The Oscars of fashion design

Jacobs, Karan or Wang? Help our expert mark his ballot for the CFDA FashionAwards

Alexis Bittar cuff
Marc Jacobs
suit by Tom Ford
Prabal Gurung dress
Photo by Stefan Gosatti/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz
Alexander Wang leopard wedge
Marc Jacobs sandal

I'm honored to be among the select group of writers to nominate and vote for the winners of the Council of Fashion Designers of America Fashion Awards. It's the Oscars of fashion. The ballots are stamped with a Voter ID to prevent duplicates and an official accounting firm (Ernst & Young) does the tabulation. It's all very exciting.

But I'm in a quandry over who to vote for. My ballot is due by Friday. Can you help me out?

The winners in these six categories will be announced at a lavish ceremony in New York on June 7. Just like in the Oscars voting, past relationships, perceived snubs and the likeability factor play a role in who wins the fashion awards. But it really boils down to talent, so you can judge the designs in each nominee's look book.

Womenswear Designer of the Year

Marc Jacobs

Donna Karan

Alexander Wang

Jacobs won the award in 1992 and 1997; Karan was honored in 1990 and 1996. Wang is the new kid on the block so he might win, particularly since CFDA president Diane von Furstenberg is his mentor, but I'm not impressed by his techno-urban designs. Also Wang and Karan are very New York-centric; they invite hardly any of the regional press to their fashion shows.

But even if they did, I'd still go for Jacobs in this category. He's the most influential designer in the United States and sets the trends every season. He's past due to be honored again. But I bet Karan wins.

Menswear Designer of the Year

Michael Bastian

Tom Ford

Marcus Wainwright & David Neville for Rag & Bone

Ford is likely to be the hands-down winner. His menswear line is expertly crafted but it reminds me a lot of his Gucci heyday. Also, I harbor some bruised feelings since he once stormed out of an interview because he didn't like a question I asked. I'm leaning toward Rag & Bone designers Wainwright and Neville because their well-made classic looks always have a fresh twist.

Accessory Designer of the Year

Alexis Bittar

Lazaro Hernandez & Jack McCollough for Proenza Schouler

Marc Jacobs

Call me biased, but I think the accessory designer award should go to someone who designs them on a full-time basis. Jacobs and the Proenza Schouler guys are primarily clothing designers, although Jacobs makes a busload of money from accessories — that's where the big bucks are made in the fashion business. And his shiny, space-age looking sandals are groovy. Even so, I'm disposed to vote for Bittar because he's a full-time jewelry designer whose creations are intriguing. Plus, he's dating a friend of mine from Texas.

The next three awards go to relative newcomers, who are considered to have potential to be the next big thing:

Swarovski Award for Womenswear

Joseph Altuzarra

Prabal Gurung

Jason Wu

I'm frankly not that familiar with Altuzarra, although I like his clean designs. Jason Wu was plucked from obscurity when Michelle Obama wore his white off-the-shoulder gown to the inaugural balls in 2009. Obama also recently put Gurung in the spotlight when she wore one of his creations. It's a toss-up; I'm leaning toward Gurung's modern, 21st-century looks.

Swarovski Award for Menswear

Richard Chai

Patrik Ervell

Simon Spurr

All three talented designers make fine-looking menswear. But Spurr's collection is the most dandy-riffic.

Swarovski Award for Accessory Design

Eddie Borgo

Dana Lorenz

Alexander Wang

Wang will likely win in this category if he doesn't score as designer of the year. He created a killer leopard wedge, but I'm partial to Borgo's studded crystal cuffs.

unspecified

RODEO RUNWAY

Western glam takes over as RodeoHouston fans dress to impress

Photo by Gabi De la Rosa

Brooke Jones, Kiala Cardenas, Brittany Ruggeri, and Franschesca Jones.

Houstonians have dusted off their boots and rhinestones as the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is in full swing. Already one of the largest events in Texas, the crowds are continuing to grow. In 2025, more than 2.7 million people attended RodeoHouston, and this year the event is already on track for record-breaking numbers.

Livestock competitions, carnival rides, deep-fried food, and headlining concerts are the official reasons people come to the rodeo. Unofficially, however, people watching has become a sport all its own. The crowded walkways on RodeoHouston grounds transform into a Western-themed runway, where personal style is just as much of the experience as enjoying deep-fried Oreos or a Ferris wheel ride.

A wide range of outfits is always on display. Some attendees go all in with head-to-toe sequins, fringe on everything, and dramatically decorated hats. Others keep things casual with denim, boots, and graphic t-shirts, while groups of friends will often coordinate themed outfits for concert nights.

Rodeo Fashoin 2026 Emily Duran and Brylie Wagner.Photo by Gabi De la Rosa

No matter the style, there are two must-have accessories: cowboy hats and boots. Hats serve a dual purpose for both fashion and protection from the sun during daytime events. Boots are essential to rodeo style, but sometimes come with a painful learning curve.

Many attendees walk more than a mile from the parking lot to the grounds, and after exploring, they often add more than 20,000 steps. For those who did not properly break in their boots, the end of the day can involve blisters and a slow walk to the car, boots in hand.

“Rodeo fashion is so fun. My friends and I planned out outfits together, and we made sure we broke in our boots before tonight,” Teresa Delgado tells CultureMap. “When you are from Houston, you only make that mistake once.”

Rodeo Fashion 2026 Karson Graves, Reese, Lowery, Mackenzie Lewis, Natalie Doyle, Brandi Hunger, and Jenna Faulkner.Photo by Gabi De la Rosa

Some days have them whether it's official or it's an unspoken trend. When Megan Moroney took the stage, pink was the color of the concert, inspired by Moroney's album Cloud 9. Nearly 70,000 attendees filled the stadium in everything from flouncy pink ruffled outfits to bright neon boots and hats.

“We have really been looking forward to this concert,” said Ashley Little from Cypress. “I didn't think too much about my outfit at first, but my daughter wanted to coordinate, so here we are wearing pink together.”

Between carnival rides, mutton busting, and nightly concerts, the rodeo has plenty to see, but some of the most memorable moments are stopping to notice that fashion is just another part of the show.

Photo by Gabi De la Rosa

Brooke Jones, Kiala Cardenas, Brittany Ruggeri, and Franschesca Jones.

houston rodeo fashion western style