The 26th annual CFDA Awards, held June 2nd, started-off on a somber note as CFDA president Diane von Furstenberg, wearing a vintage Yves Saint Laurent tuxedo-style pantsuit, opened the night with a tribute to the late Parisian designer, saying that “Yves was an artist who always surprised us. He used to say he wanted to be Matisse, but I think Matisse would have wanted to be him.”
Saint Laurent died of brain cancer just a few days ago in Paris at the age of 71 and many others, including Naomi Campbell donned Yves Saint Laurent pieces in his honor.
Tory Burch, a first-time nominee, won in the Accessory Designer category over veterans Marc Jacobs (who has won this category three times) and Michael Kors (who has never won, but has been nominated five times). Burch, whose colorful flats with their signature gold metallic emblem have become a staple for many women, said that she didn’t expect to be here and that she feels privileged to be part of the industry.
The award, attended by a mix of celebrities in both the fashion, as well as the Hollywood arena, stopped traffic in front of the New York Public Library where the event was held in a space lid-up with blue and purple lighting to evoke the colors of the New York City skyline.
It was therefore only fitting, that the Empire State Building’s tip was lit in purple last night in honor, we assume, of fashion’s biggest night. Among the big Hollywood names in attendance were Victoria Beckham, Eva Mendes, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Eva Longoria Parker, Tony Parker, Kim Cattrall, Mandy Moore, Lauren Hutton, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Hilary Duff along with fashion heavyweights Ralph Lauren, Donna Karen, Vera Wang, Behnaz Sarafpour, Doo-Ri Chung, Gilles Mendel, Maria Cornejo, and Yigal Azrouël.
Photos courtesy of Splash News.
