Trendsetters, celebrities and the fashion elite converged on New York’s Lincoln Center on Thursday evening for the American Fashion Awards, the Oscars of haute couture. Sex And The City cad Chris Noth, Austin Powers stunner Heather Graham, and supermodel Heidi Klum were among the stars on hand as designer Tom Ford was named Women’s Wear Designer of the Year.
Calvin Klein, joined by his daughter Marci and his ex-wife Kelly, received a lifetime achievement award from the Council of Fashion Designers (CFDA). “It’s really sweet of them to honour me this evening. It’s really made me feel my age,” joked the 57-year-old designer. Unfortunately, the evening wasn’t all laughs for the fashion icon. Protesters from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals waiting outside managed to target both Calvin and Kelly with tofu cream pies as they arrived, yelling, “Fur is dead,” before police dragged them away.
During the awards ceremony, upscale department store Saks Fifth Avenue was saluted for its work with the charity Fashion Targets Breast Cancer. “We couldn’t be more thrilled,” said Saks president and CEO Christina Johnson. “To put the corporation and the organization behind Fashion Targets Breast Cancer, every one of our 1,500 associates gets involved at every level…This disease touches Saks Fifth Avenue at its core – 75 per cent of our employees are female and 80 per cent of our customers.”
Evelyn Lauder, who took home a Humanitarian Award for her charity work at the Sandra Bernhard-hosted event, laughed about taking the stage at the venerable Avery Fisher Hall. “It will probably be the only time in my life that I’ll be there,” she said. “All kidding aside, it’s amazingly flattering.”
Bernard Arnault, chairman of luxury goods firm LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, was honoured for the “globalization of fashion”, accepting via video. “I suppose it is logical that, as the recipient of this special award… I am speaking to you from the other side of the Atlantic Ocean,” said Bernard.
Other winners included Edmundo Castillo for accessories and William Reid, who beat Sean “Puffy” Combs for the Perry Ellis Award for Men’s Wear. Bob Mackie, famous for designing Cher’s outrageous frocks, took home a special prize for his “fashion exuberance”.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
