FASHION NEWS

Last week’s CFDA award ceremony was a major celebration—not only for the talented designers who took home top honors, but for the organization itself, which this year celebrated its 50th anniversary.

What better way to celebrate a fashion anniversary than with a fashion show? And what a show it was. Held at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, the CFDA organized a showing of archival pieces culled from the organization’s more than 400 members; a true tribute to the influence of fashion over five decades.

The main event was hosted by Saturday Night Live’s Seth Meyers, who quickly got things off to a start when he quipped, "I hope you like me, but fashion people like hating things more than they like liking things, so I win either way." Too true!

But this night was all about love and the winners of the night’s big awards were certainly feeling the embrace of the industry that supports them. Without further adieu, the winners:

Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen’s The Row won for Womenswear Designer of the Year. It’s hard to believe this duo’s line of super-luxe ready-to-wear and accessories has made it this far. It would have been so easy to dismiss the child stars—which many did—but The Row beat out Marc Jacobs and Proenza Schouler for this top honor, so the proof is in the pudding. Perhaps it was last Fall’s $45,000 crocodile backpack that truly sealed the deal…

Billy Reid, that Southern gent we’ve grown to love since his first collection in 2010, took home Menswear Designer of the Year. This year has proven itself in leaps and bounds for Reid, who for the first time presented a runway collection after five seasons of presentations.

Reed Krakoff is another designer who, although an industry veteran, had to prove himself in the high fashion arena when he introduced his namesake collection in 2010. However, it didn’t take long for his accessories to be spotted on the arms and feet of some of the most influential style setters, like Lauren Santo Domingo.

The Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award honoree was Tommy Hilfiger. Perhaps it’s his boyish mop of blonde hair and shameless smile that keeps him forever young in our mind, but Hilfiger has been at the helm of his own brand—empire—since 1985. As his label’s colors profess, he is the all-American designer.

Swarovski’s awards for womenswear and menswear went to Joseph Altuzarra and Phillip Lim, respectively. These two are no stranger to the CFDA circuit, having been nominated numerous times between them.

A few other awards went out to Rei Kawakubo’s Comme des Garçons  (International Award); Andrew Rosen (Founders Award); Johnny Depp (Fashion Icon Award); Scott Schuman and Garance Doré (Media Award).