Private members’ club NeueHouse was abuzz last night as fashion’s most powerful and stylish female leaders, including Donna Karen and Nili Lotan, gathered to celebrate the launch of the PORTER podcast series.

Zainab Salbi, one of the most influential women's rights leaders and avowed fashion lover sat down with PORTER Editor in Chief, Sarah Bailey for a fireside chat. Salbi took guests through her incredible journey from growing up in Iraq in the shadow of Saddam Hussein, to founding Women for Women International, an award winning organization that has distributed $120 million in aid and helped 480,000 female survivors of war.

The women's rights activist and journalist spoke about embracing her beauty and joy again. She retold a story of working with female survivors in Bosnia during the genocide and being in shock when they asked her to bring them back lipstick. She didn’t understand how these women could value such things in a time of destruction and chaos, but one woman explained the joy and beauty lipstick brought her and said, “When I go out in the streets and a sniper tries to kill me at least they can see they are trying to kill a beautiful woman.”

If you're looking for a new and empowering podcast to celebrate International Women’s Day definitely check out PORTER podcast series, Pieces of Me: My Life in Seven Garments which will launch weekly every Wednesday from March 11 – April 22.

Click through the chicest moments of the night!

[Photos by Kelly Taub/BFA]

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