Rockefeller Center turned into a runway of patriotism this week as Vogue and the CFDA welcomed New York's fashion elite for the launch of United Flags of Fashion. The installation, timed to the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, transformed The Rink's flagpoles into a display of more than 120 custom flags, each one reimagined by a leading American designer. The celebration paired a striking public art moment with an equally striking guest list, and the outfits on hand told their own story about the state of American style right now.
The idea took root more than a year and a half ago, when America250 chair Rosie Rios approached CFDA president Steven Kolb about giving fashion a seat at the anniversary table. What started as a conversation about quilts eventually became flags, an idea credited to Vogue's Anna Wintour. Designers were then invited to claim a state or territory and put their own spin on its flag, resulting in a lineup that stretched from Ralph Lauren to Willy Chavarria to Christopher John Rogers.
What Happened at the Vogue CFDA Celebration
The evening opened with the flags being unfurled one by one along the flagpoles framing The Rink, a moment set to live performances from Tony nominees Christiani Pitts and Sam Tutty. Guests mingled beneath the fluttering installation as Wintour and Kolb took turns thanking the designers, calling out their willingness to say yes to the project again and again. Kolb also credited Rios and the America250 team, along with Vogue's Chloe Malle, for helping the concept travel from an early sketch to a full scale public unveiling.
Designers who took part were on hand to talk through their choices. Cynthia Rowley, who picked her home state of Illinois, spoke about wanting her flag to reflect the state's mix of rural roots and urban sophistication. That kind of personal connection ran through much of the night, with participants treating their flags less like a branding exercise and more like a small autobiography.
The Outfits That Stood Out at United Flags of Fashion
Fashion crowds rarely leave the clothes as an afterthought, and this event was no exception. Karlie Kloss arrived in Thom Browne, sticking with the tailored, slightly theatrical silhouette the designer is known for. The sharp lines and precise construction gave her look a structured edge that stood out even in a crowd full of statement pieces.
Thom Browne himself matched the moment by wearing his own label, sticking to the gray tailoring and signature grosgrain detailing that have become his uniform. Anna Wintour and Steven Kolb both stepped out in Thom Browne as well, turning the trio into a walking tribute to the designer's codes and underscoring just how deep his influence runs within the CFDA.
Ciara Miller chose Christopher John Rogers, a fitting pick given his reputation for bold color and sculptural shapes that photograph well against a backdrop of flags in motion. Her look leaned into that drama with a voluminous silhouette that gave her presence on the lawn without needing much else to compete with the installation behind her.
Sophia Bush and Ashlyn Harris coordinated in Lela Rose, opting for a look that leaned polished without feeling stiff. The pairing read as intentional rather than matchy, with each woman wearing the label in her own way while still complementing the other on the step and repeat.
Ivy Getty brought a different kind of statement to the evening in vintage Ossie Clark, a nod to the late British designer whose bohemian tailoring has quietly influenced decades of red carpet dressing. The choice set her apart from the newer labels in the room, giving her look a sense of history that felt right for a night built around celebrating 250 years of American story.
Taken together, the outfits reflected the same range the flags themselves were built on. Some guests leaned into a single designer's world completely, while others pulled from vintage archives or lesser expected pairings to make their own point. It gave the night a texture that matched the installation above it, familiar names reinterpreted through a personal lens.
Why United Flags of Fashion Resonates Beyond the Runway
Once the celebration wraps, the story does not end at Rockefeller Center. The flags will remain on view through September 4 before being donated to the SCAD Museum of Art, giving the project a life beyond its summer run. For an anniversary built around 250 years of American identity, using fashion as the messenger turned out to be a fitting choice, one that let designers, guests, and even their outfits speak to the same idea from different angles.
