Joseph Altuzarra has been crowned Womenswear Designer of the Year at the CFDA Fashion Awards.
The annual event celebrates the best fashion offerings of the last year and was held in New York City last night, with John Waters hosting proceedings.
Joseph was in a toughly-fought category, but beat off stiff competition from Alexander Wang and Marc Jacobs to win the coveted prize. He was handed the gong by Lupita Nyong’o and it marked his second CFDA Award, following his emerging womenswear designer gong in 2012.
Public School’s Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne received the Menswear Designer of the Year accolade, with Thomas Browne and Marcus Wainwright and David Neville of Rag & Bone also nominated.
It was also a good night for Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen of The Row, who were named the best accessories designers. They were honoured to receive the prize, with Mary-Kate also thrilled to be in the same room as Rihanna.
“Yes…is that a trick question?” she asked WWD, when quizzed on whether she was excited to see the Diamonds star.
Creatures of the Wind’s Shane Gabier and Christopher Peters were given the Swarovski womenswear award, with Tim Coppens winning the male version.
Other notable honourees included Tom Ford, who won the prestigious Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award. Raf Simon’s picked up the International Award thanks to his work for Christian Dior, with Rihanna handed the Fashion Icon Gong by US Vogue editor Anna Wintour. She opted for a sheer dress by Adam Selman for her moment in the fashion spotlight, making her the talk of the night.
A number of celebrities were on hand to celebrate fashion’s big night, among them James Marsden, Solange Knowles and Jennifer Hudson.
“Just being here, because I love fashion,” Jennifer explained of the best bit of the evening. “And Tom Ford and Rihanna.”
The Council of Fashion Designers of America Fashion Awards are voted for by 1,500 fashion editors, stylists and retailers.
2014 CFDA Fashion Awards winners:
Womenswear Designer Of The Year
Joseph Altuzarra
Menswear Designer Of The Year
Dao-Yi Chow & Maxwell Osborne, Public School
Accessories Designer Of The Year
Ashley Olsen & Mary-Kate Olsen, The Row
Swarovski Award For Womenswear
Shane Gabier & Christopher Peters, Creatures of the Wind
Swarovski Award For Menswear
Tim Coppens
Swarovski Award For Accessories
Irene Neuwirth
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
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