CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America) held its annual award show in New York last night (June 6, 2017), an event meant to honor American designer. Newly appointed as head designer for Calvin Klein, Raf Simons was a big winner, taking home both menswear designer of the year and womenswear designer of the year. His win is the only second time in the history of the awards in which the designer has won both prizes in the same year. The funny twist is the last time this occurred was when Calvin Klein won both awards in 1993.
The CFDA’s other two awards are accessory designer of the year, won by Stuart Vever of Coach, and rising talent, which was awarded to Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia for Monse.
Honorees (who were announced prior to the event) included the following:
Swarovski award for positive change: Kenneth Cole
Geoffrey Beene lifetime achievement: Rick Owens
International award: Demna Gvasalia
Founders award in honor of Eleanor Lambert: Pat McGrath
Fashion icon award: Franca Sozzani
Board of directors tribute: Gloria Steinem, Janelle Monae and Cecile Richards
In a night full of speeches, the event was highlighted by makeup artist McGrath’s funny and emotional speech (23:14), model Alek Wek’s (55:08) introduction of designer Demn Gvasalias, Simon’s shout out to the students (1:18) and Anna Wintour’s very touching words on Italian Vogue editor Franca Sozzani (1:21) and Gloria Steinen’s (1:38) extremely dope speech.
Watch the entire event below.
Check out some of our favorite looks from the CFDA red carpet, alphabetized by first name.
Alek Wek in Balenciaga
Anna Cleveland in Yigal Azrouël
Brother Vellies Aurora James and Hailey Baldwin in Cushnie et Ochs
Bella Hadid in Off White
Chloe Sevigny in Proenza Schouler
Coca Rocha in Cynthia Rowley
Demna Gvasalia
Di Mondo in Eric Javits
Elsa Hosk in Philosophy
Gabrielle Union-Wade in Rodarte and Dwyane Wade in Gucci
Gigi Hadid in The Row with Stuart Weitzman designer Giovanni Morelli
Gloria Steinam and Rowan Blanchard
Haim in Diane Von Furstenberg
Joan Smalls in Michael Kors
Jonathan Simkhai and Janet Mock
Kathy Najimy, Karen Elson, Gloria Steinem and Brooke Shields in Sachin & Babi
Pat McGrath
Paul Andrew and Lupita Nyongo wearing Jason Wu
Priyanka Chopra in Michael Kors
Raf Simons
Michele Lamy and Rick Owens
Sasha Blane and Chloe Moretz in Coach
Virgil Abloh and Bella Hadid, wearing Off White
