New York-Based Designer Wes Gordon Gets a Warm Welcome From L.A. Fashion Set

Sometimes you get by with a little help from your friends, and for budding New York-based designer Wes Gordon, that's just the case.

Last night, the newly nominated CFDA designer (he's up for the Swarovski Award for Womenswear) was joined by Hollywood tastemakers—including Rachel Zoe, Nicole Richie, Molly Sims, and Ali Larter—for a dinner held in his honor hosted by interior designer Estee Stanley, stylist Jamie Schneider, and jewelry designer Jennifer Meyer. "I get really excited when any fashion New Yorker wants to come to L.A. and celebrate," Meyer tells InStyle.com.

The evening introduced Gordon—who has dressed the likes of Michelle Obama, Jessica Alba, and Kerry Washington—to the Los Angeles fashion community and celebrated his latest collection, which is now available at Neiman Marcus Beverly Hills. "It's so nice to come out here and see friends, meet new people, and feel so welcome," says the designer. "It's so sweet of them to do something like this." As for that recent CFDA nomination? "I found out when I landed. Today's a really surreal day. God knows what tomorrow's going to be like to balance it out."

As guests mixed and mingled at Stanley's home in Hancock Park, they enjoyed specialty custom drinks and a buffet catered by Animal and Son of a Gun's chef, Jon Shook, while outfitted in some of Gordon's designs.

"[Gordon's style is] really luxurious and cool. Not too trendy, very kind of, 'I want to wear that. I want to be in his clothes,'" says Zoe. "You can always spot that kind of talent a mile away, but I think even when you get closer to the clothing, then you really see it. Great tailoring, just luxury, really beautiful."

Get a peek inside the exclusive dinner and see more celebrities from this week's parties in our gallery.

With reporting by Scott Huver