Jun 04

CFDAs: Proenza Boys Threepeat, Twice Is Nice for Thom Browne, Phillip Lim Bags a Win

Posted in: CFDA

The Council of Fashion Designers of America voters have spoken. At last night’s post-downpour awards extravaganza‎, held at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center and hosted by effervescent Bravo exec Andy Cohen (taking the night off from his Watch What Happens Live clubhouse), Proenza Schouler’s Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez snagged their third womenswear of the year trophy in seven years–and by the looks of their fall 2013 collection, the dynamic duo might find themselves back at the podium next year at this time.

Thom Browne (pictured) continued his winning streak, picking up a second menswear designer of the year award (his first was in 2006) in the wake of his 2012 National Design Award and last month’s “Fashion Visionary” nod from Pratt Institute. After saluting fellow nominees Michael Bastian and Duckie Brown’s Steven Cox and Daniel Silver (“I feel like we’ve grown up together”), Browne gave a shout-out out to his “fearless tailor” Rocco Ciccarelli, a seventysomething sartorial whiz who owns the factory where Browne’s clothes are made.

Rounding out the night’s big three, Phillip Lim–and his highly covetable Pashli and 31 Hour bags–bested the Proenza boys and Alexander Wang to take the accessories category. Read on to learn who else went home a winner:
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Jun 03

Vera Wang to Receive CFDA’s Lifetime Achievement Award

Posted in: 92nd Street Y, CFDA, Fern Mallis, Vera Wang


Vera Wang during a conversation with Fern Mallis at New York’s 92nd Street Y.

“It was like being in designer heaven.” That’s how Vera Wang describes her stint at Ralph Lauren. “We had everything, anything we needed as designers, particularly as a design director, as a team. It just magically appeared,” she told Fern Mallis during an on-stage conversation earlier this year at New York’s 92nd Street Y. “If Ralph believed in you, he really believed you. And he really supported and believed in me. It was very hard to leave.” That difficult decision paid off and more than twenty years later, Lauren remains a Wang fan. He’ll be on hand this evening at Lincoln Center to present her with the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award, one of the special honors at tonight’s Council of Fashion Designers of America Fashion Awards ceremony.

What began as a bridal business backed by Wang’s father (who saw an opportunity in a low-inventory venture that would require a limited range of fabrics) has grown–smartly and steadily–from ready-to-wear and accessories to flatware, stationery, and lines for the likes of Kohl’s, David’s Bridal, and Zales. (Did you know that she designed the uniforms for the Philadelphia Eagles cheerleaders?) According to Wang, she is very involved in the array of licensing deals. “With all of these lines, you have to come up to speed, not only from a business sense but technically,” she told Mallis. “That learning curve is something I embrace because I love to learn. I’ve worked hard at it for over a decade, but it’s challenging.”

With her name synonymous with a brand that sells everything from perfume to pillowcases in 35 countries, are there any product categories still on Wang’s wishlist? Looking back to her years as an elite figure skater, Wang is eyeing activewear. “I think that for women and men today, there’s such a natural desire to be comfortable,” she told Mallis. “I’d like to do athleticwear. That kind of clothing, it’s just kind of joyous to be able to walk around in. Especially if you can bring a sense of fashion to it. I’d wear it.” She could also be sweet-talked into another deal. “I do love donuts,” she said. “I think I could do a mean donut.”

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Nov 14

The Elder Statesman’s Greg Chait Wins $300K CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Prize

Posted in: CFDA, Greg Chait, Jennifer Meyer, Tabitha Simmons


CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund winner Greg Chait with runners-up Tabitha Simmons and Jennifer Meyer Maguire. (Photo: CFDA)

Greg Chait has a golden goose. OK, technically it’s a bronze swan, but you get the idea. The French-born, New York-based designer was presented with the Rachel Feinstein-designed avian trophy by actress (and Vogue cover girl) Emma Stone on Tuesday evening at New York’s Center548, where the Council of Fashion Designers of America and Vogue announced the recipients of the ninth annual awards from the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund. Chait, who helms Los Angeles-based cashmere label The Elder Statesman, bested nine other finalists to take home the $300,000 Fashion Fund prize and a steady stream of business mentoring from industry veterans.

Runner-up honors–$100,000 each and a lovely bronze egg–went to accessories designers Tabitha Simmons and Jennifer Meyer Maguire. The other finalists were Andrea Lieberman (A.L.C.), Greg Armas (Assembly New York), Sofia Sizzi (Giulietta), Justin Salguero, Daniel Silberman, and Alina Silberman (Illesteva), Jennifer Fisher (Jennifer Fisher Jewelry), Max Osterweis and Erin Beatty (Suno), and Wes Gordon. Get to know them better by tuning into The Fashion Fund, a seven-part series that premiered on Vogue.com last month. Here’s the climactic final installment, complete with footage of the judges’ deliberations and Tuesday’s awards ceremony.

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