The most luxurious and exclusive night in American fashion took place on Monday, June 6 in Lincoln Center. The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) awards, underwritten by Swarovski, were presented. Marc Jacobs took home the lifetime achievement award that Sofia Coppola eloquently pointed out was actually his “half-lifetime” achievement award. Marc Jacobs made it evident that he deserved the award with his graceful and modest speech thanking his team and looking to tomorrow.
“While it is wonderful to be recognized and receive this acknowledgment of our past triumphs,” Jacobs began, “I believe we all know and feel that the greatest reward is the process itself, the doing, the giving, the growing and the sharing it all with others. This statue may serve as a great reminder of where we’ve been, but it is here in my heart that I look forward to where we have still to go and what we will get to achieve together.”
A Marc Jacobs intern-gone-designer took home an award as well. Alexander Wang was awarded the Accessory Designer of the Year. He said he could barely grasp that he was winning awards alongside someone who he has aspired to be since the day he got involved in fashion.
“It’s such an honor,” Wang said, “to even just have my name alongside names such as Marc’s is enough of an acknowledgment for me. He was my first internship, one of the main reasons I even wanted to work in fashion, so I pinched myself when [I realized I’d] even come here and be a part of this.”
Flattered for the recognition as the Womenswear Designer of the Year were Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough of Proenza Schouler. While they were simply adding the CFDAs they already acquired in 2003, 2007 and 2009, they were still humbled by the experience. McCollough said it was “a surprise. It was so nerve-wracking, the whole build-up to it. It just gets more and more terrifying as each year passes. You think you’d kind of get a little more comfortable with it, but it’s quite the opposite.”
Designers were not the only ones taking awards home. Lady Gaga received the Fashion Icon of the Year award and reporter Hilary Alexander won the Eugenia Sheppard Award for Fashion Journalism. Among these notable fashionistas were also some of the best-dressed, A-List celebrities. Liv Tyler arrived with the Womenswear of the Year winners and she was just one of the many stylish, important and luxurious people to attend the festivities. Celebrities from Kanye West to Miranda Kerr and Anna Wintour attended that evening, holding the standard for the most fashion-forward and deluxe evening with only the most notable attendees.
Here is the full list of nominees and winners:
International Designer of the Year Celine creative director Phoebe Philo Geoffrey Beene
Lifetime Achievement AwardMarc Jacobs
Fashion Icon of the Year Lady Gaga
Womenswear Designer of the Year Winner: Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough of Proenza Schouler
Nominees: Alexander Wang, Marc Jacobs, Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough of Proenza Schouler
Menswear Designer of the Year Winner: Michael Bastian
The nominees: Michael Bastian, Patrik Ervell and Simon Spurr
Accessory Designer of the Year Winner: Alexander Wang
The nominees: Reed Krakoff, Alexander Wang and McCollough and Hernandez of Proenza Schouler
Swarovski Award for Womenswear Winner: Prabal Gurung
The nominees: Joseph Altuzarra, Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen and Prabal Gurung
Swarovski Award for Menswear Winner: Robert Geller
The nominees: Alexander Wang, Phillip Lim and Robert Geller
Swarovski Award for Accessory Design Winner Eddie Borgo
The nominees: Alejandro Ingelmo, Eddie Borgo, Jason Wu and Pamela Love
Eugenia Sheppard Award Winner: Hilary Alexander
Board of Director’s Special Tribute Award Winner: Arthur Elgort
More Information: http://www.cfda.com/