Fashion Mafia Pays Tribute to New Garde

The CFDA held its annual awards ceremony in New York last night, honoring a rising generation of fashion power players, as well as First Lady Michelle Obama (who accepted the commendation of Board of Directors’ Special Tribute via satellite). CFDA President Diane Von Furstenberg held court, while Tracey Ullman hosted. The latter opened the ceremony with a Keifer Sutherland head-butting joke, which garnered only "weak laughter," says Fashionologie. It probably didn't help matters that Jack McCollough, half of the design team behind Proenza Schouler (who won the title of Accessories Designer of the Year) and the recipient of said head-butt post-Costume Gala, was in attendance.

As for the other winners:

Popular Vote Award: Ralph Lauren
Menswear Designer of the Year: a tie between Italo Zucchelli (Calvin Klein) and Scott Sternberg (Band of Outsiders)
Womenswear Designer of the Year: Alexander Wang
Swarovski Award for Menswear: Tim Hamilton
Swarovski Award for Womenswear: Alexander Wang
Swarovski Award for Accessories: Justin Giunta for Subversive Jewelry
Womenswear Designer of the Year: Rodarte

All in all, there weren’t too many surprises. But the honors awarded do solidify Justin Giunta and Tim Hamilton’s rising stars within the fashion industry, not to mention the fact that Rodarte beat out both Marc Jacobs (a runner-up for Womenswear last year as well) and Narciso Rodriguez shows that the industry is hungry for new blood. Also of note: Alexander Wang’s tux alternative (which included Comme des Garçons shorts and a Helmut Lang tuxedo jacket), an invasion of togas (a trend Kate Moss no doubt helped spearhead with her Costume Gala ensemble), and Jack White in a brown plaid suit (which most likely won’t be spawning a sea of followers).