Last night at the stunning Rainbow Room in New York City, the crème de la crème of fashion celebrated in the daily Ninth Annual Fashion Media Awards. This year’s show was hosted by the charming and hilarious Busy Philipps, and honorees included Fashion Forward Icon Doja Cat, Gigi Hadid and Francesca Aiello who won Fashion Collaboration of the Year for their Gigi x Frankies Bikinis line, Lara Stone as fashion icon, Karen. Elson as Fashion Force, Maye Musk as Top Model, Mel Ottenberg as Editor of the Year, Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn for Making the cut as Best TV Fashion Series, Sam Edelman as Fashion Innovator and Michael Fisher as Men’s Designer. The evening was sponsored by Kérastase, LAGOS, Prime Video Making the CutSam Edelman, FIJI Water, Whispering Angel and Ferrero Rocher.
David LaChapelle was introduced to Doja Cat, who wore Viktor and Rolf in the show.
David LaChapelle and Doja Cat
Cat Wanted: “I can not believe that! I am very inspired by my mother. I remember him telling me when I was little that I never let him dress me. I am an indecisive person. I have struggled with fashion all my life. That was part of me from the beginning. I truly believe in being who you want to be and not what the world needs you to be… I am so grateful. Thank God.”
Karen Elson
Amber Valletta was introduced to Karen Elson.
Elson: “I’m incredibly grateful to receive this award, I’ve been a model for a very long time and still love what I do and love the creative community I’m blessed to be a part of. This award is dedicated to the sister of all the models I know and love, who often don’t get the recognition they deserve as a valuable and integral part of our industry. People often confuse beauty as the special feature that makes a model successful, but to be a great model you have to possess something much more than just beauty, a great model is a bit of an outsider, she is a collaborator, an artist, a silent film actress. , we know how to make bad clothes look good and how to bring emotion to an image. For me, that part of my job never gets old. I still get chills and love that creative spark. The hardest part of this business for me has just been the business. At 43 it took me years to gain the confidence to stand up for myself. Often this comes with awkward labeling, but that’s all, but expecting to be treated politely shouldn’t be a strange but normal request. So all I ask of you tonight is to collectively think about our goals whether we are in the business of breaking people or building them up. I chose the latter. There are many people in this room who have built me up over the years. That’s why I’m still here working today, so I thank you all, past and present. Thanks to everyone for my team, friends and loved ones who are here to support me. It’s an honor to be recognized like this.”
Carine Roitfeld was introduced to Lara Stone
Carine Roitfeld and Lara Stone
Carine Roitfeld: “When we first met, I was immediately obsessed with Lara. It was like love at first sight. She was different from all the girls of that time. There was something magnetic about her, not just a stunning face, but her temperament, her fearlessness, her smile. Somehow she has that something intriguing and sensual of Marilyn Monroe. In French, we have a famous saying, “When you love it doesn’t count. I can’t tell myself how much Vogue I gave the cover to Lara. We took most of my favorite photos together and built the best relationship a fashion editor can dream of with a model. She would always trust my vision and ideas and embody in the best possible way all my wildest fantasies. Loyalty is something to be treasured in fashion and I couldn’t be more proud to present you with this Fashion Icon award.
Ethan Hawke was introduced to Michael Fisher
Michael Fisher and Ethan Hawke
Fisher: “Thank you Ethan. I am so lucky to work with you and all the other incredibly talented actors. Thank you The everyday for recognizing my work, but it’s not just my work, I couldn’t do what I do without the support group I have. My assistants, Amber, you are OG, Annika and Brodie, I bless you for always being so positive and working so hard. To all the skilled tailors I depend on who make me and my clients look their best – Jenny, Thao and Dom from 7th Bone. My agent Alex from Wall Group. Your planning skills are next level. To my friends who I don’t see often and who always remind me that this is what I do for work. To mom who always makes me feel less stressed after we talk. And I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for my partner. He encouraged me to start this career and is my daily support and inspiration. I love you Michael.”
Hari Nef was introduced to Mel Ottenberg
Harry Nef and Mel Ottenberg
Nef: “Hello mod, people It’s day two and you’re all doing amazing dear. I stayed in and slept last night because the night before I didn’t. I was in Masbeth, Queens, at a party—which was also the best New York Fashion Week party I’ve ever been to, and I’ve been sneaking into them since I was 16. And this party, of course, it was interview magazine party, hosted by none other than Daily Front Row Editor of the Year: Mel Ottenberg. People throw a party, and you can learn a lot about Mel from the people who show up for her, miles away from Manhattan’s velvet ropes. The fashion girls were there, the designers, the fellow editors – but there were also… lots of blue chip painters, meme account scions, underground comedians, internationally renowned techno DJs, Harvard-
educated sociologists, more trans people than I’ve ever seen inside a building with a PR girl outside. Mel Ottenberg is not just a fashion editor: he is the perfect man on the street: feet on the ground, everywhere at once, walking in the front door. There’s no high or low for Mel—no up or down—just, through—just to see
what do you find on the way? Mel is interested and interesting – insatiable in his enthusiasms, which flourish but never wither. He will call me to extol his virtues it pants, that bagel, her hair in that film from 1982, “have you seen it? You should! Non-negotiable.” He will ask me if I have met so-and-so. “She’s the main one,” he’ll say. Sometimes I do, but most of the time I don’t, and in a year I will see this girl everywhere. I was that girl once. Mel put me in a fashion show long before any of you knew what to do with me. He styled me when I had nothing to wear and Rihanna was
his only other customer. He had me at his house, where I cried on his couch, wringing my hands about how I thought others saw me, give me a break, I was in my early twenties. “I see you,” he would say, “and you’re wonderful.” The word “editor” implies discount – disclaimer – but there is nothing negative about you, Mel. You’re positive – easygoing and fun – and you love clothes, but you love the people in them more. I am honored to present the Daily Front Row Editor of the Year to THE PEOPLE’S EDITOR, my New York favorite and lifelong friend: Mel Ottenberg.
Tosca Musk, Kimbal Musk and Brooke Wall were introduced to Maye Musk
Maye Musk, Tosca Musk, Brooke Wall
Wall: “Maye Musk needs no introduction – this incredible woman who inspires me and many others every day has been modeling since she was a teenager! And at the age of 74 receiving the discovery award! Maye has only raised 3 of the most incredible people on the planet and has the best work ethic of anyone I have ever met. Her professionalism, drive, patience, intelligence, kindness and loyalty shine through from the moment you meet her! At the young age of 74, she knows how to party better than any rock star! I’ll never forget walking into a dive bar in Paris and Maye immediately ordering beach sex!”
Musk: “My other son Elon would be here tonight if he hadn’t launched a rocket into space. I don’t think most mothers can say that.”
Andrea Pitter and Yannik Zamboni were introduced to Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn
Tim Gunn and Heidi Klum
Gunn: “Fashion has evolved from just being beautiful, seductive clothes to being about the biggest rubric of
branding – and all that entails. In Making The Cut, you see what that entails and have the added thrill of being able to buy the winning look of each episode right then and there – and have it on your doorstep the next day. As we say, “see/wear”. If you can believe it, Heidi and I have worked together for 18 years, and among the many elements that bind us together is our commitment to supporting up-and-coming designers, especially those advocating for sustainability and gender neutral inclusion, all of which you see on the show .”
LoveShackFancy Founder and Creative Director Rebecca Hessel Cohen Presented to Sam Edelman
Rebecca Hessel Cohen and Sam Edelman
Hessel Cohen: When Sam asked me to present this award tonight, I wondered what it really means to be an innovator. An innovator is someone who sees potential where others do not – an innovator looks beyond the present and takes the necessary risk to make his vision a reality. An indelible force, Sam personifies the shoe business and is
always looking ahead to the next generation. His originality, relentless passion, determination and uncanny ability to evolve over decades, dig spots and foster new talent are unmatched.”
Edelman: Just as I have had tremendous support to empower me throughout my career, the most important influence would be
I have as an innovator is my ability to nurture the next generation of talent. Teaching, empowering and
inspiring young visionaries will not only continue my legacy as a designer, but lead to innovation
in the industry beyond what I could have ever created on my own. Working with young talent is mine
pride number one. When I go to the office every day, I’m very lucky to have 70 employees that I call
family – and the hundreds of others who have worked alongside Libby and I throughout our lives. Rebecca, one
of my greatest mentees and a fellow innovator whom I respect enormously, is a living testament to this
violent influence on the fashion business. My team here with me tonight is the epitome of
excitement to come from our next generation of leaders in our industry.”
Katie Couric was introduced to Olivia Culpo
Culpo: “I want to dedicate this award to all the women who have gone before me.. like Katie. Behind every chapter of my career success is an army of other women who have helped pave the way by making the impossible feel possible. A win for one of us is a win for all of us, so I’d like to accept this award in honor of every single person out there and in this room continuing to break down those barriers as an inspiration to myself and to generations. that will come. .”
Tan France was introduced to Gigi Hadid and Francesca Aiello
Gigi Hadid and Francesca Aiello
Hadid: “I think collaboration is a part of my life that has brought so much joy. For everyone in this room, we are creators and we understand how special those moments can be.”
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