While the most recognizable icons of fashion may be the photogenic ladies of the runways and magazine spreads, where would they be if it weren’t for the creative minds behind the labels that clothe them?
By Claudine Ko
Fashion deigners and CFDA memebers John Bartlett, Carolina Herrera, Nadja Swarovski, Diane von Furstenberg, Philip Crangi, Isabel Toledo, and Stan Herman attend the 2009 CFDA Fashion Awards Nominations at the Rooftop Gardens at Rockefeller Center on March 16, 2009, in New York City.
On Monday, June 15, the industry is taking a special time-out to honor the top designers at the annual Council of Fashion Designers of America Fashion Awards.
Set to receive the Board of Director’s Special Tribute, Michelle Obama opted out of making a live appearance to accept the honor at this year’s ceremony, but plenty of fashion luminaries—from veteran winners to virgin nominees—are set to attend one of the industry’s biggest nights next week.
A few of the nominees include first lady favorites Jason Wu and Thakoon Panichgul, as well as venerable designers Marc Jacobs, Vera Wang, and Narciso Rodriguez.
In addition, this year will mark the debut of the Popular Vote Award. According to Steven Kolb, the CFDA’s executive director, “This new award enables the public to really get involved with the awards and voice an opinion as to their favorite designer. Anyone can win this.”
Fans had up until midnight on June 9 to cast their votes from a list of 100 nominees, which included Erin Fetherston, Albertus Swanepoel, Band of Outsiders, and the president of CFDA herself: Diane von Furstenberg.
“American designers are together, and we are going to surf the tsunami together,” said Von Furstenberg, during her nomination announcement in March.
“It’s great that the Popular Vote category was introduced this year,” says Fetherston, who was a CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalist last year. “It’s really nice to let everyone participate in acknowledging their favorite design talents. I’m obviously honored to be included as a nominee.”
The CFDA Fashion Awards ceremony will be hosted by actress/comedian Tracey Ullman at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall in New York City.
Here is a list of the categories and their nominees:
• For Womenswear Designer of the Year: Marc Jacobs, Kate Mulleavy and Laura Mulleavy for Rodarte, and Narciso Rodriguez
• For Menswear Designer of the Year: Michael Bastian, Scott Sternberg for Band of Outsiders, and Italo Zucchelli for Calvin Klein
• For Accessory Designer of the Year: Marc Jacobs, Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez for Proenza Schouler, and Vera Wang
• For Swarovski Award for Womenswear: Thakoon Panichgul, Alexander Wang, and Jason Wu
• For Swarovski Award for Menswear: Patrik Ervell, Robert Geller, and Tim Hamilton
• For Swarovski Award for Accessory Design: Justin Giunta for Subversive Jewelry, Alejandro Ingelmo, and Albertus Swanepoel
Along with Michelle Obama, a slew of other VIPs will be receiving special honors: Anna Sui will be awarded the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award, Edward Nardoza (EIC of WWD) will be receiving the Eugenia Sheppard Award, the International Award will be given to Marc Jacobs for his work with Louis Vuitton, and the Eleanor Lambert Award will be bestowed upon Jim Moore (creative director of GQ).
