Ralph Lauren, Anna Wintour, and Vera Wang Honor Terry Lundgren

Last week the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) along with industry honchos including Ralph Lauren, Vera Wang and Anna Wintour came out to honor Terry Lundgren, CEO of Macy’s at a gala in Midtown. The evening benefited the FIT Foundation, an advisory and fundraising body to the school, whose famous alumni and alumnae include Calvin Klein, Reem Acra, Brian Atwood, Dennis Basso, and Norma Kamali.

Wintour and Lauren presented Lundgren with the award. Congratulatory videos from Tom Brady, Sean “P. Diddy” Combs, Tory Burch, Vera Wang and John Varvatos were screened. Tina Lundgren added a surprise birthday dimension to the evening for her husband Terry’s 65th birthday, which included a personalized cake from chef Daniel Boulud and a birthday serenade from Combs. The gathering  drew numerous fashion notables including members of the Lauren clan—Ricky and David—as well as Leonard Lauder and Jane Lauder.

Wintour acknowledged Lundgren’s role in supporting Fashion Night Out, an initiative developed by Vogue and the CFDA, to help promote shopping after the economic crisis. Such is Lundgren’s clout in the industry that Wintour recounted how she found herself early one morning in the heart of Queens with Michael Kors to kick off the project at a local Macy’s. (Like FIT with its famous alums, Macy’s executive programs has had its share of prominent fashion leaders like former Vogue editor in chief Grace Mirabella and former Burberry CEO and Saks president Rose Marie Bravo.)

Ryan Seacrest hosted the gala which raised more than $4 million for the Foundation. Proceeds will also benefit the Terry J. Lundgren Center for Retailing at The University of Arizona (Lundgren is a graduate of the university).