted in laughter.

Founder of Brother Vellies and the creator of the 15 Percent Pledge, Aurora James is also the vice chairwoman of the CFDA and an alumna of the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund. Established in 1962, The CFDA is a nonprofit trade association representing over 350 of the nation’s leading womenswear, menswear, jewelry, and accessory designers. Its mission is to enhance the global influence of American fashion by promoting creative excellence, business sustainability, and positive industry impact. The work helps support designers like Sebastian Ami, Kate Barton, and others in attendance.

“The relationship between Warhol and fashion is undeniable,” Hedges said. “When you think about source material for the fashion industry, Andy Warhol is it.”