My thoughts on awards shows are complicated in that I think they are kind of silly. There is a lot of bureaucracy around who gets nominated (and, more importantly, who gets left out), making it so subjective it almost seems pointless. At the same time, I know it's crucial to celebrate art and recognize talent collectively. Outside of covering them as a reporter, my interest level usually lands somewhere between forgetting the award show is happening and reading Twitter threads about who won for hours in bed.
The aforementioned scenario is exactly what happened to me last night when the CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America) Awards took place. The awards are primarily for designers, split into womenswear, accessories, and emerging talent categories. There are also honors for celebrities, influencers, and activists in the industry. The ceremony itself appeared to be the usual affair of gowns, tears from emotional winners, and drunk famous people. Wonderful!
So, if you missed it and the social media algorithms didn't curate you a bunch of fashion people talking about it, here's a little breakdown of what happened.
So many of the wins were well deserved, and it felt like for the first time in a while, new names were being added to the list of honorees. Christopher John Rogers was already having a remarkable year as a young designer, and to punctuate it with this recognition was important. Telfar Clemons, whose eponymous bag line is one of the most sought-after of the year, was finally recognized in the accessory category.
Where was Mary Kate Olsen? Please, someone go find her. I love Ashley, but the other half of The Row designer duo did not make the event, and on a personal level, I'm devastated. The CFDAs are one of like two times a year we see the sisters, and missing this opportunity is upsetting. Catch you at the September Met Ball?
Forgive me for being completely predictable but: Zendaya. She was there to be honored as the fashion icon of the year, and wow did she commit. She always looks stunning but last night, styled by Law Roach wearing Vera Wang, the actress was on another level.
