Saks and the City
Monday March 23, 2009 | Contributor: Jennifer Wright

In the kind of event that Carrie Bradshaw would have loved, designers and celebrities gathered together at Cipriani Midtown for the FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology) Gala Benefit. Some of the memorable – and well dressed! – attendees included Mayor Bloomberg, Saks CEO Steve Sadove and crooner Chris Mann, who serenaded all those assembled.



The creative work of twenty FIT students from the Accessories Design Program was featured in one shining showcase (or shoe-case!). Each aspiring design star had decorated a shoe to look like a notable New York landmark – the New York Public Library, Central Park, The Guggenheim, and so forth. (Unfortunately, the Museum at FIT was not on the list.)



Much though we might have wanted to, guests couldn’t take any of the works of art home with them, but we could vote on our favorite. The winning shoe will be displayed at Saks 5th Avenue, while the young designer will receive a $2,500 stipend toward his (or her) education. Maybe these fanciful creations might even slip into Saks Shoe Department, which comes with its own special zip code.



Many of the students confided that they were a little nervous about graduating in a few months time. Hopefully, they took some encouragement from Michael Bloomberg who declared that New York was the fashion capital of the world before presenting an award to his friend, Steve Sadove. (In the interests of honesty and full disclosure, I have to give the Mayor full credit for referring to the event as “Saks and the City”.) Dr. Joyce Brown, the President of FIT, also praised the honoree’s long friendship to FIT. Steve Sadove seemed delighted to be honored, and remarked that, “In the current environment, it is paramount that we continue to show support for those who stand to inherit our industry by affording them opportunity and the ability to cultivate their ideas and creativity.”



Mr. Sadove may have been the only one being honored that evening, but he certainly wasn’t the only one who loved Saks. Fashion’s glitterati all turned out including Jason Wu accompanied by Olivia Chantecaille. Wu recalled loving his own days at a fashion student at Parsons, some time before he was dressing Michelle Obama.



Carolina Herrera was also in attendance, and noted that she had been friends with Steve Sadove for a very long time. She looked impeccable as ever in her lovely classic and chic ensemble. Peter Som and Fern Mallis also made appearances.



Fashion featuring shoes - Carrie Bradshaw never had it so good.