Perhaps the most surprising part of the CFDA nominations event last night was that the organization’s Media Award — which has previously been bestowed on distinguished fashion journalists like Tim Blanks and Teri Agins — went to an app. Instagram was the first nonindividual to win the award in its history — which, considering it’s the platform of record for fashion happenings, makes a strange kind of sense. Last night’s nominees’ circle also included first-time honorees Ryan Roche and Orley, along with veteran nominees like Marc Jacobs and Proenza Schouler (both up for the Womenswear Award). Betsey Johnson got the nod for the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award.
For those wondering how this all works: The group was selected by the CFDA’s over 450 members, as well as a select group of prominent fashion editors, stylists, and buyers — and this year’s lead-up was oddly Hollywood-like, with several designers sending out formal “For Your Consideration” emails. Did the gambit work? You’ll have to consult the full list of nominees, below.
Womenswear Designer of the Year: Joseph Altuzarra for Altuzarra, Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors, Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough for Proenza Schouler, and Ashley Olsen and Mary-Kate Olsen for The Row.
Menswear Designer of the Year Award: Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne for Public School, David Neville and Marcus Wainwright for Rag & Bone, Thom Browne, Tim Coppens, and Tom Ford
Accessory Designer of the Year Award: Alexander Wang, Irene Neuwirth, Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez for Proenza Schouler, Ashley Olsen and Mary-Kate Olsen for The Row, and Tabitha Simmons
Swarovski Award for Womenswear: Rosie Assoulin, Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne for Public School, and Ryan Roche
Swarovski Award for Menswear: Shayne Oliver for Hood by Air; Alex Orley, Matthew Orley, and Samantha Orley for Orley; and Ariel and Shimon Ovadia for Ovadia & Sons
Swarovski Award for Accessory Design: Paul Andrew, Eva Zuckerman for Eva Fehren, and Rachel Mansur and Floriana Gavriel for Mansur Gavriel
The Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award: Betsey Johnson
The Media Award: Instagram
The Founder’s Award: Millard “Mickey” Drexler
The International Award: Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli of Valentino