The fashion industry’s biggest names convened at the American Museum of Natural History to celebrate this year’s standout designers and cultural icons.
On Monday, November 2, fashion’s biggest names gathered at New York City’s American Museum of Natural History for the 45th annual CFDA Awards, hosted by Keke Palmer and presented by Amazon Fashion. The ceremony is one of the year’s most career-defining nights for industry veterans and emerging talent in American fashion.
Two years after winning the CFDA Emerging Designer of the Year Award, Diotima’s Rachel Scott brought home one of the most coveted honors: the American Womenswear Designer of the Year Award. The Jamaican-born designer, known for blending traditional artisanal techniques with tailoring, won in a category that included legends Tory Burch and Michael Kors. Scott is also the creative director of Proenza Schouler.
Another up-and-coming name to watch is Colleen Allen, winner of Google Shopping’s Emerging Designer of the Year Award. Allen is known for her Victorian-inspired designs and was nominated alongside fellow rising talents Emily Dawn Long and Zane Li of Lii.
Ralph Lauren added another trophy to his extensive collection with his third American Menswear Designer of the Year Award. Lauren is the most decorated designer in CFDA history and the only designer to have received all of the organization’s highest honors, including the Lifetime Achievement Award in 1992.
For the first time, the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award went to photographers. Dutch duo Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin earned the honor after four decades of shaping modern fashion imagery.
The evening’s recognition goes beyond design. Anna Wintour presented the Positive Change Award to Tory Burch, whose commitment to women’s economic empowerment led her to establish the Tory Burch Foundation in 2009. The Foundation supports women entrepreneurs through funding and business resources.
Architect Peter Marino, known for designing immersive retail spaces for Chanel, Dior, and Tiffany & Co., received the Fashion Icon Award. His signature gothic uniform of a black muscle shirt, leather cap, and dark shades has made him as recognizable as some of the fashion designers he works with.
Eva Chen received the Media Award in honor of Eugenia Sheppard, whose work at Meta has set the precedent for how fashion interacts with social media and digital platforms.
Other honorees included International Designer of the Year for Anthony Vaccarello and American Accessory Designer of the Year for Brazilian-born sculptor and jewelry designer Ana Khouri. Gap Inc. received the Innovation Award, and Linda Fargo received the Founder’s Award in honor of Eleanor Lambert.
The ceremony also marked the 30th anniversary of the CFDA Scholarship Fund, with a new scholarship announced for 2027 to support two students pursuing careers in fashion.
Homepage banner image: Gabriela Hearst, Colleen Allen and Cole Escola, homepage thumbnail image; Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin and inside image, Eva Chen and Laufey. All by BFA courtesy of CFDA.
