SEE ALL OF MONDAY NIGHT’S WINNERS AT THE 2016 CFDA FASHION AWARDS

Thom Browne CFDA Awards
by Stephen Garner
[metaslider id=112533] The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) paid tribute to the winners and honorees of the 2016 CFDA Fashion Awards in collaboration with Swarovski at Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City last night. Comedian Joel McHale hosted the evening with special performances by Jennifer Hudson and Michael C. Hall. The Awards took place in collaboration with Swarovski for the fifteenth consecutive year.

“Tonight, we have come together to honor the best and brightest talents and bring recognition to all of American fashion,” said Steven Kolb, president and CEO of the CFDA. “We would like to thank Nadja Swarovski and Swarovski for fifteen years of a collaboration that continues to guide and inspire us.”

The evening’s Womenswear Designer of the Year honors went to Marc Jacobs, presented by Claire Danes. The award for Menswear Designer of the Year was presented to Thom Browne by Alexander Skarsgård. Rachel Mansur and Floriana Gavriel for Mansur Gavriel took home the Accessory Designer of the Year Award, presented by Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson.

In a surprise moment on stage, Beyoncé was presented the Fashion Icon award by CFDA chairwoman Diane von Furstenberg.

“The CFDA Fashion Awards are about celebrating creativity, innovation and achievement in the industry, but also about bringing our fashion family together,” said von Furstenberg.
[metaslider id=112528] The Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Norma Kamali by Michael Kors, and the Founder’s Award in honor of Eleanor Lambert was presented to Donna Karan by Calvin Klein.

Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour presented Alessandro Michele of Gucci with this year’s International Award. Additionally, the Media Award in honor of Eugenia Sheppard was presented to Imran Amed of The Business of Fashion by Alexa Chung.

“It is an honor to celebrate the fifteenth consecutive year of Swarovski’s partnership with the CFDA, which is an incredible milestone,” added Nadja Swarovski, member of the Swarovski executive board. “We are excited for the future of our industry and we are proud to announce the launch of the ‘Swarovski Emerging Talent Award Mentorship Program’ in collaboration with the CFDA – an initiative designed to develop strong and impactful relationships for the Swarovski Award winners announced this evening.”

Karlie Kloss and Ansel Elgort presented the three Swarovski Awards for emerging talent. Brandon Maxwell received the Swarovski Award for Womenswear. The Swarovski Award for Menswear was presented to Alex, Matthew, and Samantha Orley, for Orley, and the Swarovski Award for Accessory Design went to Paul Andrew.

In addition to participating in the new Swarovski Emerging Talent Award Mentorship Program, recipients in each category will receive generous financial support from the company as well as exposure to the company’s vast and innovative crystal products and applications for fashion.