2008 CFDA Fashion Awards Presented in New York

Photo: Tom Ford accepts the Award for Menswear Designer of the Year in-front of Kim Cattrall. Click on the picture for more photographs.

3 Jun 2008 15:19 Africa/Lagos


2008 CFDA Fashion Awards Presented in New York

Francisco Costa for Calvin Klein Collection Wins Top Prize

Evening generously underwritten by Swarovski
Upstairs at the Library Viewing Party Hosted by T-Mobile Sidekick

Student Viewing Party at F.I.T. Hosted by Target

NEW YORK, June 3 /PRNewswire/ --

Last night, the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) paid tribute to the winners and honorees of the 2008 CFDA Fashion Awards in the Celeste Bartos Forum of The New York Public Library followed by dinner at the Bryant Park Grill. Top honors went to Francisco Costa for Calvin Klein for Womenswear Designer of the Year. Tom Ford won Menswear Designer of the Year and Tory Burch took home Accessory Designer of the Year.


The Swarovski Award for Womenswear was given to Kate & Laura Mulleavy for Rodarte while the Swarovski Award for Menswear was presented to Scott Sternberg for Band of Outsiders. The Swarovski Award for Accessory Design went to Phillip Crangi. The Awards were generously underwritten by Swarovski. Recipients in each category will receive generous financial support from the company as well as exposure to the company's vast and innovative CRYSTALLIZED(tm) Swarovski Elements.


The Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Carolina Herrera.


Belgian designer Dries Van Noten was recognized with this year's International Award; Style.com's Candy Pratts Price was honored with the Eugenia Sheppard Award for excellence in journalism; and the Board of Directors' Special Tribute was presented to Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg for his unwavering support of New York City's fashion industry.

The presentation was hosted by Fran Lebowitz. Also lending their talents to this year's presentation were Simon Doonan, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Nadja Swarovski, Anna Wintour, Victoria Beckham, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Eva Mendes, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Kim Catrall. Some of the most influential names in American fashion design, like CFDA President Diane von Furstenberg, Tommy Hilfiger, Betsey Johnson, Donna Karan, Zac Posen, Peter Som and Vera Wang were joined by celebrity guests Eva Longoria Parker, Tony Parker, Jason Lewis, Paula Patton, Ashley Olsen, Lauren Hutton, Sean Avery, and Lil' Kim.


As part of the CFDA's commitment to design education, the Geoffrey Beene Design Scholar Ghazaleh M. Khalifeh and the CFDA/Teen Vogue scholarship recipient Anna Lesassier were recognized on-stage with the first-ever CFDA Scholarship winner Peter Som.


Of the ceremony, CFDA Executive Director Steven Kolb said, "This night is special not only because we celebrate the best of American fashion, but because we come together as an industry and a community to do so. We are thrilled that this year's format enabled us to accommodate a greater number of guests in the celebration. I can think of no better spotlight for American fashion as a dynamic, growing institution with a rich history than the CFDA Fashion Awards."


"This evening has become such a treasured occasion for Swarovski. We couldn't be more thrilled for all the tremendously talented honorees and winners," said Nadja Swarovski, Vice President of International Communications. "There is certainly a continued bright future for American fashion design with this year's awards being any indication. We are delighted to have the opportunity to be such an influence in the landscape of these talented, young stars who have captured the honor of the Swarovski Awards."


For the third year in a row, the celebration incorporated a Viewing Party. "Upstairs at the Library Hosted T-Mobile Sidekick" was a lounge-like space from which a larger group of fashion designers, editors and other industry supporters watched a live simulcast of the awards. Notable guests included Lauren Santo Domingo, Jeff Halmos, Sam Shipley, David Neville, Marcus Wainright, and Gucci Westman.


For the first time ever, the CFDA Fashion Awards included a live simulcast especially for design students. Thanks to the generous support of Target and in cooperation with the Fashion Institute of Technology (F.I.T), 700 college students watched the show live from F.I.T.'s Haft Auditorium.


The decor of the dinner and awards was inspired by the garden and the beauty of spring that designer Raul Avila brought to life for the Awards. Bryant Park served as the perfect springtime backdrop for two pieces from the Swarovski Crystal Palace Collection: "Cascade," a well-known piece by artist Vincent Van Duysen, and ten "Blossom" chandeliers by designer Tord Boontje.


KCD produced the event, and the journal and graphics were designed by Trey Laird of Laird + Partners.


Nominees, honorees, and winners were determined by a Selection Committee comprised of CFDA members, leading fashion journalists, stylist and top retail executives. Ernst & Young LLP was the official accounting firm of the Awards.


Additionally, the CFDA would like to acknowledge the companies that added to the success of this year's event: Continental Airlines -- official airline; Champagne Taittinger; FIJI; website designer: Hudson Union; Bernard's Salon and Spa, L'Oreal Professionnel, and MAC Pro Team and MAC Cosmetics, W Hotels Worldwide, Mandarin Oriental, New York.


The winners and honorees of the 2008 CFDA Fashion Awards:

Womenswear Designer of the Year
Francisco Costa for Calvin Klein Collection

Menswear Designer of the Year
Tom Ford

Accessory Designer of the Year
Tory Burch

Swarovski Award for Emerging Talent Womenswear
Kate & Laura Mulleavy for Rodarte

Swarovski Award for Emerging Talent Menswear
Scott Sternberg for Band of Outsiders

Swarovski Award for Emerging Talent Accessory Design
Phillip Crangi

Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award
Carolina Herrera

International Award
Dries Van Noten

Eugenia Sheppard Award for Fashion Journalism
Candy Pratts Price

Board of Directors' Special Tribute
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg


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Source: Council of Fashion Designers of America

CONTACT: Souri Kim, kim@kcdworldwide.com, or Marianna Friedman,
+1-212-590-5125, friedman@kcdworldwide.com, both of KCD, for Council of
Fashion Designers of America


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