Inside Kimora Lee Simmons' Glam Bash for Daughter Aoki — Including the Almost ‘Dress Disaster’ (Exclusive)

Simmons celebrated Aoki’s 'Teen Vogue' debut — and her birthday! — with the biggest names in fashion, plus New York City Mayor Eric Adams

Kimora Lee Simmons partied lavishly this past weekend while celebrating her daughter Aoki’s Teen Vogue debut, 21st birthday and graduation from Harvard!

Following the release of Aoki's September/October issue, the designer and entrepreneur, 48, celebrated her daughter to the fullest with a glitzy party thrown at the Soho Grand's Club Room in New York City.

The downtown bash brought in the hottest names in fashion — including designers Christian Siriano, Phillip Lim and Prabal Gurung — as well as N.Y.C. mayor Eric Adams.

It also proved to be a family affair with Simmons' eldest daughter Ming, 23, in attendance.

The mother-daughter trio made a stylish entrance.

Kimora wore a black floor-length halter-neck dress and strappy heels, matching with her two daughters whom she shares with ex-husband Russell Simmons. Ming wore a sultry number with cut-outs as well as lace-up stilettos.

As the star of the hour, Aoki wanted to find herself the perfect night-out wardrobe. "I knew I needed a dress that fit the moment and felt like as much of a celebration as the party," she tells PEOPLE exclusively.

However, a lot of her options just didn't work out, almost putting Aoki face-to-face with a "dress disaster." She says, "I was running out of time."

Thankfully designer Andrew Kwon, and Aoki's friend, came to the rescue and was able to provide two extravagant dresses: a "dramatic" black confection featuring a glittery ruffled glittery skirt and a nearly waist-high slit, as well as a gold off-the-shoulder mini with regal embellishments.

The looks were named "dinner" and "dessert" respectively. "Both felt delicious!" says Aoki.

Related: Kimora Lee Simmons Praises Daughter Aoki’s First Cover for Teen Vogue: 'A Full Circle Moment'

The party was undoubtedly filled with love.

Kimora gave a touching speech in honor of all of the "beautiful moments" their family was celebrating. "All that emotion is too powerful for anybody's water-proof mascara!" Kimora tells PEOPLE exclusively of how she was afraid of "ugly crying" while delivering her heartfelt words.

"I knew from the moment they rolled that cake out with the sparklers and everyone started singing that I had to try to hold it together," she adds. But once the ball started rolling "there was no holding back!"

The fête was also not without chic bites to eat. Photos of Aoki's Teen Vogue spread and cover made its way onto cookies and a birthday cake dazzling with sparklers, which was wheeled out as guests sang "Happy Birthday."

Photos from Aoki's photo shoot were also blown up into large posters decorating the room. Guests walked home with gift bags filled with Glossier products.

When Aoki’s cover was first released, Kimora called the milestone a “full circle moment" because her daughter is seen on the cover wearing a Chanel look similar to the one she once wore during her modeling days.

"Karl Lagerfeld was quoted as saying that I was the 'face of the 21st century.' Now, 35+ years later, we see how prescient he was!" she wrote on Instagram.

Kimora went on to praise her daughter’s life achievements beyond the fashion world.

"All that you’ve achieved in such a short amount of time — all through sheer force of will and dedication! One of the youngest to graduate Harvard and now our cover STAR!! We love you sooo much!" she wrote, adding the hashtag #mazel.

The Baby Phat designer also posted an Instagram birthday tribute to Aoki on Aug. 16 filled with plenty of her kid’s model moments on and off the runway.

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Related: Kimora Lee Simmons' Daughter Aoki Lee Graduates from Harvard: 'Proud and Relieved' (Exclusive)

In June, Aoki spoke with PEOPLE about life beyond Harvard, sharing, "I feel grateful, proud and relieved — in that order! It's a surreal feeling to be done with something that was such a huge part of my life. Now, like every other graduate, I'm on to the next chapter.”

Now that she's secured her diploma, she's focused on modeling in New York, writing and working at her mom’s company. “There are so many projects that I can't wait to dive into," she shared. "But it will be nice to take a breath!"

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