2011 CFDA Fashion Awards Presented in New York Jack McCollough & Lazaro Hernandez for Proenza Schouler Win Womenswear Designer of the Year

NEW YORK, June 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Last night, the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) paid tribute to the winners and honorees of the 2011 CFDA Fashion Awards at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center. CNN anchor Anderson Cooper was the host for the evening. The evening's Womenswear Designer of the Year honors went to Jack McCollough & Lazaro Hernandez for Proenza Schouler presented by Naomi Watts. The award for Menswear Designer of the Year was presented by Gerard Butler to Michael Bastian. Alexander Wang took home the Accessory Designer of the Year Award, presented by Iris Apfel. For the tenth year in a row, the evening was generously underwritten by Swarovski.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110607/NY15266 )

Karolina Kurkova presented the three Swarovski Awards, which honor and recognize emerging talent. The Swarovski Award for Womenswear was given to Prabal Gurung. The Swarovski Award for Menswear was presented to Robert Geller. The Swarovski Award for Accessory Design went to Eddie Borgo. Recipients in each category will receive generous financial support from the company as well as exposure to the company's vast and innovative crystal products and applications for fashion.

In celebration of Swarovski's tenth year of underwriting the event, 21 past recipients of the Swarovski Awards for emerging talent, now top names in the industry, appeared on the stage to honor Swarovski's nurturing of American talent.

The Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Marc Jacobs by Sofia Coppola for his consistent, creative influence on fashion. The closing segment of the Awards included a career retrospective followed by a live presentation of looks from his Fall 2011 collection shown on models who appeared on a custom-built stage by Tony-Award winning set designer Scott Pask.

Lady Gaga, who was accompanied by her parents Joseph and Cynthia Germanotta, was the recipient of The Fashion Icon Award, given by Stephen Gan of Harper's Bazaar, Visionaire, and V Magazine. Phoebe Philo of Celine was recognized with this year's International Award presented by Kanye West.  Jessica Alba presented Hal Rubenstein of InStyle with The Founder's Award, established in memory of CFDA founder Eleanor Lambert. The Media Award for excellence in journalism, originally created in honor of Eugenia Sheppard, was presented to Hilary Alexander of The Telegraph by Michael Kors. Photographer Arthur Elgort was bestowed the Board of Directors' Special Tribute Award, presented by Vogue's Grace Coddington for his indelible contribution to fashion over the years.

As part of the CFDA's commitment to design education, the Geoffrey Beene Design Scholarship winner Lauren Sehner, the Liz Claiborne Fashion Scholarship winner Yejun Lu, and the CFDA/Teen Vogue Scholarship, in partnership with Target, winner Amanda Gyuran were acknowledged from the stage by CFDA executive director Steven Kolb. Kolb also announced a new scholarship program with Gilt Groupe.

"These Awards not only honor the best talents in fashion," said CFDA President Diane von Furstenberg. "The evening is also a testament to the influence of the CFDA and its efforts to help the industry."

"The spirit of American fashion was evident at The CFDA Fashion Awards," said CFDA Executive Director Steven Kolb. "Tonight we came together as an industry in support of each other."

"Tonight will mark a particularly thrilling moment in the life of all of the winners and honorees, who have each displayed extraordinary dedication and accomplishment within their craft. Swarovski eagerly looks forward to watching a brilliant future unfold for each Swarovski Award winner, and we are humbled to be involved in their journey toward achieving fashion greatness," said Nadja Swarovski, Vice President of International Communications, Swarovski.

In addition to the nominees and honorees, some of the most influential names in American fashion were in attendance including CFDA President Diane von Furstenberg, Adam Kimmel, Adam Lippes, Aerin Lauder, Alejandro Ingelmo, Alexander Wang, Alexis Bittar, Ashley Olsen, Aymeline Valade, Behati Prinsloo, Betsey Johnson, Brad Goreski, Chanel Iman, Chloe Sevigny, Chris Benz, Cynthia Rowley, Daphne Guinness, David Neville, Derek Lam, Donna Karan, Doutzen Kroes, Eddie Borgo, Erin Fetherston, Francisco Costa, Georgina Chapman, Guinevere Van Seenus, Inez Van Lamsweerde, Italo Zucchelli, Jack McCollough, Jason Wu, Jeff Halmos, Jenna Lyons, Joseph Altuzarra, Kenneth Cole, Keren Craig, Lazaro Hernandez, Lisa Mayock, Liya Kebede, L'Wren Scott, Maggie Rizer, Marc Jacobs, Marcus Wainwright, Mary-Kate Olsen, Michael Bastian, Michael Kors, Miranda Kerr, Nadja Swarovski, Nicole Miller, Pamela Love, Patrick Robinson, Patrik Ervell, Phillip Lim, Prabal Gurung, Rachel Roy, Reed Krakoff, Richard Chai, Richard Lambertson, Robert Geller, Sam Shipley, Sessilee Lopez, Simon Spurr, Sophie Buhai, Sophie Theallet, Stan Herman, Steven Kolb, Tory Burch, Tracy Reese, Vera Wang, Vinoodh Matadin, Yeohlee Teng, Waris Ahluwalia, Yigal Azrouel , and Zac Posen.

They joined VIPs such as host Anderson Cooper, Amber Heard, Ashley Greene, Carla Gugino, Chloe Sevigny, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Estelle, Gerard Butler (Menswear Presenter), Jessica Alba (Founders Presenter), Joy Bryant, Kanye West (International Award Presenter), Kathy Griffin, Katie Cassidy, Kelly Rowland, Kerry Washington, Lady Gaga, Leelee Sobieski, Leigh Lezark, Liv Tyler, Lucy Liu, Matt Bomer, Naomi Watts (Womenswear Presenter), Nate Berkus, Russell Simmons, Shenae Grimes, Sofia Coppola (Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award Presenter) and Thomas Mars.

Many guests arrived in the RX350 from Lexus, which was the official automotive sponsor of the evening. QVC was the official red carpet sponsor.

As guests entered Alice Tully Hall, they were welcomed by a live performance by ensemble band Sybarite5.  

The 2011 CFDA Fashion Awards incorporated new technology called digital projection mapping into its stage production this year. Curator and writer Neville Wakefield conceptualized the visuals for the show using new techniques executed by Hunter Lee Soik of Wardenclyffe Institute. These dynamic images transformed Alice Tully Hall into a continuously evolving Manhattan cityscape that provided a multi-dimensional backdrop for dynamic video tributes to the evening's nominees and honorees.

Glitterbox Floor Lamps and Lanterns by Georg Baldele for Swarovski Crystal Palace created a glittering backdrop during arrivals and cocktails at Alice Tully Hall and in the outdoor Swarovski Terrace, while a custom-made Swarovski crystal-encrusted podium added an extra element of dimensionality and sparkle on stage this year.

The Awards journal and graphics were designed by Trey Laird of Laird + Partners, with photography by Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin.

Nominees, honorees, and winners were determined by a selection committee comprised of CFDA members, leading fashion journalists, stylists, and top retail executives. Ernst & Young, LLP was the official accounting firm of the Awards.

KCD was the executive producer of the 2011 CFDA Fashion Awards.

Additionally, the CFDA would like to acknowledge the companies that added to the success of this year's event:

Official red carpet sponsor: QVC
Official automotive sponsor: Lexus

As well as:

Official airline: Continental Airlines
Official hotel: W Hotels Worldwide
Wine, Champagne, and Spirits provided by: Sherry-Lehmann Wine & Spirits
Official water: FIJI Water

The winners and honorees of the 2011 CFDA Fashion Awards:

Womenswear Designer of the Year

Jack McCollough & Lazaro Hernandez for Proenza Schouler

Menswear Designer of the Year

Michael Bastian

Accessory Designer of the Year

Alexander Wang

Swarovski Award for Womenswear

Prabal Gurung

Swarovski Award for Menswear

Robert Geller

Swarovski Award for Accessory Design

Eddie Borgo

Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award

Marc Jacobs

International Award

Phoebe Philo for Celine

The Media Award, given in honor of Eugenia Sheppard

Hilary Alexander, The Telegraph

The Founder's Award, given in honor of CFDA Founder Eleanor Lambert

Hal Rubenstein, InStyle

Fashion Icon Award

Lady Gaga

Board of Directors' Special Tribute

Arthur Elgort

For house photography: BFA: CFDA Fashion Awards 2011 at www.bfanyc.com

For b-roll footage and press release: http://clients.bproductions.com/cfda

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About the CFDA

The Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc, (CFDA) is a not-for-profit trade association that leads industry-wide initiatives and whose membership consists of more than 375 of America's foremost womenswear, menswear, jewelry, and accessory designers. In addition to hosting the annual CFDA Fashion Awards, which recognize the top creative talent in the industry, the organization offers programs which support professional development and scholarships, including the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, the Geoffrey Beene Design Scholar Award, the Liz Claiborne Scholarship Award, and the CFDA/Teen Vogue Scholarship. Member support is provided through the Business Services Network, a high-profile group of companies offering designers strategic opportunities. The CFDA Foundation, Inc. is a separate, not-for-profit organized to mobilize the membership to raise funds for charitable causes. Through the Foundation, the CFDA created and manages Fashion Targets Breast Cancer; raises funds for HIV/AIDS organizations with 7th on Sale; addresses the issue of model health with The CFDA Health Initiative; and is a key participant in other programs such as the annual Fashion's Night Out.

About Swarovski

In 1895, Daniel Swarovski, a Bohemian inventor and visionary, moved to the village of Wattens, Tyrol in Austria, with his newly-invented machine for cutting and polishing crystal jewelry stones. From this beginning that revolutionized the fashion world, Swarovski has grown to be the world's leading producer of precision-cut crystal for fashion, jewelry and more recently lighting, architecture and interiors. Today, the company, still family-owned and run by 4th and 5th generation family members, has a global reach with some 23,000 employees, a presence in over 120 countries and a turnover in 2010 of 2.06 billion Euros. Swarovski comprises two major businesses, one producing and selling loose elements to the industry and the other creating design-driven finished products. Swarovski crystals have become an essential ingredient of international design. Since 1965 the company has also catered to the fine jewelry industry with precision-cut genuine and created gemstones. Showing the creativity that lies at the heart of the company, Swarovski's own brand lines of accessories, jewelry and home décor items are sold through more than 1,900 retail outlets worldwide. The Swarovski Crystal Society has close to 325,000 members across the world, keen collectors of the celebrated crystal figurines. And in Wattens, Swarovski Kristallwelten, the multi-media crystal museum, was opened in 1995 as a celebration of Swarovski's universe of innovation and inspiration.

SOURCE Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc. (CFDA)