After the awards, guests made their way behind the library, briefly soaking in the park, which the event has ignored in previous years. The abundant flora prompted designer Raul Avila (who worked once again worked with producers KCD) to bring the outdoors inside the Bryant Park Grill with a garden theme. The grill's tent-covered patio hosted most of the 500 guests, and open windows and giant wicker fans above the tables circulated the cool, spring air through the space.

Most of the integral decor items used sponsor Swarovski’s crystals. In the park, a cascading fountain of crystals, designed by Vincent Van Duysen, stood near the library’s side entrance, and at the grill, an archway of designer Tord Boontje’s crystal branches glowed brightly, drawing guests into the dinner.

As in years past, a few fashion-followers not able to snag invites got the chance to see the ceremony by way of T-Mobile Sidekick's annual "Upstairs at the Library" viewing party, but the pomp of the CFDA awards extended even further this year with a simulcast for students at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Target sponsored a secondary viewing party at the school for a crop of designers-in-training.   —Michael O'Connell