June 6, 2017 |
Sending massive congratulations this AM in the direction of one Raf Simons, who, whilst we were doing less important things, scooped up not one but TWO awards at last night’s CFDA Fashion Awards, winning both Menswear and Womenswear Designer of the Year. The latter award was given in honour of his work at Calvin Klein, where he has been for a single season. He’s that ruddy good. And – nice piece of fashion triv: the only person to win do the double previously was Mr Klein himself. In his speeches, Raf addressed the current state of the world: “if we as creatives can be an inspiration for how the world should look,” he said, “I think that it’s something we should take as a very important task in our existence.”
Other shiny new CFDA awards were dolled out to Stuart Vevers who won Accessory Designer of the Year for his fine work at Coach, whilst Fernando Garcia and Laura Kim won the Emerging Talent award for their own label, Monse. Special awards went to Rick Owens, Demna Gvasalia, Pat McGrath, Kenneth Cole and Franca Sozzani, a woman who Anna Wintour paid tribute to in a moving speech. “Franca and I were thrown into each other’s lives quickly,” Anna said of their friendship. “When we were hired to lead our magazines the very same week but we became friends slowly—in part because both of us were independent spirits, each a little bit unsure of what to make of the other. We sort of circled each other like jungle cats but frankly I was just really intimated by that magnificent hair.”
Who wouldn’t be? The hair was magnificent. She was magnificent. Congratulations to all the winners from all of us at Ten Towers!
Menswear Designer of the Year
Raf Simons
Accessory Designer of the Year
Stuart Vevers, Coach
Swarovski Award for Emerging Talent
Fernando Garcia and Laura Kim, Monse
Womenswear Designer of the Year
Raf Simons, Calvin Klein
Swarovski Award for Positive Change
Kenneth Cole
Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award
Rick Owens
Founder’s Award
Pat McGrath
International Award
Demna Gvasalia, Vetements and Balenciaga
Board of Directors’ Tribute
Cecile Richards, Gloria Steinem, and Janelle Monáe
Fashion Icon Award
Franca Sozzani
