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Can I tell you …about the CFDA Awards. It’s the most anticipated event in the fashion industry. It’s always a great party and I love seeing what and who everybody is wearing. The star gazing isn’t bad either since Hollywood celebrities like to show their support to the designers who dress them for their share of red carpet events. This year my date was my friend, the fabulous designer Tracy Reese. She wore my crystal beaded Sasha minaudiere with her floral printed dress with a full skirt and lots of crinoline. She looked like the Belle of the Ball.
Diane von Furstenburg (president of the CFDA) and Steven Kolb (executive director) had promised us a fun and hopefully short evening from years past. First was the change in venue and just in time for the opening of the newly renovated Alice Tully Hall at the Lincoln Center.
At the entrance we were greeted by a row of cute boys all armed with umbrellas. It was raining all afternoon and they weren’t taking any chances with the red carpet. There is nothing worse than soggy fashionista.
Then there was the tableau-vivant of 60 models on the steps of the amphitheatre, all dressed in looks from the Womenswear Designer of the Year nominees: Rodarte, Marc Jacobs and Narciso Rodriguez. It was live fashion and a reminder that you are attending a major fashion event.
Inside was when the real fun began. I was so excited to see actress Mamie Gummer ( Meryl Streep’s daughter) wearing my gold python minaudiere and Peter Som’s dress. Big shout out to Peter for making that happen. Ran into Roopal Patel in an emerald green dress and hot pink accessories. That girl knows how to wear color and she stood apart from the sea of black dresses. Rachel Roy looked like a goddess in a Venus shoulder white brocade dress of her design. Spotted Behnaz Sarapfour and actress Michelle Trachtenberg sipping champagne in a corner. My friend menswear designer and nominee Robert Geller and his gorgeous wife Ana Elaria were enjoying the moment. It was their first time at the Awards. Tracy caught up with her old friend Marc Jacobs for a bit while I mingled. They used to be classmates in Parsons.
Tracey Ullman was the host of the evening wearing vintage Claire McCardell which won her a round of applause. She kept the mood light and tried her best to make everybody laugh. Can I tell you, in this economy we all need a good laugh. Sometimes she succeeded and sometimes there was a deathly silence in the auditorium. Jaded fashion people are the hardest to please I swear. Other presenters were Justin Timberlake who is looking better with age, Blake Lively looked hot in hot pink and Diane Kruger in Jason Wu.
So here are the winners: Fashion Icon: Michelle Obama (obvi!), Lifetime Achievement : Anna Sui (hello!) Marc Jacobs: International Award (of course!), Proenza Schouler: Accessories (huh?), Kate and Laura Mulleavy: womenswear (love!), a tie between Calvin Klein’s Italo Zucchelli and Band of Outsider’s Scott Sternberg for menswear (surprise!), Ralph Lauren: Most Popular Vote (duh!), Justin Guinta, Tim Hamilton and Alexander Wang.
After the awards was the buffet dinner, more drinks and hobknobbing. I’m so glad I took my camera. This party was one big photo op and everybody is happy to strike a pose. What’s the point of dressing up otherwise, right? But this wasn’t end of the evening. The night was young and so were we!Everybody was headed to the After Parties. Peter, Roopal, Elana and I weren’t going to miss the Highline Party hosted by Calvin Klein. Their parties are always so much fun! I’ll tell you all about it but that’s another blog. Stay tuned.