HOLLYWOOD was out in full force last night at the Council of Fashion Designers of America’s Fashion Awards – 7th Avenue’s equivalent of the Academy Awards.
But even with Oscar-winners Nicole Kidman and Adrien Brody, as well as fashionable stars like Renée Zellweger, Claire Danes and Eve among the well-dressed throngs of fashion obsessives gathered in the Great Gallery of the New York Public Library, the toast of the party was Vogue magazine.
Editor Anna Wintour and editor at large Andre Leon Talley were both honored at the gala event held at the NYPL.
Wintour took home the CFDA’s Lifetime Achievement Award for her three-decade career in fashion, capped by a massively successful 15-year tenure at Vogue. Talley was presented with the Eugenia Shepard Award, which singles out outstanding members of the fashion press.
Nicole Kidman, who couldn’t attend because she was filming a movie in L.A., was honored with the Council’s Fashion Icon Award, joining the ranks of Cher and Sophia Loren.
Other honorees included British designer Alexander McQueen, who received the International Award; Burberry’s Rose Marie Bravo, who took home the Eleanor Lambert Award for philanthropy; and 90-year-old Jackie O couturier Oleg Cassini, who was honored with a special tribute by the CFDA Board of Directors.
Tributes were also presented in memory of designer Bill Blass and late fashion photographer Herb Ritts, both of whom died in the last year.
The award ceremony was hosted by “Sex and the City” clotheshorse Sarah Jessica Parker, whose numerous costume changes included dresses by Calvin Klein, Carolina Herrera, Vera Wang and Oscar de la Renta.
Before the ceremony, dinner was served in the library’s Great Gallery at a giant communal table, eliminating any haggling over who got to stare across the table at presenters Renée Zellweger or Eve over herb-crusted filet of beef, and heirloom tomato and mint compote.
Music throughout the awards presentation came courtesy of the Ben Waltzer Quartet, an ensemble whose recent gigs include backing up fashion Renaissance man Isaac Mizrahi’s one-man cabaret show and on “The Isaac Mizrahi Show,” currently airing on the Oxygen Network.
NOMINATIONS ALL SEWN UP
Women’s Wear Designer of the Year
Carolina Herrera
Marc Jacobs for Marc Jacobs
Donna Karan
Narciso Rodriguez
Men’s Wear Designer of the Year
Sean Combs for Sean John
Michael Kors
Ralph Lauren
Accessory Designer of the Year
Marc Jacobs for Marc Jacobs
Carlos Falchi
Ted Muehling
Swarovski’s Perry Ellis Award for Ready-to-Wear
Lazaro Hernandez & Jack McCollough for Proenza Schouler
Zac Posen
Behnaz Sarafpour
Swarovski’s Perry Ellis Award for Accessory Design
Brian Atwood
Holly Dunlap for Hollywould
George Gublo & Michael Spaulding for Gunmetal
Eugenia Shepard Award
Andre Leon Talley
International Award
Alexander McQueen
Lifetime Achievement Award
Anna Wintour
Fashion Icon Award
Nicole Kidman
Eleanor Lambert Award
Rose Marie Bravo
Board of Directors’ Special Tribute
Oleg Cassini
