The Blue Jacket Fashion Show, now in its 9th year, continues to elevate prostate cancer awareness as guests took personally to the runway at the annual event. The event’s presenting sponsor is Johnson & Johnson, launching the New York Fashion Week events off to a meaningful start alongside additional sponsorship from LISC. The fundraiser show benefits ZERO Prostate Cancer, the nation’s leading advocacy, awareness, and support foundation for the oft-overlooked disease. ZERO serves as the hopeful voice of the prostate cancer community, and funds raised will provide lifesaving early detection and treatment resources to reduce mortality through this event and others hosted by the organization. Designer and NYC socialite Frederick Anderson founded the Blue Jacket Fashion Show and Blue Jacket Initiative in 2016 to create a platform to openly discuss men’s health issues — with an emphasis on cancer education, early detection, prevention, and treatment options.

Showcase partner Fashion Group International (FGI) was established as an industry forum for career advancement with headquarters in NYC, founded in 1928 by a group of women leaders with original charters including Helena Rubenstein, Eleanor Roosevelt, Edith Head, and other renowned fashion icons. Today, the non-profit organization remains dedicated to connecting and supporting fashion professionals at every level, from startups to seasoned professionals. By providing access, education, and connection, FGI seeks to spark creativity, fuel innovation, and advance the business of fashion. In addition to live streaming the event online, FGI hosted “viewing parties” across the country at local FGI chapters in Philadelphia, Chicago, San Antonio, Washington DC, Saint Louis and Kansas City.

Community members, event participants, and guests were also invited for a personal private screening for prostate cancer with a quick and easy prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test provided by Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. The screening will be available throughout the day at both Carver Bank and the Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation. Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among cisgender American men, and the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in cisgender men. In 2025, almost 300,000 people will receive a diagnosis, and more than 35,000 people will die from the disease. People of color are at an even higher risk with Black diagnoses 70% higher than Caucasian, and as the most common Latino community cancer diagnosis. Conversations about screening and past cancer diagnoses among at-risk communities can translate to more screenings, diagnoses, and treatments. The goal of the Blue Jacket Fashion Show and its supporters is to encourage men to stay on track with regular screenings as part of their healthcare routine – for themselves, their families, and their communities.

Discover below our favourite “best dressed” looks from the evening, on Blue Jacket Initiative supporting faces both known and new at the 9th Annual Blue Jacket Fashion Show held at LAVAN NYC on February 4, 2025. Many of the guests can notably be seen sporting New York Men’s Day showcase alumni designers — designated specially below. New York Men’s Day specifically highlights menswear and unisex fashion biannually as a part of New York Fashion Week, and is a press favourite and highly anticipated showcase of the city’s best emerging menswear talents in the design world. The joint designer sessions work to provide a platform for the best and brightest of NYC’s emerging menswear brands and design teams through curated runways and presentations. Designers A Potts, The Salting, and Terry Singh are among those previously participating in the NYMD event.

Supporters of the Blue Jacket Initiative and funding research and awareness of prostate cancer are welcome to donate to the FGI Rising Stars and Blue Jacket Fashion Show Support Zero Cancer fund at: https://secure.givelively.org/donate/fashion-group-foundation-inc/fgi-rising-stars-and-blue-jacket-fashion-show-support-zero-cancer.

NYC’s 9th Annual Blue Jacket Fashion Show featured models and guests:

• Alex Lundqvist — wearing Stephen F

• Andy Hilfiger — wearing Carlos Campos (FGI Rising Star Winner)

• Bill Nye — wearing Thom Browne

• Carlos Greer (Page Six & Extra TV) — wearing Terry Singh (through FGI) *New York Men’s Day Designer

• MAINO — wearing Rubin and Chapell

• Dominic Fumusa — wearing The Privélege

• Don Lemon — wearing Carlos Campos (FGI Rising Star Winner)

• Dr. Errol Mallett (Urologist) — wearing Elie Balleh & Levis

• Elvis Nolasco — wearing EON

• Eric West — wearing Arjona Collection

• Erik Bottcher (NYC Council Member) — wearing The Salting *New York Men’s Day Designer

• Eve Gammill (Advocate & Prostate Cancer Survivor) — wearing A Potts *New York Men’s Day Designer

• Frank DiLella (NY1)   — wearing BY. Bonnie Young

• Frederick Anderson (Designer & Founder of the Blue Jacket Initiative)  — wearing AKNVAS

• J. Harrison Ghee — wearing Blazer of Father: Prostate Cancer Victim

• James Aguiar (Modern Luxury) — wearing Alexander McQueen styled by James Aquiar

• Jason Ala  (Johnson & Johnson)  — wearing Elie Ballah

• John Dias (WCBS-TV)  — wearing BY. Bonnie Young

• John Arthur Hill (Sirius XM) — wearing The Salting *New York Men’s Day Designer

• Kalen Allen  — wearing Teddy von Ranson (through FGI)

• Louis Finley (NY1)  — wearing Magpies & Peacocks

• Mario Cantone  — wearing Gustavo Moscoso

• Michael Pugh (LISC Sponsor)  — wearing The Privélege

• Mike Woods (FOX-5 New York)  — wearing JUNNY

• Musa Jackson  — wearing Edwing D'Angelo

• Nigel Barker  — wearing Arjona Collection

• Omar Hernandez  — wearing Teddy Vonranson (through FGI)

• Phillip Bloch  — wearing LANDROS NEW YORK

• Souleymane Sy Savane  — wearing EPPERSON (through FGI)

• Ty Hunter  — wearing Tommy Hilfiger

• Ty-Ron Mayes  (Stylist) — wearing Barabas Elite & Hammerman Jewels

Photo Credit: Getty Images for Blue Jacket