CFDA Awards Celebrate Beyonce, David Bowie & Norma Kamali

Beyonce accepts her CFDA award in Gucci. (Photo: Getty Images)

Last night in New York, the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) paid tribute to the winners and honorees of the 2016 CFDA Fashion Awards in collaboration with Swarovski. The night was full of fashion superstars and designer apparel.  Beyoncé, dressed in a Gucci pantsuit that reminded me of Prince was presented the Fashion Icon award by CFDA Chairwoman Diane von Furstenberg. There were tributes to popular designers, a letter to David Bowie and a rare ppearance & “thank-you” from one of my favorite designers, Norma Kamali.

In her surprise appearance Beyonce spoke lovingly of her grandmother, who was a seamstress, and mother who made her first stage costumes and gowns.

“When I wore these clothes I felt like Khaleesi. I had an extra suit of armor. It was so much deeper than any brand name.

My mother is fabulous and beautiful and she’s here tonight. My mother, my grandmother, and my uncle are always with me so I cannot fail. My mother actually designed my wedding dress, my prom dress, my first CFDA Award dress, my first Grammy dress, and the list goes on and on. And this to me is the true power and potential of fashion. It’s a tool for finding your own identity. It transcends style, and it’s a time capsule of all of our greatest milestones.”

Norma Kamali was honored at the CFDA Awards for her long career in fashion (photo Getty Images)

Another moving highlight of the evening was fashion designer Norma Kamali appearing to accept
the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award in a distinctive black gown with patterned embellishments.  Ms. Kamali, now 70, looked stunning.  In her gentle manner, she acknowledged a long list of celebrities who had bought her fashionable designs over the years, from red carpet gowns, to swimsuits and more.  She thanked everyone from Elvis, to Robert Plant, to Cher or shopping at her store and buying her designs.  To see her long list of “Thank Yous” check the CFDA blog.

Tilda Swinton collects an award for artist David Bowie at the CFDA awards.

Actress Tilda Swinton read a moving farewell letter to David Bowie. Tilda Swinton read  letter to the late David Bowie where she collected the late artist’s Board of Directors’ Tribute for his wife Iman, noting:

“Thank you, chum, for brightening our horizon. For inspiring and exhilarating and enlightening our times. How lucky we are who turned up since you were first here. Thank you for your happiness and your eternal Bona-ness and zhoosh.

You are our hero. Forever and ever.”

The evening’s Womenswear Designer of the Year honors went to Marc Jacobs, presented by Claire Danes.The award for Menswear Designer of the Year was presented to Thom Browne by Alexander Skarsgård.Rachel Mansur and Floriana Gavriel for Mansur Gavriel took home the Accessory Designer of the Year Award, presented by Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson.

Karlie Kloss and Ansel Elgort presented the three Swarovski Awards for emerging talent.

The Swarovski Award for Womenswear was given to Brandon Maxwell.
The Swarovski Award for Menswear was presented to Alex, Matthew, and Samantha Orley, for Orley.
The Swarovski Award for Accessory Design went to Paul Andrew

The Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Norma Kamali by Michael Kors.

The Founder’s Award in honor of Eleanor Lambert was presented to Donna Karan by Calvin Klein.

The Media Award in honor of Eugenia Sheppard was presented to Imran Amed of The Business of Fashion by Alexa Chung.

Alessandro Michele of Gucci was recognized with this year’s International Award, presented by Anna Wintour.