Parties

Prize Night in Paris at the Neiman Marcus Awards

March 6, 2023

There was a school’s-nearly-out vibe in La Suite Girafe last night as a tight pack of fashion folk gathered for the presentation of what are possibly America’s most historical fashion accolades, the Neiman Marcus Awards. Ashley Park, Charaf Tajer, Gilda Ambrosio, Giorgia Tordini, Rick Owens, Michèle Lamy, Sabrina Elba, Sidney Toledano, Tina Kunakey, Myriam Serrano and Albert Kriemler were among those rubbing shoulders in the rooftop bar overlooking the Eiffel Tower. Also in attendance was Rosita Missoni, who was the recipient of back in 1973—exactly fifty years ago.

Neiman Marcus CEO Geoffroy van Raemdonck took to the stage and said: “It is something special to bring the awards back after a couple of years. These awards have 85 years of history and have been bestowed on 150 luminaries.” Two new categories were added to the prize, he added, one for Innovation and the other for Creative Impact.

The winner of the Innovation award was Amina Muaddi, who made a great point as she collected her award. She said: “I’m very grateful to receive this award. Because it’s not often that accessories designers gets the same recognition as ready-to-wear [designers], or are perceived as innovators with passion… It feels so great that today I receive a prize that is an award that has been given to women like Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli, and I’m so happy to be a part of this iconic crew.”

After hearty applause, the first ever Neiman Marcus Award for Creative Impact in the Field of Fashion winner was named as Jonathan Anderson. “It’s like Dallas in Paris!” joked the designer, before adding his thanks to his colleagues and managers at Loewe.

Last up was the historical and pre-existing Distinguished Service Award which was received by Brunello Cucinelli. Typically Brunello, he seized the opportunity to share with this fresh audience his philosophies of graceful economics, social sustainability, ethical circularity and dignified labor in a vigorously delivered speech. He also told the crowd he had visited the family burial plot near his base in Solomeo, Umbria, to share the news with his ancestors that he was to be presented with the prize, and that he planned to return there with it tomorrow to show them it was true. As van Raemdonck said to Cucinelli after the applause had died down: “You are an amazing human and you bring soul and purpose to this industry.” And with that some finished their Champagne and headed for the four-at-time elevator to head home, while others lingered to listen to Noah Cyrus perform and exchange notes on the season of shows that is drawing to its close.