Anna Wintour & Steven Kolb

Last night, I attended the CFDA’s 2014 Nominee Honoree Announcement Party, held at the Bowery Hotel (this esteemed group will be recognized in a ceremony hosted by John Waters on June 2 at Alice Tully Tall). I was pleased that some of my nominees made the cut, though I won’t say who. It was a perfect, almost early spring evening; all the better to enjoy champagne and hors d’oeuvres on the hotel’s beautiful outdoor terrace patio, and inside, it was jam packed with guests that included Anna Wintour, Carolina Herrera, Stan Herman, Nadja Swarovski, Diane von Furstenberg, Steven Kolb, Jeffrey Banks, Michael Kors, Kay Unger, Adrienne Landau, Paul Cavaco, Ruth Finley, Cindy Weber Cleary, Hamish Bowles, Virginia Smith, Maria Cornejo, Joseph Altuzarra.

Joseph Altuzarra, Diane von Furstenberg, Michael Kors

Cocktails were called for 6 pm to be followed by the announcements at 6:30, and it was indeed on time, (if not early), unlike most fashion shows. Steven Kolb took the podium and made his welcoming remarks, telling the crowd that this was the “highest voting in recent years”. Next up was CFDA President Diane von Furstenberg who was quick to say how pleased she was that  this year’s host will once again be John Waters, who had the honors in 2012 at which time he accepted the “Fashion Icon Award”  for Johnny Depp and “The International Award” for Rei Kawakubo. She made mention of the wonderful 13 years it’s been since the CFDA Awards have been generously underwritten by Swarovski and gave big thanks to Nadja Swarovski. And she wasted no time in announcing the Special Awards.

Ruth Finley of The Fashion Calendar

Raf Smons for Dior will receive the International Designer of the Year; Paul Cavaco will receive the Media Award; Bethann Hardison is being honored with the Founders Award “in recognition of her advocacy for diversity”. “She deserves it and it is such a good idea” said DVF. Tom Ford will get The Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award (“we are so proud of him” she beamed). Last but not least, The Fashion Calendar’s founder Ruth Finley will get the Board of Director’s Tribute Award. As Diane observed: “For designers of a certain age, she is the first phone call we ever make”. And looking around the room, I can attest to the fact that many in attendance were nowhere near that “certain age”.

Speaking of which, when it was Nadja Swarovski’s turn, she said, “I can’t believe it’s been 13 years”. “The designers are getting younger and younger, or maybe it’s just that I’m getting older and older”. She then proceeded to announce the nominees for the Swarovski Awards for the best of best of the new young generation of designers.

Swarovski Award for Womenswear
Shane Gabier and Christopher Peters for Creatures of the Wind
Rosie Assoulin
Wes Gordon

Swarovski Award for Menswear
Tim Coppens
Todd Snyder
Shayne Oliver for Hood by Air

Swarovski Award for Accessory Design
Irene Neuwirth
Jennifer Fisher
Marc Alary

When she was finished, Diane joked, “Now it’s time for the grownups” and she quickly made these announcements:

Womenswear Designer of the Year Award
Alexander Wang
Joseph Altuzarra of Altuzarra
Marc Jacobs

Menswear Designer of the Year
Maxwell Osborne and Dao-Yi Chow for Public School
Marcus Wainwright and David Neville for Rag & Bone
Thom Browne

Accessories Designer of the Year
Alexander Wang
Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough for Proenza Schouler
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen for The Row

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