CFDA Awards 2009: Highlights

Nadia Swarovski, designers Justin Giunta, Alexander Wang, Tim Hamilton and actress Blake Lively pose backstage at the 2009 CFDA Fashion Awards at Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln Center on June 15, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images)

Last night marked the 2009 CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America) Awards held at the Lincoln Center in New York City.

The star-studded evening was filled with designers, celebrities and models celebrating American fashion.

The list of winners include:

Womenswear Designer of the Year: Rodarte’s Laura and Kate Mulleavy
Menswear Designer of the Year (tie): Calvin Klein’s Italo Zucchelli and Band of Outsiders’ Scott Sternberg
Accessory Designer of the Year: Proenza Schouler’s Jack McCullough and Lazaro Hernandez
Swarovski Award for Womenswear: Alexander Wang
Swarovski Award for Menswear: Tim Hamilton
Swarovski Award for Accessory Design: Justin Giunta for Subversive Jewelry
International Award: Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton
Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award: Anna Sui
Eugenia Sheppard Award: Women’s Wear Daily editor-in-chief Ed Nardoza
Eleanor Lambert Award: GQ’s Jim Moore
Board of Director’s Special Tribute: First Lady Michelle Obama


Check out some of the photos below!

Ashley Olsen

Blake Lively in a Michael Kors dress and Christian Louboutin shoes.

Molly Sims in Dolce and Gabbana.

Agyness Deyn

Coco Rocha in Michael Kors

Doutzen Kroes in Zac Posen.

H&M Fall Collection: Menswear

H&M Fall Collection: Womenswear

Love love love.

An open letter to the fashion industry: why so serious?

Dear Fashion World,

As much as I love and respect you and the industry, sometimes I feel that I just need to take a step back at look at you from an outsider's point of view.

And really, when I think about it, those of us who devote our lives to fashion have the tendency to justify the ridiculousness of your industry.

Case in point: Madonna's Louis Vuitton number at the Met Ball. Brilliant fashion statement, or just plain awful? You went for the former, when really, we all know she looked like a fool.

Fortunately, many satirical fashion sites have emerged, awakening us from the absurdness of your world.

Fashion Roast poked fun at some of the most famed fashion bloggers, including Rumi Neely of Fashion Toast, and the trends these bloggers followed (they once made a DIY: BLEACHED DENIM post, where they used "Paint" to draw on white splotches in order to "bleach" a denim jacket.) "WE R LIKE TOTALLY IMPORTANT AND INFLUENTIAL MEMBERS OF THE FASHION COMMUNITY LOL," read their profile. Unforunately, the blog has now been removed. I guess the bloggers got offended.

Karl Lagerfeld's Guide to Life is written by a fake Karl, who captures the essence of the famed designer, but in a hilarious and outrageous way. One of his most recent posts is a scolding towards his Twitter followers. He claims that although he has 1577 followers, not that many people follow the actual blog: "The real reason so little of you 1577 cannot read this blog is because you cannot read! You people cannot read any more than one-hundred-and-forty characters at a time! Your short little attention spans can only grasp these little messages of 140 letters, hm?" Contributers include a faux Anna Wintour and Yves Saint Laurent.


Look at this F*cking Hipster posts photos of those who still religiously follow the hipster fad, and provides their own commentary. You can find several of these "hipsters" wearing thick-framed glasses, very low-cut v-necks, and of course, the signature skinny jean.


But perhaps one of the most brilliant of these sites is WWWWD, a parody of Women's Wear Daily that debuted during New York Fashion Week. Deemed "The Onion" of the fashion world, Worldwide Womenswear Digest brilliantly pokes fun at the best of the best in the fashion industry. The creators recently came out with their second issue, a Met-ball special, which includes a review of André Leon Talley's capes.

So dear industry, please understand that my love affair with these satirical sites means I am turning my back on you. I simply just needed some entertainment to keep me happy. After all, fashion is supposed to be fun, right?

With love,
The Chic Spot.

Matthew Williamson for H&M Menswear preview

Didn't get what you wanted from the Matthew Williamson for H&M collection last Thursday?

Don't fret! A second shipment will be coming in on May 14th.

But this time, you may want to bring your boyfriend, brother, or gay best friend along with you, because the first menswear line from the collection will also be for sale.

The line is based on what Matthew Williamson would wear himself, which led him to model in the ad campaigns alongside Canadian model, Daria Werbowy.

But beware: the menswear line is not for the shy. It features rainbow-coloured speedos, floral patterned dress shirts, hot pink pants, and more.

There are definitely some wearable items though, especially the leather jacket.

I may have to buy it for my boyfriend...but only if he'll let me borrow it.

Check out the Matthew Williamson for H&M menswear line below, including the photos of the designer!

Paris Fashion Week Spring '09: Chanel

Paris just wouldn't be Paris without Chanel. Its Spring '09 show was probably the one I was most anticipating out of all the Spring '09 shows. Chanel is part of the reason I fell in love with fashion--so classy and timeless.

This collection was true to Chanel's signature style: lots of tweeds, bows, chained accessories, and dresses adorned with camellias.

There were beautiful cocktail dresses that Blair Waldorf would crave, plenty of quilted handbags, as well as leather shopping bags, extravagant headpieces, and even a Chanel guitar.

The collection also featured some menswear, that was very Karl Lagerfeld-esque.