If you're looking for where fashion grows, it certainly seems like the CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America) is on the front line of the melting pot we call design and fashion. In fashion, everyone tries to stay one step ahead of what is expected. It's about creating something that shifts the widespread perception of fashion much like art which can often define an era. Remember overalls, platform shoes or those wretched Adidas sandals which the feet massager that we all had to get our hands on? Fashion encapsulates who we were at one point in our lives and continues to influence us today.
There was a time when young designers weren't finding success in breaking through the proverbial fashion veil especially when established designers such as Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein were dominating the industry. It was then that a group of designers established the CFDA to fill a gap in supporting young designers and ensuring that New York continued to thrive as the fashion capital of the world. Since their establishment, Anna Wintour and Diane Von Furstenburg have joined the board to contribute their efforts. The CFDA is now at the platform for new designers we all adore such as Alexander Wang, Jason Wu, Suno, Joseph Altuzarra and Nonoo. They've also teamed up with J Crew and Vogue (no surprise there) for the annual Vogue Fashion Fund. To say that the CFDA and Vogue have a large contribution on the pulse of fashion is an understatement.
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Every year, the CFDA award seeks to acknowledge those who have influenced the fashion industry in a profound way. Highlights of the night included:
All the red carpet looks (that goes without saying).
Celebrity stylist Brad Goreski hosted the night.
Rihanna won style icon of the year and showed up in a less than there dress.
This very succinct video of Rihanna and Anna Wintour texting.
Jennifer Fisher proved that you can't beat white. Dress by: Kaufman Franco
The Olsen twins showed up to receive their award in black.
Tom Ford took home the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award (Oscar de la Renta won last year's).
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WOMENSWEAR DESIGNER OF THE YEAR
Alexander Wang
Joseph Altuzarra
Marc Jacobs
MENSWEAR DESIGNER OF THE YEAR
Thom Browne
Marcus Wainwright & David Neville, Rag & Bone
Dao-Yi Chow & Maxwell Osborne, Public School
ACCESSORIES DESIGNER OF THE YEAR
Alexander Wang
Jack McCollough & Lazaro Hernandez, Proenza Schouler
Ashley Olsen & Mary-Kate Olsen, The Row
SWAROVSKI AWARD FOR WOMENSWEAR
Shane Gabier & Christopher Peters, 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 ACCESSORIES
Irene Neuwirth
Jennifer Fisher
Marc Alary
THE FOUNDER’S AWARD IN HONOR OF ELEANOR LAMBERT
Bethann Hardison
BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ TRIBUTE
Ruth Finley
GEOFFREY BEENE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Tom Ford
INTERNATIONAL AWARD
Raf Simons for Dior
THE MEDIA AWARD IN HONOR OF EUGENIA SHEPPARD
Paul Cavaco
FASHION ICON AWARD
Rihanna
Visit the CFDA website to view the full 2014 CFDA Awards.
Amy Yew is a contributing columnist at Vancouver Courier and a fashion and style writer. She is also a Lucky Magazine community contributor. Tell us what you think and submit any questions you have to amyvancouvercourier@gmail.com. You can also tweet your thoughts @AmyYew.
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