The fashion mogul opened up her Beverly Hills home once again to celebrate this year’s Oscar nominees, a tradition von Furstenberg started 13 years ago after she noticed that no one specifically recognized the women behind the awards season films.
Upon arriving at her stunning home, guests were greeted with a large banner listing all the names and categories of women recognized for the year, with nominees encouraged to sign the plaque and given a gold sticker to wear for the afternoon.
Hosted by Demi Moore, Jane Fonda, Nicole Avant Sarandos, and Tracee Ellis Ross, the event welcomed a star-studded lineup that included Gwyneth Paltrow, Katy Perry, Quinta Bronson, Fran Drescher, Grace Van Patten, Rita Wilson, Tig Notaro, Ruth Carter, and Paris Hilton, as well as a number of nominees in the areas of documentary, animation, costume design, sound, production design, short films, and acting. Guests mingled inside the house and front yard before making way for an outdoor lunch on the lawn, when von Furstenberg began with some brief remarks.
“It’s very important to know who everyone is because then you can make new friends, and since you’re all in the same industry — which is an industry that’s not necessarily pro-women — I think it’s very important for the CEO to meet the talent and the fashion and all of that,” she told the close group about the value of the event. Von Furstenberg also took time to shout out Anita Hill as a special guest, saying, “We have some strong women here. The strongest of all is Anita,” as Hill stood to applause. “Anita went on TV, went into the Senate and talked about penises. You have to be brave to do that.”
The designer went on to announce all the films featuring female nominees, with a moment of celebration for each, concluding, “We are a big family here. Enjoy the food, enjoy the company, communicate and remember to be strong and kind. Remember to be kind, remember to make a habit of making a connection.”
