Designer Mary McFadden, Gillis MacGill, Patricia Trainor, Sharon Harts (Vogue). Grace Mirabella (Editor-in-Chief, Vogue), Kizia Keeble (Vogue), and designer Kasper at the dress rehearsal for the 1977 Coty Awards at the Fashion Institute of Technology.

Before the CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America) awards, which began in 1980, there were the COTY awards, sponsored by the iconic cosmetics company and selected by American fashion critics. They were known as the Winnies.On September 29, 1977, Donna Karan and Louis Dell’Ollio, working for Ann Klein, won their first prizes as designers for women. Later that night, Donna, Louis, and Charles Suppon danced the night away at the legendary Studio 54. This photo of mine was placed at the entrance, and set the theme for the night. The Who’s Who of the fashion world joined in the merriment.