Fashion

Veronica Beard Gathered Trailblazers for a Golden Hour Toast to Fall 2026

As the sun set over downtown New York City, guests banded together to honor the women who inspired them and pay tribute to the tragedies of 9/11.As the sun set over downtown New York City, guests banded together to honor the women who inspired them and pay tribute to the tragedies of 9/11.

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Dressing women from all walks of life has always been integral to the Veronica Beard brand. To celebrate that ethos, as well as their Fall 2026 Trailblazers collection, Veronica Swanson Beard and Veronica Miele Beard hosted a sunset cocktail reception on The High Line in West Chelsea. As the sun set over downtown New York City, guests banded together to honor the women who inspired them and pay tribute to the tragedies of 9/11.

“We are always celebrating women,” Swanson Beard told Vogue. “Every woman is our muse, every season. We constantly talk about iconic women, trailblazers, and women who lit the way for us in every field. We also talk about the trailblazer at home. A mother is a trailblazer. A woman in her community making a difference is a trailblazer. There’s so many levels and variations of trailblazers—but it’s all women doing amazing things.”

Of course, plenty of trailblazing women were also in attendance. Serena Williams arrived in a velvet suit by the label, while Pamela Anderson made a surprise appearance in a bandana-style silk dress. Zoey Deutch, Apple Martin, former WNBA star Lisa Leslie, and scientist Keiana Cave also mingled with smoky Palomas and Champagne in hand. “They told me I was the ultimate trailblazer,” Williams told Vogue. “I was like, ‘No way, but thank you for saying that.’ To hear that from them, the Veronicas, was really cool.”

Guests also took in a custom ‘Improvisation’ art installation by Desire Moheb-Zandi. The large-scale piece included woven and knotted strips of rope, ribbons, and tape to symbolize the ever-changing journey of life, which attendees could add to themselves with more materials. Over bao buns, tomato and burrata, and miniature Caesar salads, attendees reflected on the qualities that make one a trailblazer to themselves and others.

“Number one, sorry, but not giving a f*ck is very clearly the main thing,” Martin said, dressed in a jacquard floral jacket and skirt set. “Going against the grain, causing controversy, and ultimately moving forward. Throughout history, all of the trailblazers and baddies have always made good change in the world—and also looked fabulous while doing it.” (Moments later, catching a glimpse of Anderson, Martin gasped: “I’m going to bawl my eyes out—talk about a trailblazer! Hello!”)

With plenty of Negroni and French 75 jelly shots circulating, guests including Jenna Bush Hager, Aya Kanai, Lisa Leslie, Tiler Peck, and Chloe King were in good spirits; sharing discussions on how to nurture a supportive culture for future trailblazers. Williams—who has undoubtedly inspired millions of aspiring athletes alongside her sister, Venus—had some wisdom to impart: “Believe in yourself, even when no one else believes in you. That’s not necessarily a bad thing—not everyone believes in a big idea. No one believed in us. If I hadn’t heard it, I would have been like, ‘That’s insane. Two Black girls from Compton? Please.’ If you believe in yourself, you can make anything happen.”

The evening affirmed the Veronicas’ dedication to dressing and creating a framework for women across various fields, demographics, and generations to connect and learn from each other. It’s always been the pair’s North Star, as they endeavor to reach a wide array of people through their collections every season. “All women want to look good, and all women need a resource to outfit them,” said Miele Beard. “We take a lot of time to think about our customer in everything we design. Everyone is a trailblazer blazing their own path, and everybody matters. AI can’t touch the emotion that you get from blazing your own path and telling your story, storytelling, and celebration of life, real life. It’s a great thing to meet as a community and celebrate.”