An intimate evening with Sir Paul Smith and Thom Browne at the British Residence at UN Plaza. Warhol’s portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, a Calder mobile atop the grand piano, and a simply stunning view of the glorious United Nations building at sunset. Lindsay Peoples moderated the conversation where the two legendary talents talked about passion, the importance of mentorship, and finding the beauty in the everyday. The Paul Smith Foundation in the UK mentors and provides studio space to six emerging designers a year and will be accepting an American designer for this upcoming session. It was nice to have a moment to catch up with Paul before the evening began…we go way way back. My first job after college was working at his new Fifth Avenue store, as a stock person. My incredibly generous boss there Gita told me of a job opening as a fashion assistant at GQ Magazine and that I should interview for it. I did and went on to work there for almost ten years. That was my introduction to fashion and the editorial world so long ago and I’m still so incredibly grateful for that shop experience and that act of generosity. It changed my life.