Fashion's Oscars
Marc Jacobs wins top prize— and Tom Ford doesn't — at Council of FashionDesigners of America awards
Marc Jacobs was named Womenswear Designer of the Year at the glittery Council of Fashion Designer of America awards Monday night. Jacobs, who last took home the award in 1997, is the most influential designer in the U.S. today — that's why I voted for him — and his fall 2010 collection was particularly strong. Jacobs can do no wrong, although he comes perilously close in ads for his new fragrance, Bang, in which he appears nude.
The biggest shock of the evening came when Marcus Wainwright and David Neville for Rag & Bone took home the Menswear Designer of the Year award. Tom Ford was a heavy favorite.
I voted for the Rag & Bone guys and also for Alexis Bittar, who was named Accessory Designer of the Year.
Other winners (in a vote of New York fashion insiders and smattering of those, like myself, who hail from the hinterlands): Jason Wu won the Swarovski Award, which honors emerging talent, even though he designed Michelle Obama's inaugural gown, so in my mind, he's already emerged. Richard Chai won the Swarovski Award in men’s wear and Alexander Wang won for accessory design. I didn't vote for any of the three because I think they are seasoned pros — Wang was up for the award that Jacobs won — but I can't quibble with any of the winners because they are all talented.
Michael Kors received the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award, Burberry’s Christopher Bailey the International Award and Iman the Fashion Icon Award. Alexander McQueen received a special posthumous tribute award from the CFDA board of directors.
See the Women's Wear Daily slide show of who wore what here. My favorites: Gwyneth Paltrow in a black, body-hugging one-shoulder Michael Kors, Diane von Furstenberg in a print gown of her own design, and Sarah Jessica Parker in a print by Alexander McQueen.