On Wednesday afternoon, the transition from summer to fall was on clear display at the FIT Couture Council Luncheon inside Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theatre.

Temperate weather brought out a range of cross-seasonal fashion trends, from tweed ensembles to colorful floral frocks, with a smattering of geometric prints and the occasional leopard print. The annual fundraiser, which benefits the Museum at FIT, was sponsored by Bloomingdale’s and serves as an unofficial kick-off for the fall fashion season in New York. The crowd was eager to catch up ahead of the afternoon’s main seated event, as guests including Martha Stewart, Gabriela Hearst, Ruben Toledo, Malan Breton, Nicole Miller, Jean Shafiroff, Julie Macklowe, Katherine Gage Boulud, Jamee Gregory and more mingled during cocktail hour on the outdoor balcony.

Couture Council cochairs Stephanie Loeffler and Jane DeFlorio kicked off the lunch program before FIT president Joyce F. Brown delivered opening remarks about the 2025 Couture Council Award for Artistry of Fashion. This year’s honor was presented to Balmain creative director Olivier Rousteing, who accepted the award during the main course after an introduction by actor Jeremy Pope.

“ I’ve had the opportunity to wear his creations on several occasions, and the honor of working closely with Olivier,” said Pope. “Olivier, you are not just a designer. You are a trailblazer, a fearless creative force, unapologetically yourself in every space you’ve been into. With relentless imagination and bold conviction, you’ve not only redefined style. But you’ve also reshaped the conversation around identity, beauty and belonging,” Pope added. “You remind us, fashion isn’t just about what we wear, it’s about who we are and the future we dare to shape.”

Onstage, Rousteing recounted his journey to the helm of Balmain as a young 24-year-old designer, and the first Black man to lead a major Paris fashion house.

“ I became the example that I never had. Every mistake, every success, every moment of strength — and yes, every moment of fragility — helped me build a path, not only for myself, but for the generation would come after me,” Rousteing told the crowd. “To the young people who follow me, who have dared to dream, I want you to look at me and see that dreams can come true.”

“The House of Balmain stands for resilience, audacity and ambition. Values that reflect not only the maison, but my life,” he added. “There are always obstacles, but it’s good, because [through] obstacles we grow stronger, taking risks have always been my way forward. The greater the risk, the greater the reward.”

Before a parting “merci,” Rousteing offered the crowd a call to action.

“ Today, let me leave you with a wish,” he said. “Be confident, be proud of where you come from. Believe in your voice. Believe in your instinct. Believe in your story. No one, no one can take your dream away. Be disruptive. Be the pioneer of the work that you make.”