Just imagine the Rockstuds.

"It was so cool to see so many people all in one place looking so incredible in " said Nordstrom's executive vice president, Tricia Smith this morning. As fashion director Jeffrey Kalinsky noted, the fashion industry, society circles and celebrities all gathered on Monday evening at Alice Tully Hall in Manhattan to honor Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli, creative directors of the storied Italian brand.

Debbie Harry and Liv Tyler by Sean Carroll, courtesy Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts

From Liv Tyler, Kiera Knightly and Diane Kruger-Nordstrom vice president of designer Jennifer Wheeler's favorites of the evening-to Joan Collins-Kalinsky's fave-the impeccably outfitted guests were like an elegant opening act for the evening's showstopper: Debbie Harry, who rocked the Blondie hit "Heart of Glass" and more in a black Valentino gown.

Here are some of our favorite images of the honorees and the amazingly dressed, as well as a behind the scenes video and comments from our team-including Olivia Kim, on what will surely go down as one of the chicest and most memorable fashion parties of the year.

The evening was a fundraiser for the Lincoln Center Corporate Fund, which supports ten different resident arts organizations under the umbrella of the iconic Upper West Side performing arts spot, but it was also very much an acknowledgment of the power and beauty of Valentino. Kiera Knightly presented the brand's creative directors with a leadership award from the Center, saying "Rare is the woman who lends her Valentino. This is because Maria Grazia and Pierpaolo make the label personal. They put emotion into every piece. And every woman who wears Valentino brings her own emotion to it. It's a true fashion love story."

The Rockstud inventors with Kiera Knightly by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images,
courtesy Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts

"Seeing how much praise, admiration, and love both Maria Grazia and Pierpaolo received from industry peers, friends and comrades tonight is a true testament to how emotionally charged fashion can be," said Kim, our VP of creative projects and SPACE curator. "And how it can move us all to find the beauty in our everyday. Congrats to the house of Valentino for bringing so much of that into our magazines, runways and shop floors."

Glenda Bailey from Harper's Bazaar, Maria Grazia Chiuri, Debbie Harry and Pierpaolo Piccioli
by Sean Carroll, courtesy Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts

"Everyone was talking about how Maria Grazia and Pierpaolo have brought such modernity to an already iconic brand," said Tricia Smith of the longtime design pair, who were plucked from their accessories posts at the brand in 2007 after founder Valentino Garavani stepped away.

Nordstrom's Tricia Smith, in Valentino, via Instagram

"Maria Grazia and Pierpaolo took over a legendary fashion house, but they have already built their own legacy," said Glenda Bailey, editor in chief of Harper's Bazaar via press release. " They have reshaped what is desirable in fashion. I can't think of two more worthy people to celebrate with this year's honor and award."

Glenda Bailey with Jeffrey Kalinsky's favorite guest of the night, Joan Collins, by
Images from Jennifer Wheeler and Jeffrey Kalinsky, via Instagram Shop: Valentino Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images, courtesy Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts

Both Kalinsky and Smith commented on the range of women in Valentino-and the range of their styles-at the celebration. By all accounts, it was a gorgeous event; even the weather cooperated. "It was a fabulous night," said Kalinsky. "I loved the format: Cocktails, dinner, a concert-and everything about all of it was beautiful."

-Laura Cassidy