Inside NET-A-PORTER’s Incredible Women Of 2024 Celebration At London’s V&A

“As we enter Women’s History Month and approach International Women’s Day, we wanted to celebrate the Incredible Women within our community, who are shifting the dial in their fields, challenging the status quo and pushing for positive change,” Alice Casely-Hayford, content director at NET-A-PORTER, said, as she welcomed an eminent array of guests to the Victoria and Albert Museum’s Raphael Court for an intimate cocktail and dinner.

The evening brought together honorees of our Incredible Women of 2024 series – actors Ambika Mod and Mia McKenna-Bruce, Olympian Katarina Johnson-Thompson, musicians Grace Carter and Victoria Canal, writer-director Molly Manning Walker, model Alva Claire, curator Aindrea Emelife, and activists Sophia Li and Vee Kativhu – with tastemakers from across a variety of industries, including entrepreneur Sharmadean Reid (who features in our latest podcast series, The Powerhouses) and journalists Pandora Sykes and Otegha Uwagba. Special guests Kate Winslet, Michaela Coel and Gillian Anderson each made a compelling toast throughout the evening, as attendees enjoyed a dinner specially curated by another Incredible Woman – renowned chef and author Florence Knight.

In her toast, Winslet paid tribute to, and shared advice for, the rising cohort of creatives – ending with a hug with fellow actor and recent Bafta winner McKenna-Bruce. Coel followed with a powerful, poetic saluting of the multitude admirations she has for women. “I cannot fathom, I cannot engage without awe, of the many makings of you; how does one toast you, how does one toast you?” she finished to the enraptured table. Finally, just before dessert was served, Anderson gave a rousing speech about fearlessness, breaking barriers and paving the way for future generations.

Many guests were wearing De Beers jewelry and dressed in key eveningwear styles from NET-A-PORTER. Anderson wore a white Chloé suit, McKenna-Bruce chose a Jacquemus mini dress, Alva Claire was in Alaïa, and Manning Walker wore a suit by The Row.

The Incredible Women celebrations continue throughout March, encompassing PORTER interviews with each of our 12 Incredible Women of 2024; our cover star for the month, Lupita Nyong’o; and the eighth series of our chart-topping podcast, for which the phenomenal lineup of guests includes Issa Rae, Elizabeth Day, Gloria Steinem, Lulu Wang and Sharmadean Reid.