In one of my vintage dresses and Iradj Moini brooch.
The International Center of Photography’s 25th annual Infinity Awards dinner this year was a wonderful event to see great photographers both from fashion and non-fashion categories. Gloria Steinem presented to long time friend photographer Annie Leibovitz with a Lifetime Achievement Award by calling her “the most authoritative shy person I’ve ever met”. I will be forever grateful to Annie as she did me a huge favor by photographing exclusively for my book “I AM IMAN” my “tribe of beauties” which was the first group shot of black models ever. Congrats Annie!
in Oscar de la Renta gown
Our First Lady, Michelle Obama, was the biggest star at this opening gala. Looking beautiful, stylish and elegant in an Azzedine Alaia dress she brought modern dressing at a black tie event. She received such a high standing ovation when she took the stage and we were all star struck. The program included excerpts from Swan Lake and Romeo and Juliet and a jazz number by Herbie Hancock on piano. I wore a green Oscar de la Renta, beautiful but extremely big, that confirmed why i don’t wear long frothy gowns as they are very difficult to maneuvre … I am no SJP!
Image courtesy of Wireimage
The Metropolitan Museum Costume Institute Gala is dubbed as The Party of the Year and this year it was a salute to The Model as a Muse and it was about time. It was a celebration of the real-life heroines of fashion-The Model. It was a multi-generational love fest and there were a lot of models whom I haven’t seen for over 20 years, Lisa Taylor! I met for the first time Twiggy! and was hugged and loved by new girls of the moment like Raquel Zimmerman in the bathroom – no less! And I couldn’t have been more elated to see one of my fave model/ friend Yasmine Le Bon and her gentleman of a husband, Simon Le Bon. I was even one of the first on my feet dancing when Kanye West took the stage and he blew the roof of the Met! For those who are not in the loop… I wore custom made Donna Karan and Fred Leighton jewelry… and my date was Donna Karan as I am her muse. Thank you Anna Wintour for celebrating us!
