Tonight’s highly anticipated double fashion show featuring Monse and Oscar de la Renta was a win-win.

With design duo Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia now at the helm of both buzzy brands (they started their careers under Mr. de la Renta and left to launch their celeb-favorite brand Monse two years ago), the star-studded front row – which included everyone from Paris and Nicky Hilton to Huma Abedin – were dressed in their best.

Against a black and white checked runway, models first unveiled Monse looks as they walked around a U-shaped runway encasing a glittering silver curtain. The brand’s coveted signatures were in full effect: edgy tailoring, ruffles and slinky sequin dresses.

As the first show closed, the curtain – which experienced some malfunctioning during its unveiling – opened to debut Kim and Garcia’s first looks under the de la Renta label. It started strong – a slim black pant styled with an embellished corset-like top cinched with an exaggerated sash – and quickly escalated to a level of eveningwear glamour that felt modern, fresh and just plain beautiful. Who wouldn’t want to go for a twirl in one of those full-skirted tea length numbers? Sequined pink or sleek black, there was something for everyone who makes regular rotations on the black tie circuit.

Bella Hadid has made significant appearances on the the runways this week. But walking tonight’s de la Renta portion of the show perhaps signaled a new direction for the storied brand. The elegance was all there in those major fur coats and sharply cut pantsuits, but Hadid’s stunning show-closing black velvet gown with an above-the-thigh-high embellished slit was sexier than usual for the uptown set. Bring it.

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