"I've got five minutes before I lose my title," joked
Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, as the Council of Fashion Designers of America's 24th annual awards ceremony got under way in the Celeste Bartos Forum of the New York Public Library. "I just came from a local bar. I was getting so depressed." Combs, last year's menswear designer winner, didn't show it when he took to the stage with
Donna Karan to present a trio of prizes. Swarovski's Perry Ellis Awards for emerging talent went to two-time nominee
Derek Lam, Cloak's
Alexandre Plohkov, and
Anthony Camargo and
Nak Armstrong of the jewelry team Anthony Nak.
The reception hall, abuzz with boldface names, hushed when it came time to hand out awards to the CFDA's special honorees. The International accolade recipient, Alber Elbaz of Lanvin, charmed the audience, explaining that he "designs dresses so women can fall in love with themselves." David Bowie gave the Fashion Influence Award to a fellow South Londoner, the iconic (and laconic) Kate Moss. Anderson Cooper delivered his TelePrompTer lines like a pro, but it was Diane von Furstenberg, whom he lauded for her Lifetime Achievement, who gave the party's most heartfelt speech, thanking a long line of family, friends, and generations of women who've worn her dresses "with a smile." Vera Wang took home the evening's last statuette. Earlier at cocktail hour, the nominee conceded to being precisely one-third hopeful. After cheering the other 66 percent of the womenswear designer of the year equation—Marc Jacobs and Ralph Rucci—she exclaimed that she was "finally completely happy."
—Nicole Phelps
See a list of all the winners >
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