If The Met Gala is considered the Fashion Oscars, The CFDA Awards are respectively a chic graduation afterparty. The 2019 CFDA fashion awards held last night at the Brooklyn Museum was a subdued celebration of what is going on in American fashion. The squads paired with the designers feel more authentic and in line with their visions. The Pyer Moss group, including Joan Smalls, A$AP Ferg, and Deray was a pastel fantasy of Black Excellence. Cult models Alek Wek and Veronica Webb returned to the carpet respectively. Exiting Chairwoman of the CFDA, Diane Von Furstenburg carried the torch she brought to the Met Gala this year and passed it to her successor Tom Ford who will take on her role in January.
Brandon Maxwell won arguably the top honor of the night winning Womenswear Designer of The Year. Maxwell who started out as a stylist has seen his career flourish in the past few seasons as he is a designer who truly champions the women he dresses. They are family, they are his muses and his passion for them shows. His newfound stint on Project Runway has brought Maxwell to the televisions of Middle America and he is working to cement his role as a household name. Maxwell was responsible for Lady Gaga’s show-stopping four looks on the Met Gala red carpet earlier this year.
While the Telfar bag shook up the fashion industry and became thee accessory of the season, Accessory Designer of the Year went to MaryKate and Ashley Olsen for The Row. Telfar Clemens may not have won but the upset it caused on social media proved the designer won the influence without the award.
CFDA Fashion Fund runner-up, Emily Adams Bode won Emerging Designer of the Year for her label BODE. The designer who studied menswear at Parsons has cemented herself as a one to watch as we await to see if she wins the LVMH Prize. Jennifer Lopez wore a two piece red Ralph Lauren gown to accept her Style Icon award. Bob Mackie, winner of the Lifetime achievement award came with a glistening Bernadette Peters to accept his award. If the conversation regarding the International influence in current state of American fashion system is in question, Rick Owens menswear designer of the year award winner missed his flight from Paris to accept his award. It will be interesting to see how the awards change under Tom Ford's leadership as he has talked about need for America to globalize itself in the fashion scape.
Click below to see our favorite looks of the night.
