The CFDA and Vogue Announce the 2009 Fashion Fund Finalists

This just in: The Council of Fashion Designers of America and Vogue are thrilled to announce the ten finalists for the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund. For the sixth year, up-and-coming American fashion talent will compete for cash prizes and mentoring from industry insiders. “We had very strong applicant pool this year, particularly among the jewelers,” say Vogue’s Editor In Chief, Anna Wintour. “The ten finalists we selected are a talented, diverse group, who are building healthy independent businesses in challenging times.” One winner and two runners-up will be announced at a gala on November 16 in New York City. 
 
And the finalists are…
 


ALABAMA CHANIN – Natalie Chanin
ESQUIVEL SHOES – George Esquivel
GARY GRAHAM – Gary Graham
HOUSE OF WARIS – Waris Ahluwalia
MONIQUE PEAN – Monique Péan
OHNE TITEL – Flora Gill and Alexa Adams
PATRIK ERVELL – Patrik Ervell
SOPHIE THEALLET – Sophie Theallet
SPURR – Simon Spurr
WAYNE – Wayne Lee

All of the above was direct from Vogue's website. House of Waris may sound a bit familiar if you're a fan of Wes Anderson's The Life Aquatic or Darjeeling Limited because Waris Ahluwalia acted in both. & I featured Ohne Titel under some of my Fashion Week Favorites back in February, since their garments were so fantastic and reminiscent of previous CFDA Winner Alexander Wang and the badass British line Preen.
And now for your viewing pleasure the trailers for Life Aquatic and Darjeeling Limited

Life Aquatic


Darjeeling Limited

Mens Fall Fashion Week Favorites - Band of Outsiders

I've posted about Band of Outsiders' Women's line Boy in the past, as well as their excellent collaborations, so I had to share their Menswear which is equally as appealing and also congratulate them on winning a CFDA award for Menswear Designer of the year.

Proenza Schouler oh how I love thee...

I had a wonderful night out with Alexi after a spectacular happy hour in with Whitney & Amanda tonight. I am so incredibly grateful to know these beautiful, hilarious, genuine, brilliant, kind, smelly women.

While basking in the afterglow of contentment I came across an e-mail from Womens Wear Daily about Proenza Schouler's 1st show outside the US. I'll totally post more later but had to share the 1 picture I came across, as well as the caption:

"FLORENCE — For their first show outside the U.S., Proenza Schouler's Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez said "basta" to runways and traditional formats. Instead, the duo asked three contemporary artists to..."

Because the single image excited me. It was just full of so much potential based on the setting (Florence...swoon) & the layout alone. Considering they juist won a CFDA award for Best Accessories Designer & are 1 of THE most innovative, elegant, original & young names in American fashion, I'm always excited to see what they do (primarily creatively) & where they go next.

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CFDA Winners and photos

The Counsel of Fashion Designers of America held their annual awards ceremony Monday night and it was certainly one glamorous event.

The recipients of this year's CFDA Awards are...
Accessory Designer of the Year: Proenza Schouler
Popular Vote Award: Ralph Lauren
Menswear Designer of the Year: Italo Zucchelli for Calvin Klein and Scott Sternberg for Band of Outsiders (tie)
Swarovski Award for Menswear: Tim Hamilton
Swarovski Award for Womenswear: Alexander Wang
Swarovski Award for Accessories: Justin Giunta for Subversive Jewellery
Womenswear Designer of the Year: Rodarte
First Lady Michelle Obama was honored with the Board of Directors’ Special Tribute Award by CFDA president Diane von Furstenberg for her support and commitment to American designers.
“The ingenuity and craftsmanship of American designers contributes so much to our economy and to our culture,” said Mrs. Obama in a taped message sent from the White House. “To both legends and the future legends, I am honored to celebrate your craft with you tonight. And on behalf of men and women everywhere, I want to thank you all for making fashion liberating, inspiring, but of all, fun.”

The Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Anna Sui (above) by musician Jack White of the White Stripes. Prior to her acceptance, a group of 36 models appeared onstage in front of a dramatic Swarovski beaded curtain constructed 30,000 number of jet crystals custom-designed by Tony Award-winning set designer Scott Pask.
Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton was recognized with this year’s International Award presented by Antoine Arnault and Robert Duffy. The Eleanor Lambert Award was presented to GQ Creative Director Jim Moore by Justin Timberlake.(CFDA.com)

Alexander Wang with Dree Hemingway in AW

Marc Jacobs and Lorenzo Martone

Thakoon Panichgul

Diane Kruger & Jason Wu - Francisco Costa of Calvin Klein with Zoe Saldana in CK

Mulleavy Sisters of Rodarte with Kirsten Dunst in Rodarte

Ralph and Ricky Lauren Justin Giunta of Subversisve Jewelery

Menswear Winner Tim Hamilton

Anna Wintour in CH & Justin Timberlake Vera Wang


Menswear Designer of the Year Scott Sternberg of Band of Outsiders




Padma Lakshmi - Narciso Rodriguez & Claire Danes

Liya Kebede in Balenciaga

Agyness Deyn - Jack White





Lake Bell in Louis Vuitton - Kerry Washington in Doo.Ri

Doutzen Kroes in Zac Posen


Blake Lively in Michael Kors - Ashley Olsen in Vintage

Lazaro Hernandez & Jack McCullough of Proenza Schouler



Bradley Cooper Susan Sokol & Gilles Mendel

"Twilight's" Taylor Lautner (WTF?)


Tory Burch Rachel Roy

DVF