High above the penthouse floor of Central Park Tower, where sprawling 360-degree views of the Manhattan skyline and Central Park greenery made for a breathtaking backdrop, Friends of the CFDA, Vogue100, and Nordstrom came together for an afternoon of shopping and cocktails hosted by Jordan Roth, Rickie De Sole, and ’s Alexandra Michler Kopelman and Naomi Elizée celebrating the second annual CVFF Nordstrom Secure the SPACE Challenge. The Secure the SPACE Challenge is a collaborative initiative aimed at supporting young and emerging designers in America. Ten finalists pitched and presented their collections to a selection committee, including Nordstrom fashion director Rickie De Sole and men’s fashion director Jian DeLeon, with the final winner being awarded the opportunity to have their pieces carried online and at select Nordstrom stores.
“We're looking for originality,” says De Sole, dressed in a Diotima blazer with a matching crochet skirt. “We're looking for brands that we really feel our customers are going to respond to and feel unexpected. Perhaps a designer that hasn't had as much exposure, that way we're sort of giving them a platform through Nordstrom to connect with more customers in a broader reach around America.
” While trays of champagne and models (sporting pieces from all ten designers participating in the Secure the SPACE Challenge) made their rounds around the grand foyer, racks of clothing and bespoke jewelry sat on ornate tables for guests and.
