Leave it to Anne Hathaway to charm the designer socks off a room of 440 fashion people sitting under the stomach of the famed blue whale at the American Museum of Natural History.

“I am your host, Sarah Jessica Parker’s understudy, or, as the Internet knows me, not Amal Clooney,” said Hathaway, who had stepped in for Parker.

The actress and global celebrity looked resplendent in a denim Ralph Lauren bustier top and floor-length skirt, which she teamed with white diamonds.

It was the ultimate American style statement, and also the perfect way to kick off the ceremony for the 2023 CFDA Fashion Awards presented by Amazon Fashion, which celebrated the best of American fashion.

The high-style crowd included Tom Ford, Vera Wang, Narciso Rodriguez, Greta Lee, Charles Melton, Alina Cho, Muge Erdirik Dogan, Kim Kardashian, Greg Lauren, Domenico De Sole, J Balvin, Prabal Gurung, Mara Hoffman, Vanessa Hudgens, Jonathan Anderson, Maria Cornejo, Ayo Edebiri, Zac Posen, and Naomi Watts.

Earlier in the evening, CFDA Board Chairman Thom Browne had set the tone for the moment.

“Tonight is a very special night,” Browne offered, “One where we can stop and reflect on the creativity within our industry…Creativity that pushes conversations forward… Creativity that makes us question… and creates change…Especially now, when so many of us are questioning our role in the world…

“As we approached this evening, we carefully thought about the appropriateness of a fashion celebration at a time like this…,” he added. “Tonight is about so much more than celebrating individuals, but coming together as a collective to champion creativity, diversity, and inclusion within our American industry…”

Indeed, his words provided the room with a moment of reflection during this difficult time, and similar sentiments were echoed throughout the night.

Which isn’t to say that there were moments of charm and wit. Take Demi Moore, for example, who gave the Innovation Award presented by Amazon Fashion to goop and its CEO and Founder Gwyneth Paltrow, who.

“When she started her newsletter goop from her kitchen 15 years ago, she had no idea what it could be. She spent years being ‘that friend,’” Moore, absolutely fabulous in a silver-sequined Carolina Herrera number, said. “You know the one: The one you come to for, well… everything. The best doctors, dentists, caterers, hotels, restaurants. ‘What should I wear to a cocktail party where the invitation says, festive?’ ‘How do I roast a chicken delicious enough to make someone fall in love with me?’ And especially, ‘where can I get my coochee steamed to rid myself of the ghosts of my past lovers?’”

LOL.

Two half-century anniversary tributes – Hip-hop and the Battle of Versailles – added a sense of history and American style context to the evening. Mary J. Blige, wearing Christian Siriano, introduced a film by legendary music video director Hype Williams and made possible by New Era, which celebrated Hip-hop’s impact on fashion and featured Missy Elliot, LL Cool J, June Ambrose, Biz Markie, and Salt-N-Pepa, among others, with music by Pharrell.

“Thank god for Hip-hop,” Blige said. “Over the last 50 years, this once-small movement that started in the Bronx, New York has grown to become the most influential culture of our times. It’s everything, everywhere all at once. And still, the essence of Hip-hop remains unchanged.

“Hip Hop started as a form of escapism for black and brown inner-city youth,” she added. “Hip-Hop style was informed by our environment and pulling inspiration from the world around us…To the community of B-boys, B-girls, DJ’s, emcees, and graffiti artists who helped shine your light on the world, we honor you.”

Stephen Burrows, Bethann Hardison, and Pat Cleveland reuniting on stage to remember the Versailles fashion show was a lovely reminder of the forces and faces that transformed American fashion and changed the course of global fashion.

“In 1973, when then CFDA founder Eleanor Lambert had the brilliant idea to bring the American designers to Versailles for a fashion show to benefit the restoration of the Chateau Versailles, my first thought was ‘Well, the French love a revolution,’” Hardison said.

“That night, I twirled around so many times across that stage I thought the Europeans’ heads were about to spin off,” Cleveland added. “I don’t feel they had any idea that fashion could be so freeing.”

As Burrows put it, “We were irresistible and victorious.”

CFDA Fashion Icon Serena Williams, meanwhile, spoke to the power of fashion.

“For as long as I can remember, fashion has always been more than just about clothing,” Williams, in Thom Browne, said. “I knew when I was a little girl that I was different and so I explored fashion and style as a way to distinguish myself. In many ways, for me, the tennis court became my runway, and the U.S. Open was my New York Fashion Week. I loved reimagining the traditional tennis uniform and so I designed skirts out of denim, wore a blue tutu, bodysuits, knee-high boots and put beads and braids in my hair. This was all part of my game and how I expressed my individuality, confidence and, most importantly, my culture.”

Indeed, nothing’s more powerful than self-expression.

Congratulations to all the winners and honorees of the 2023 CFDA Fashion Awards presented by Amazon Fashion.