The Annual Accessories Council Ace Awards was certainly starry-eyed with branded names and personalities from the opti-arena regal as winners.

Tom Ford scored as Launch of the Year, celebrating graciously with Maurizio Marcolin. That’s one.

Jennifer Lopez scored her evening capping award thanking Sàfilo and Claudio Gottardi eloquently deuced that by also presenting another ACE for Specialty Retailer of the Year to Solstice Marketing Concepts president Ed Jankowski. That’s two.

And three times the charm as Marchon tripled with awards for Coach as Top Innovator, Fendi with Brand of the Year and Michael Kors as Designer of the Year. We cornered some spots at the Marchon table, having surprised Marchon’s Al Berg with a well-deserved 20/20 November cover featuring a dramatic profile shot of luxurious Fendi eyeglasses. Nearly everyone on the podium had a quip or two to make about the sparkling Judith Leiber designed award, a bejewelled clutch, and word has it one certain opti-ed-in-chief was so star-stuck he wandered out in a daze and missed getting a goodie bag. Hey Al, we’re free for the evening next year as well.

—James J. Spina