Last night was the Council of Fashion Designers of America awards, and while who won the awards is of note (you can read about it here), the most important part is who wore what. Now, while this event isn't quite as glamorous at the Met Costume Institute Gala, there is strong emphasis on defining one's design point of view in the fashion universe. In other words, it's all about branding! So, here's who made an impression on me.
Designers are doing it for themselves
Maria Cornejo is incredibly talented, and her designs deserve far more attention than they tend to get. This purple dress has color deep enough to draw attention, but the architectural, interesting shape of it is completely evocative of her typical style.
I wouldn't particularly wear anything from Tory Burch, but I admire and respect what she does, and by wearing this very Palm Beachy dress, she's her own best advertisement. Well, except when Oprah raves about her ballet flats.
Erin Fetherston is another designer where, when you see her wearing her own creations, it all makes sense. I love her ethereal, fairy-princess-like style.
If you're a guy, get a model/socialite to wear it
Swarovski Award for Womenswear winner Philip Lim brought model Irina Lazareanu, who definitely did his gorgeous dress justice. Lim is incredibly talented, and his award was well deserved. Also, don't you think this would make a lovely wedding gown?
One of my favorite designers, believe it or not, is Yigal Azourel, who is a genius with jersey. So I'm glad to see he was representing at the event with socialite Byrdie Bell, whose dress and jacket combo I feel totally captures his design aesthetic.
I think Alexander Wang is certainly a designer we should all be watching; here's Shannan Click (a model, perhaps?) in a dress that's simply chic. Also, didja notice that all the dresses in this section were white? Trend alert!
...or just get a celebrity to wear it
Say what you want about the Mulleavy sisters; I think they're getting more press-savvy by the day. Case in point: the adorable Jenny Lewis, who turned up in Rodarte's appliqued frock.
I haven't been entirely impressed with L'Wren Scott's line of pencil-skirted dresses thus far, but Ellen Barkin is changing my mind--the dresses seem perfectly suited for women of a certain age, who happen to be in good shape.
I tend to call dresses like the one Claire Danes is wearing "Look at My Womb" dresses, due to the emphasis of the seaming, but I have no criticism for this Peter Som frock, which looks absolutely stunning on her.
A tale of two Olsens
Mary-Kate wore a white jersey dress from Elizabeth and James, the twins' new contemporary label; Ashley showed up in a coatdress from The Row, their higher-end line (which I thought was just jersey pieces, but apparently not). Which twin looks more age-appropriate to you?
Good attempt, wrong event
Amy Astley's Oscar de la Renta dress would be quite lovely in, say, November. But red and black, plus black opaque tights and patent leather closed-toe shoes, aren't exactly appropriate for early June, especially when it's 80 degrees outside.
I love Hollywould's creator Holly Dunlap, especially because she's all about having a cocktail. However, in this dress, it looks like she should be sipping a margarita at a Southampton pool party. As for Chloe Sevigny, whom I also admire, her dress is also too casual and unfortunately unflattering--it's kind of bloated, post-rehab Stevie Nicks.
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