Wendy Williams Makes a Triumphant Return to Fashion Week

In a moment that electrified the fashion world, Wendy Williams made a stunning entrance at the LaQuan Smith fashion show, walking unassisted to her front-row seat to thunderous applause. The 61-year-old former talk show host, who has been under a court-appointed guardianship and largely out of the public eye, beamed as she took her place beside Ice-T and Coco Austin. Her appearance marked a significant milestone in what appears to be a carefully orchestrated return to public life. Earlier in the week, Williams had already made waves by attending the Dennis Basso and Bach Mai presentations without her wheelchair, signaling a potential improvement in her health condition that has concerned fans for years. Dressed in a fluffy black-and-white coat and shirt from Smith’s collection, Williams enthusiastically praised the show afterward, exclaiming “Fabulous! Fabulous!” and pointing out several pieces she hoped to add to her wardrobe, demonstrating that her legendary fashion sense remains intact despite her health challenges.

The LaQuan Smith event itself was a star-studded affair held at the exclusive Classic Car Club, a luxurious members-only venue featuring a scenic Hudson River terrace. Guests sipped cocktails and enjoyed caviar canapés while mingling with an impressive roster of celebrities including Lil’ Kim, Ice Spice, Busta Rhymes, Latto, Adam Lambert, Ty Dolla $ign, Jordyn Woods, and Ari Lennox, among many others. The atmosphere buzzed with anticipation before the runway show began, with attendees eagerly people-watching and networking in the glamorous setting. The venue itself became part of the spectacle, with a silver Porsche Spyder prominently displayed on the runway, serving as both décor and a photo backdrop for the evening’s most fashionable guests, blending automotive luxury with high fashion in a way that perfectly complemented Smith’s bold aesthetic.

Among the most photographed guests were the Combs twins, D’Lila and Jessie, along with their older brother Christian “King” Combs – the children of Sean “Diddy” Combs and his late ex-partner Kim Porter. The 18-year-old twins, striking in matching shiny black LaQuan Smith minidresses, shared their modeling aspirations with confidence and poise that belied their young age. “We wanted to be supermodels our entire lives, but we recently graduated [from high school] so now it’s the perfect time to really put our dreams into action,” D’Lila explained, as they revealed they had already walked in the 831 Minhle show earlier that week and in the Ellaé Lisqué 10th anniversary show in Los Angeles. Despite their famous parentage, the twins are clearly determined to forge their own path in the fashion industry, albeit with the benefit of advice from family connections like their aunt Kimora Lee Simmons and family friend Naomi Campbell, who they credited with encouraging them to “stay confident and do what you love.”

What makes the Combs twins particularly interesting to the fashion world is their insistence on working as a package deal. “We love being twins,” Jessie shared with genuine warmth. “Everything we do, we want to go together. We’re very, very connected, we have an extremely good bond, so I feel like booking together is definitely the goal. It’s either you want both or you want none.” This unique positioning could potentially become either their signature strength or a limitation in the competitive modeling industry, but their confidence suggests they’ve given careful thought to how they want to present themselves professionally. Their natural modeling abilities aren’t surprising considering their heritage – as D’Lila pointed out, “Our mom was a supermodel so she always would give us tips,” referring to their late mother Kim Porter, whose elegant presence clearly lives on in her daughters. The twins’ dedication to their craft is evident in their practice regimen: “We always practice, that’s something that we do almost every day,” said Jessie, adding that people often mistake their natural walk for a runway strut.

LaQuan Smith’s collection itself lived up to the designer’s reputation for boldly sensual creations that have made him a favorite among celebrities like Beyoncé, Rihanna, and Kylie Jenner. This season’s offerings featured his signature catsuits reimagined with high necks and zip-fronts, some accessorized with tactical knives in hip holsters for an edgy, almost militaristic touch. The collection balanced these structured pieces with more ethereal options, including a diaphanous pink dress that tied in front like a sarong and a delicate snake-print dress that floated down the runway. True to form, Smith pushed boundaries with ultra-revealing designs – black lace-up pants that were “more lace than pant” and a fishnet dress that left little to the imagination. The collection maintained the designer’s consistent vision of clothing that celebrates the body while still innovating within his established aesthetic, demonstrating why he remains a go-to designer for celebrities wanting to make a statement on red carpets and at high-profile events.

While the fashion was undoubtedly the focus of the evening, Williams’ appearance added an unexpectedly touching dimension to the event. Her struggle with health issues has been widely documented, making her confident stride into the venue all the more meaningful to those who have followed her career. As she enthusiastically endorsed Smith’s designs afterward, there was something powerful about seeing the iconic media personality reclaiming her place in the fashion world. In a industry often criticized for its fixation on youth, Williams’ front-row presence – stylish, engaged, and unapologetically herself at 61 – offered a refreshing reminder that fashion appreciation transcends age and personal challenges. Her appearance, alongside the multi-generational star power in attendance and the Combs twins’ emergence as the next generation of fashion royalty, perfectly encapsulated the cyclical nature of the fashion world itself: always evolving while still honoring its icons, constantly renewing itself while building on established foundations, and ultimately celebrating self-expression at every age and life stage.