| EVENT REPORT 06.17.09 1:44 PM |
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C.F.D.A. Awards Move Uptown, Keep Shorter Format
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 | Models on the steps leading into Alice Tully Hall
Photo: Billy Farrell/Patrickmcmullan.com |
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As an industry that perpetually rolls out new designs like clockwork twice a year (or more), the fashion business is all about constantly evolving and keeping things fresh. So the Council of Fashion Designers of America moved its annual awards ceremony on Monday night to the newly renovated Alice Tully Hall after a seven-year run at the New York Public Library. Made in part to accommodate more guests, the move echoes the migration of Fashion Week from Bryant Park, adjacent to the library, to Lincoln Center, the arts complex that houses Alice Tully Hall.
Approximately 700 guests attended the event, which was sponsored by Swarovski for the eighth straight year. One of the city's most important to-dos for those in fashion, the ceremony attracted C.F.D.A. president Diane von Furstenberg, model Agyness Deyn, and GQ creative director Jim Moore. Jimmy Fallon, Blake Lively, and Jack White served as presenters.
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RELATED TOPICS
Council of Fashion Designers of America, C.F.D.A. Awards, Swarovski |
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| NEWS 06.02.09 4:04 PM |
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Calvin Klein Plans Second High Line Party
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Calvin Klein Inc. is planning a second High Line party after first offering guests at its 40th anniversary party a sneak preview of the new public space in 2008, WWD reported this morning. The event will serve as the official after-party to the High Line’s opening summer benefit on June 15.
Requests for details weren't immediately answered by representatives from Calvin Klein, but executive vice president of global communications Malcolm Carfrae cited the park's "visionary, contemporary concept" as the brand's motivation for the partnership in an interview with WWD. The "First Party on the High Line," as it's being called, will follow the High Line's 6 p.m. gala at Pier Sixty and cover the soon-to-be-opened park between Gansevoort and 20th Streets.
Incidentally, June 15 is also the date of the 2009 Council of Fashion Designers of America Awards at its new home at Alice Tully Hall, making that Monday night a busy one for the events' overlapping guests. —Michael O'Connell
RELATED TOPICS
Calvin Klein, Friends of the High Line, High Line, Council of Fashion Designers of America, C.F.D.A. Awards |
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| NEWS 03.06.09 3:41 PM |
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CFDA Awards Heading to New Venue
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 | The scene at the library overflow party in 2008
Photo: Matthew Peyton/Elevation Photos |
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Fashion's exodus from Bryant Park to Lincoln Center continues. After speculating as such earlier this week, WWD confirmed today that the Council of Fashion Designers of America will hold its annual CFDA Fashion Awards on June 15 at the newly refurbished Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center.
This marks a departure from the usual venue of the New York Public Library at Bryant Park, which the awards called home for the past seven years. CFDA executive director Steven Kolb told WWD that the move was to accommodate a larger audience and that the dinner will take place in the lobby following a ceremony in the theater.
Kolb also confirmed that Swarovski Crystal—which traditionally contributes decor elements to the awards and dinner—signed on to continue its sponsorship for the 2009 awards. —Michael O'Connell
RELATED TOPICS
C.F.D.A. Awards, C.F.D.A., Council of Fashion Designers of America |
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| EVENT REPORT 06.05.08 12:27 PM |
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Split-Up CFDA Award Festivities Walk Guests Through Bryant Park
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 | Cascading Swarovski crystals in the park
Photo: Evan Agostini/Elevation Photos |
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The Council of Fashion Designers of America switched gears for its 2008 award ceremony, held Monday night at the New York Public Library. Frustrations over the length of the show prompted organizers to forgo the formal cocktail hour this year, hold the ceremony theater-style, and then send guests like Victoria Beckham, Eva Longoria Parker, and Marc Jacobs on a scenic walk through Bryant Park to a garden-themed dinner at the Bryant Park Grill.
Changes became clear during the arrivals. Gone was the grand runway on the steps of the library's Fifth Avenue entrance, with guests instead pulling up on 42nd Street just west of Fifth for easier access to the Celeste Bartos Forum. Glowing orange and pink, the forum looked only a few palm fronds short of a South Beach club. Over the course of the ceremony, CFDA honored designers like Tom Ford, Francisco Costa, and Tory Burch as a slew of famous presenters joined M.C. Fran Lebowitz onstage during the two-hour production, after designer and CFDA president Diane von Furstenberg started the night with an ode to Yves Saint Laurent, who died this past weekend.
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Council of Fashion Designers of America, C.F.D.A., C.F.D.A. Awards, Swarovski, Target, T-Mobile |
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| GUEST QUESTIONS 06.03.08 2:52 PM |
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Fashion Biggies Dig CFDA Awards' Garden Setting, Swarovski Decor
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 | Last night's scene in Bryant Park
Photo: Vincent Crossley |
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Hoping to curtail the notoriously lengthy event of years past with a fresher, faster-paced format, the Council of Fashion Designers of America held its 26th annual award gala last night in Midtown, sans cocktail hour. The event began with a shortened ceremonial presentation at the New York Public Library, followed by dinner at the Bryant Park Grill next door. The crowd of celebrities—both Hollywood stars and the famous designers who dress them—left the party cooing about sponsor Swarovski's chandeliers, the potent floral centerpieces, and a touching opening speech by CFDA president Diane von Furstenberg on the passing of Yves St. Laurent.
As the fashion fete came to a close at the park, we grilled guests like actress Jill Hennessy, IMG Fashion’s Fern Mallis, and nominated designer Marc Jacobs about this year’s departure from tradition and what they most enjoyed. Here’s what they had to say.
“The films that introduced the designers were fun, not too too long, and I was very happy because I was with my good friend Victoria [Beckham] and my partner Robert [Duffy]. We had a good time in there. Wherever they have the event I’ll go. They were lucky the weather was nice. It’s hot and I’m in a suit, but you’ve got to wear black tie to a black-tie event.”
—Marc Jacobs
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RELATED TOPICS
Council of Fashion Designers of America, C.F.D.A., C.F.D.A. Awards, Swarovski |
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| NEWS 06.07.07 12:28 PM |
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WWD: No Paper With Our Fish, Please
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Within its coverage of the Council of Fashion Designers of America's awards on Monday night, yesterday's Women's Wear Daily had some complaints about some of the evening's more avant-garde moments. "OK, the food was a problem again—fish in paper?" the story on the paper's Eye page asked. "At least it arrived promptly this time around."
The fashion reporters also had problems with the production of the ceremony. "Once again, the videos proved to be too long and, at times, downright weird, ranging from naked women and men flitting about for the Swarovski men's wear nominees to meditating men lulling the audience to sleep in the one for Menswear Designer of the Year. One exception: the zippy retrospective of 25 years of CFDA awards."
New York magazine seemed to disagree, though: Party reporter Jada Yuan wrote that "great, arresting videos by Ryan McGinley and others displayed the nominated designers' clothes." No word on her fish/paper preferences, though. —Chad Kaydo
RELATED TOPICS
WWD, C.F.D.A. Awards |
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| EVENT REPORT 06.07.07 12:05 PM |
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CFDA Awards Mark Anniversary With Minimal Decor
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 | Understated but colorful, the design for the awards focused on red, turquoise, and orange-hued accents.
Photo: Jennifer Graylock |
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While the high-priced frocks on guests at the Council of
Fashion Designers of America's annual fashion awards provided plenty of eye candy, the decorations for the event Monday night surprisingly showed considerable restraint—especially in comparison to years past. This minimalism aside, the 25th anniversary of the awards still had people buzzing, mostly about Oscar de la Renta and Proenza Schouler's Lazaro Hernandez and Jack
McCollough sharing the award for womenswear designer of the year in a surprise tie. (It even surprised presenter and host Ellen Barkin.)
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RELATED TOPICS
C.F.D.A. Awards, Swarovski |
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