Honored but not photographed on the red carpet were U.S. Representative Gabby Giffords and her husband astronaut Mark Kelly; actress Kerry Washington; and costume and production designer Catherine Martin.
Let’s start with some good: Natalie Massenet, the founder of Net-a-Porter and an honoree, wore a baroque tailored lace dress and looked extremely chic. Lily Collins looked breathtaking in Julian McDonald. Saudi Arabian Princess Ameerah Al-Taweel radiated elegance.
A row of remarkably inspiring and powerful women, all in red: Malala Yousafzai, an honoree, who went on to very predictably and rightfully steal the show with her speech; Katie Couric; Melinda Gates, who also accepted an award.
More power womyn: Cynthia Leive, the magazine’s editor in chief; novelist Jennifer Weiner; Rose Byrne in a lovely Jonathan Saunders number.
Here are some amazing women doing black right: Barbra Streisand — who won a Lifetime Achievement award — paired an Angelina-esque dress slit with a fashion bow tie because she’s Barbra Streisand, goddammit. She was accompanied by her husband James Brolin. Iman looked perfect in a formal suit. Christy Turlington Burns — who was honored for her work advocating for safer maternity with her own Every Mother Counts foundation — wore black with an unconventional neck and hemline.
For a more daring take on the all-black ensemble, we have Coco Rocha in an exaggerated furry silhouette — sort of Black Swan meets the monster from Marvin the Martian in a very couture way; Karlie Kloss looking extraordinarily elegant in an embellished Oscar de la Renta dress; and Liya Kedebe — model, founder of the Liya Kedebe Foundation to support maternal health care in Ethiopia, and honoree — opting for a sheer gown with a plunging neckline.
On the blander side of black: professional surfer Carissa Moore, who received an award for her work to raise the profile of women’s surfing; Hoda Kotb; America Ferrera; Hilaria Thomas.
VP of Glamour Connie Anne Phillips looked a bit casual in blue; journalist Erica Hill wonderfully combined form-fitting award show fashion with power suit vibes; Kaitlin Roig-DeBellis, a teacher who was honored for helping to save her students’ lives at Sandy Hook, wore blue lace.
Ladies with a lot going on: Catharine Malandrino‘s sequin body suit is out of control; Lena Dunham chose a semi-sheer grid-pattern dress by Theyskens; the pattern of Gayle King‘s get-up is mesmerizing and unsettling.
Images via Getty.
