The Couture Council of The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology honored Thom Browne with its 2017 Couture Council Award for Artistry of Fashion on Wednesday, September
6, 2017, at a luncheon at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York
City. Learn more about Thom Browne.
Great Designers Event Featuring Fashions By Lee Alexander McQueen
Great Designers Event Featuring Fashions By Lee Alexander McQueen
About:
The Couture Council is an elite membership group that supports The Museum at FIT.
The Couture Council helps make it possible for the museum to mount world-class exhibitions
that educate and inspire, to build and conserve its extraordinary permanent collection,
and to organize free public programs that serve FIT’s 10,000 students as well as the
general public.
The Couture Council, working in conjunction with the museum, organizes activities and events to raise the institution’s profile and provide financial support for the museum’s initiatives. The most important of these events is the Couture Council’s award ceremony and benefit luncheon. Designers who have received the Couture Council Award for Artistry of Fashion include Karl Lagerfeld, Valentino, and the late Oscar de la Renta.
The Couture Council, working in conjunction with the museum, organizes activities and events to raise the institution’s profile and provide financial support for the museum’s initiatives. The most important of these events is the Couture Council’s award ceremony and benefit luncheon. Designers who have received the Couture Council Award for Artistry of Fashion include Karl Lagerfeld, Valentino, and the late Oscar de la Renta.

Photo by Zach Hilty/BFA.com
Join the Couture Council:
Members of the Couture Council are invited to all of the museum’s opening receptions
and other special member-only fashion events.
The Couture Council is pleased to offer the following new membership levels:
- Couture Membership - $1000
- Fashion Icon Membership - $2500
- Fashionista Membership - $350
- Fashion Professional Membership - $350
Learn about the Couture Council's membership levels and benefits.
Join or renew online via our secure website using your credit card.
Join or renew online via our secure website using your credit card.
Board of Directors
Chair
Kamie Lightburn
Kamie Lightburn
President
Julie Macklowe
Julie Macklowe
Secretary
Carole Divet Harting
Carole Divet Harting
Treasurer
Joele Frank
Joele Frank
Past Chairman
Yaz Hernández
Liz Peek
Liz Peek
Board Members
Angela Dotson
Jeffery Fowler
Violet Gross
Audrey Gruss
Sharon Jacob
Eleanora Kennedy
Lisa Klein
Jeffery Fowler
Violet Gross
Audrey Gruss
Sharon Jacob
Eleanora Kennedy
Lisa Klein
Michèle Gerber Klein
Stephanie Loeffler
Julie Macklowe
Lara Meiland-Shaw
Melissa Mithoff
Elizabeth Musmanno
Laura Nicklas
Stephanie Loeffler
Julie Macklowe
Lara Meiland-Shaw
Melissa Mithoff
Elizabeth Musmanno
Laura Nicklas
Amelia Ogunlesi
Karen Phillips
Kathy Prounis
Kathy Reilly
Darcy Rigas
Lois Robbins
Peter G. Scotese
Karen Phillips
Kathy Prounis
Kathy Reilly
Darcy Rigas
Lois Robbins
Peter G. Scotese
Jean Shafiroff
Sutton Stracke
Nicole Weiss
Sutton Stracke
Nicole Weiss
Valerie Steele, Director MFIT
Couture Council Members APRIL 2018
Mona Aboelnaga
Gwendolyn Adolph
Tom Ajamie
Loreen Arbus
William and Elisabeth Armstrong
Juliet Arrieta
Anne Baker
Virginia N. Barbato
Jane L. Bradbury
Sarah Bromley
Noreen Buckfire
Alyson Cafiero
Lindsay Caprioni
Liza-Mae Carlin
Maroulla Carr
Deborah Chatman
David Chines
Anne Clairmont
Rachael Clark
Edward Carlton Clark-Ayers
Suzanne and Robert Chute
Robyn & Tony Coles
Christina R. Davis
Marisol Deluna
Wendy Dietze
Natalie Diggins
Karen Eckhoff
Gwendolyn Adolph
Tom Ajamie
Loreen Arbus
William and Elisabeth Armstrong
Juliet Arrieta
Anne Baker
Virginia N. Barbato
Jane L. Bradbury
Sarah Bromley
Noreen Buckfire
Alyson Cafiero
Lindsay Caprioni
Liza-Mae Carlin
Maroulla Carr
Deborah Chatman
David Chines
Anne Clairmont
Rachael Clark
Edward Carlton Clark-Ayers
Suzanne and Robert Chute
Robyn & Tony Coles
Christina R. Davis
Marisol Deluna
Wendy Dietze
Natalie Diggins
Karen Eckhoff
Pamela Egan
Michele Emanuele
Darice Fadeyi
Kristen Farell
Marcy Feldman
Maria Fishel
Ann Gallo
Barbara Georgescu
Anne Goldrach
Annette Green
Manuela Zissler Grenert
Victoria Guranowski
Kaya Hall
Celia Hegyi
Kate V. Hemphill
Danielle Hirsch
Barbara Garjian Hiscoe
Justin Holder
Dr. Evelyn Blose Holman
Sharon Coplan Hurowitz
Caroline Howard Hyman
John Jones
Robyn Joseph
Claire Simier Karsevar
Ron Keenan
Liliane Kelly
Gordon Kendall
Michele Emanuele
Darice Fadeyi
Kristen Farell
Marcy Feldman
Maria Fishel
Ann Gallo
Barbara Georgescu
Anne Goldrach
Annette Green
Manuela Zissler Grenert
Victoria Guranowski
Kaya Hall
Celia Hegyi
Kate V. Hemphill
Danielle Hirsch
Barbara Garjian Hiscoe
Justin Holder
Dr. Evelyn Blose Holman
Sharon Coplan Hurowitz
Caroline Howard Hyman
John Jones
Robyn Joseph
Claire Simier Karsevar
Ron Keenan
Liliane Kelly
Gordon Kendall
Katherine Kung
Adnan Ege Kutay
Laura Layfer
Brenda Levin
Lauren Levison
Anaje Lewis
Carole Lewis
Shirley Madhere-Weil
Lisa Malitz
Nadira Mangar
Jacqueline Martin
Paolo Martorano
Iva Mills
Adrienne Montes
Charlotte Moss
Clemence von Mueffling
Hallie Nath (Taketa)
Susan Niblo
Barbara J. Parsky
Cristiane Peixoto
Marissa Penberg
John Pomerantz
Leticia Presutti
Barbara Putnam
Sydney Sadick
Nicole Salmasi
Pam B. Schafler
Adnan Ege Kutay
Laura Layfer
Brenda Levin
Lauren Levison
Anaje Lewis
Carole Lewis
Shirley Madhere-Weil
Lisa Malitz
Nadira Mangar
Jacqueline Martin
Paolo Martorano
Iva Mills
Adrienne Montes
Charlotte Moss
Clemence von Mueffling
Hallie Nath (Taketa)
Susan Niblo
Barbara J. Parsky
Cristiane Peixoto
Marissa Penberg
John Pomerantz
Leticia Presutti
Barbara Putnam
Sydney Sadick
Nicole Salmasi
Pam B. Schafler
Polly Scott
Patricia Selden
Rhonda Sheakley
Pedro Juan Ramirez
Ines Ramon
Lauren and Randall Shy
Cally Stavropoulos
Randall Ian Stempler
Debbie Stevenson
Sabrina Stewart
Jordan Stofko
Martha Suarez
Kelly Sullivan
Sarah Sulzberger Perpich
Esther Tadjiev
Nora Tezanos
Salvatore Tramuto
Rebecca Vanyo
Sara Voigt
Andrew Warren
Ashley Weaver
Carol Weisman
Graham Wetzbanger
Sarah Wolfe
Yliana Yepez
Frank Zambrelli
Garine Zerounian
Patricia Selden
Rhonda Sheakley
Pedro Juan Ramirez
Ines Ramon
Lauren and Randall Shy
Cally Stavropoulos
Randall Ian Stempler
Debbie Stevenson
Sabrina Stewart
Jordan Stofko
Martha Suarez
Kelly Sullivan
Sarah Sulzberger Perpich
Esther Tadjiev
Nora Tezanos
Salvatore Tramuto
Rebecca Vanyo
Sara Voigt
Andrew Warren
Ashley Weaver
Carol Weisman
Graham Wetzbanger
Sarah Wolfe
Yliana Yepez
Frank Zambrelli
Garine Zerounian
Highlights from Previous Special Events
- Invitation to the annual Couture Council Artistry of Fashion benefit luncheon. Past awardees: Ralph Rucci (2006), Alber Elbaz of Lanvin (2007), Isabel Toledo (2008), Dries Van Noten (2009), Karl Lagerfeld (2010), Valentino (2011), Oscar de la Renta (2012), Michael Kors (2013), Carolina Herrera (2014), Manolo Blahnik (2015), and Albert Kriemler (2016).
- Private visits to the ateliers of fashion designers such as Isabel Toledo and her husband, fashion illustrator Ruben Toledo, Ralph Rucci, Zac Posen, Angel Sanchez, Chadwick Bell, Prabal Gurung, J. Mendel, Francisco Costa of Calvin Klein, Reem Acra, Bibhu Mohapatra, Lafayette 148 and NYC Ballet Costume Shop.
- Store events with Calvin Klein, Verdura, Tiffany, Reed Krakoff, the FD Gallery, and Mish New York.
- Lectures with Michael Kors, Zac Posen and Ruben and Isabel Toledo at the Doubles Club.
- Cocktails and Conversation with Peter Copping of Oscar de la Renta at the Core Club.
- Cocktails and Conversation with designers Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez of Proenza Schouler and Dr. Valerie Steele, Director, The Museum at FIT at the Proenza Schouler Boutique.
- Tea and Conversation with renowned hat designer Patricia Underwood.
- NYC Ballet Costume Shop Tour.
- Cocktails and Couture with Bibhu Mohapatra at the Core Club.
- Cartier Mansion Tour.
- Cocktails and Conversation with Jason Wu.
- Great Designers event featuring fashions by Lee Alexander McQueen.

Photo by Brian Ach/Getty Images for The Museum at FIT