Wednesday, September 9
David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center
The Couture Council will honor Manolo Blahnik with its 2015 Couture Council Award for Artistry of Fashion on September 9 at an award luncheon at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City. As has become tradition, this annual benefit luncheon heralds the arrival of Fall Fashion Week in New York.
Manolo Blahnik was selected to receive the 2015 Couture Council Award for Artistry of Fashion as a result of his longstanding dedication to superior craftsmanship and innovative design. For more than 40 years, he has been meticulously designing his shoe line, which has attracted a cult following including the likes of Nicole Kidman, Rihanna, and Victoria Beckham. Legendary fashion editor André Leon Talley will present the award to Blahnik.
“It is one of the greatest accolades of my life to be awarded the 2015 Couture Council Award for Artistry of Fashion,” said Manolo Blahnik. “I very much admire the Couture Council’s invaluable support of The Museum at FIT. It is imperative that we cultivate the culture of fashion and continue educating about design and artisanship. The museum does just that and in very clever and innovative ways. After all it is fashion that makes the world so much more colorful and interesting, so we must nurture and celebrate talent. I am very much looking forward to being there and to share my excitement with everyone.”
FIT President Joyce F. Brown, said, “Manolo Blahnik is one of the world’s most accomplished and influential footwear designers. Superbly crafted in the finest materials, his highly coveted shoes—which have been called “magical totems of success and femininity”—reflect his timeless and singular vision. We are delighted to be honoring him.”
“Manolo Blahnik is one of the world’s greatest shoe designers—and a true artist of fashion,” said Dr. Valerie Steele, director of The Museum at FIT and chair of the Couture Council Advisory Board. “I was absolutely delighted when the Advisory Committee of the Couture Council chose him to receive the Couture Council Artistry of Fashion Award. It was Manolo who kicked off contemporary fashion’s obsession with shoes, as viewers of Sex and the City will recall. The award luncheon on September 9 is sure to our most photogenic event yet.”
This year’s luncheon co-chairs are Carole Divet Harting and Darcy Rigas. Honorary co-chairs are Joan Juliet Buck and Amy Fine Collins.
“We are thrilled to honor a designer who’s taught us that a great outfit isn’t complete without beautiful shoes,” said Couture Council Chair Yaz Hernández. “Manolo Blahnik is an icon, and we look forward to celebrating his accomplishments at this year’s luncheon.”
Each year the Artistry of Fashion award winner is chosen by the Couture Council Advisory Board, which includes fashion journalists, editors, retailers, and curators, including Glenda Bailey, Hamish Bowles, Ken Downing, Linda Fargo, Nicole Fischelis, Akiko Fukai, Pamela Golbin, and Suzy Menkes. Dr. Steele explained, “The committee’s mandate is to look not only at the previous year’s accomplishments, but at a lifetime of contributions to fashion.”
ABOUT THE COUTURE COUNCIL LUNCHEON:
The Couture Council luncheon will begin with cocktails on the David H. Koch Theater terrace. Guests will then be ushered into the theater’s promenade for a three-course luncheon, catered by Olivier Cheng. Bronson Van Wyck of Van Wyck & Van Wyck will again design the flowers for this year’s luncheon.
Past recipients of the Couture Council Award include Carolina Herrera (2014), Michael Kors (2013), Oscar de la Renta (2012), Valentino (2011), Karl Lagerfeld (2010), Dries Van Noten (2009), Isabel Toledo (2008), Alber Elbaz (2007), and Ralph Rucci (2006). In 2008, Giorgio Armani received a special award for Global Fashion Leadership.
Tickets for the Couture Council luncheon honoring Manolo Blahnik are priced as follows:
Fashion Icon Table at $50,000 (Top seating for table of ten)
Haute Couture Table at $25,000 (Premium seating for table of ten)
Couture Table at $15,000 (Superior seating for table of ten)
Haute Couture Ticket at $2,500
Couture Ticket at $1,500
To purchase luncheon tickets, please contact Vicki Guranowski at 212 217.4105 or fax 212 594.9206 or email [email protected].