“What’s a seashell?” Addison Rae said, cheekily holding a conch shell to her ear as she posed as Thom Browne. The “Aquamarine” singer made an early appearance at the 2024 CFDA Awards, which will be held for the second consecutive year at the American Museum of Natural History. After entertaining the crowd around him, Ray announced the end of the act.
“Guys, I’m leaving,” she said to the shell. “I have to go to the CFDA.”
CFDA Chairman Thom Browne was among the night’s favorite designers, having dressed the likes of Sebastian Stan, Icon Award winner Erykah Badu and Jenna Lyons.
CFDA CEO Stephen Kolb praised Badu, the night’s Fashion Icon Award recipient.
“Maybe for a lot of people, she’s an unexpected icon at first, but when you really stop and think about it for a second, you realize how she dresses, how passionate she is about fashion, “Looking at how much I love fashion, fashion…” Kolb said. “She’s definitely the opposite of what you would expect. She’s talking about herself. [style] The feeling, that’s what comes through. ”
Kolb was followed closely by the stars of the night: the designers who were their celebrity dates.
Zac Posen arrived early, wearing a custom look by Gap, along with event host Cynthia Erivo. “I picked up a Gap hoodie. They relaunched a new hoodie that was unbelievably heavy. And I picked up that hoodie, doubled it up, and shaped the hood. I found it and watched how it fell,” Posen said. “The rest of it was put together a day and a week ago.”
Tanner Richie and Fletcher Kasell of Tanner Fletcher, who were nominated for the Shop With Google American Emerging Designer of the Year award, wore matching looks with actor Brandon Flynn.
“I wanted to do all the coordination, so everyone is wearing different silhouettes, but it’s all the same fabric, different levels of cat bow,” Ritchie said.
“It has a big frill around its neck and it’s just content. It feels like it’s ready to be devoured,” Flynn added.
“I’m really thrilled to have been nominated,” added Emerging Designer of the Year winner Henry Zankov. “There’s a whole new community of designers emerging in New York. I think it’s a fresh new wave, and I think it’s really great to be a part of it. I feel like I’m being recognized for my work. I feel like I’m part of the fabric of the New York fashion industry.”
Diotima designer Rachel Scott, who won the Emerging Designer Award last year, said the honor was “hugely meaningful”.
“A lot of people I had never met before came up to introduce themselves before and after I won the award, which was really special,” Scott says of the previous year. “I’ve only been in business for three and a half years and have a very small business compared to the other candidates. I have to say I have a lot of respect for them,” she said. added. “Just to be nominated and to be recognized by my peers is an incredible honor.”
Laquan Smith, who was in charge of singer Victoria Monet’s costumes that night, said, “We honor the designers, the trailblazers, and the many outstanding people who not only paved the way, but also have a tremendous influence on American fashion today. I’m very happy to be able to honor him.” “So this is a celebration for the fashion community and just a highlight of all the great things we’re doing and striving for.”
“Damn, you look good!” someone yelled as Willy Chavarria, winner of the American Men’s Wear Designer of the Year award, posed with his crew. The designer arrived with a velvet-clad team that included J Balvin, Omar Apollo, Joan Smalls, Precious Lee, and Danny Ramirez. In between filming with celebrity guests, he spotted Raul López of Luar.
“Sister, sister!” Lopez said as she went to Chavarria for a photo.
“It’s velvet. This color is very autumnal, very autumnal, very spooky,” Apollo said of Willy Chavarria’s velvet suit. “It’s cool. I love it. I’m really confident.” The musician made his acting debut this fall in Luca Guadagnino’s Queer, with a trailer scheduled to be released the next day.
Apollo said of his role in the film, “It’s so great to be a part of such an important story and author.” “[The film] It’s so beautiful and I can’t believe I’m in it. I watched it twice. I’m like, hey, hey. Somehow it still touches my heart. I can’t believe it. ”
A tanned Blake Lively struts around with Michael Kors. As the people who had been waiting (Prabal Gurung) looked on, they cut the line of steps and repeated. “Hi, Willie!” Mr. Kors enthused, greeting Mr. Chavarria with a double kiss on the cheek as he passed by on his way to get a cocktail.
“It feels like a surreal homecoming. The fact that Tom Brown is chairing the CFDA is especially important to me because he has mentored me for a long time. ” said Daniel Roseberry, winner of the International Designer of the Year award, noting that even though he was working as a designer overseas, ” Schiaparelli’s creative director is actually American.
“I think there’s an obsession for young designers to debut and get started,” Rosebery added. “And it’s so easy to make your debut. The hard part is what happens after that. So being in the same room with the American masters is a great way to maintain a career that lasts for decades. It’s very humbling because you start to understand the discipline, rigor, and work ethic required.”
“Saturday Night Live” star Sarah Sherman briefly explained what she’s looking forward to as a guest on Coach. “I’m excited about the food,” she said.
Inside the actual cocktail room, a bell rang for everyone to head to dinner, while Amy Fine Collins and Ruben Toledo deepened their conversation by the monkey exhibit. By the elephant, Molly Ringwald chatted next to Tommy Hilfiger.
Kelsea Ballerini dipped into a cocktail alongside Marc Jacobs, who was busy showing off his manicure to the camera.
“I haven’t seen Paris yet,” a representative told Nicky Hilton Rothschild, but she didn’t seem surprised by her sister’s late arrival. Hilton Rothschild took advantage of the time to dust off her nose with a brush.
Darren Criss and Christian Siriano, wearing ball skirts, were stopped by Jeremy O. Harris as they were walking through the door at 8 p.m., the show’s official star time. Cigarette break? Farewell to Ireland? We love a little mystery.