CFDA

The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) announced that Francisco Costa for Calvin Klein, Lazaro Hernandez & Jack McCollough for Proenza Schouler, and Marc Jacobs have been nominated for the Womenswear Designer of the Year Award. The 2008 CFDA Fashion Awards winners will be announced at the annual gala, generously underwritten by Swarovski, on June 2 at The New York Public Library.

Diane von Furstenberg recently threw a lavish party to welcome the new members of the CFDA. Tons of classic longtime designers - Tommy Hilfiger, Italo Zucchelli, Peter Som - mingled with the 30-some newbies of the CFDA, including Tory Burch, Pina Ferlisi, Jessie Randall, Kate and Laura Mulleavy, and countless others at the DVF studio. And of course, what would any fashion party be without the presence of everyone's favorite designer of the moment, Philip Lim? It's incredible how fast he has gone from newbie to experienced designer, with his own flagship store and all kinds of media attention.

Source: Fashion week daily

The CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund today announced its 10 finalists. They are: Erin Fetherston of Fetherston Design Group; Phillip Lim of 3.1 Phillip Lim; Rogan’s Rogan Gregory; Philip Crangi of Philip Crangi Jewelry; Scott Sternberg of Band of Outsiders; Threeasfour’s Gabriel Asfour, Angela Donhauser, and Adi Gil; Nunthirat Koi Suwannagate of Koi; Vena Cava’s Lisa Mayock and Sophie Buhai; Victoria Bartlett of VPL, and Michael Bastian.

The winner of this prestigious award, in its fourth year, will be announced in November and will received $200,000 to be used towards their designs and their company. Two runners-up will also received $50,000 each. Past honorees inclue the boys of Proenza Schouler, Trovata, Doori Chung, Thakoon, the girls of Rodarte, and Jeff Halmos. In the past, this award has been known for recognizing the work of truly special up-and-coming designers who will surely have prosperous careers and make an impact on the fashion design world -- so the recipients and even all the nominees are definitely people to be watching.

The Council of Fashion Designers of America today announced that it had accepted 30 new designers, bringing its total membership to a whopping 319 designers. The CFDA received the most applications in its history this year.

Check out the list, I'm surprised to hear some of these names because I would have already expected them to be CFDA members!

Womenswear: Tory Burch, Rachel Roy (love her), Richard Chai, Marchesa’s Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig, Mary Ping, Michelle Smith for Milly, Victoria Bartlett of VPL, Phillip Lim for 3.1 Phillip Lim, Lela Rose, Phi’s Andreas Melbostad, Laura Poretzky for Abaeté, Kate and Laura Mulleavy for Rodarte, Paul Sinclaire for Tevrow+Chase, Wenlan Chia for Twinkle by Wenlan, and Jean Yu of Jean Yu Design Studio.

Menswear:Henry Jacobson and Keanan Duffty for Slinky Vagabond.

Both women’s and men’s wear: David Neville and Marcus Wainwright for Rag & Bone, Pina Ferlisi for Generra, Michael Ball of Rock & Republic, James Perse, and Adam Lippes for adampluseve.

Accessories: Jessie Randall for Loeffler Randall and Monika Botkier of Botkier handbags. Lastly, in jewelry, new inductees are Mimi So, Michael Spirito for Exhibitionist, and Justin Giunta for Subversive Jewelry.

For many stars and designers, last night's Awards ceremony was only the beginning of the evening, and many rushed off to high-profile parties afterward.

One of the most notable parties was hosted by Sean "Diddy" Combs at the Marquee. Present were Audrey O'Day, Tinsley Mortimer, Richie Rich, Hilary Rhoda, and Robert Burke. Diddy himself was present in a dapper Gucci suit, and proclaimed his love of fashion, saying he is "Up there with the girls!"

Also present were awards winners David Neville and Marcus Wainwright, Sam Shipley and Jeff Halmos, formerly of Trovata, and Steven Kolb, executive director of the CFDA.

Nearby, another soiree was going on at Bungalow 8. Notable names present were Calvin Klein designers Francisco Costa, Italo Zucchelli, and Malcolm Carfrae, Donna Karan, Lauren Davis, Rachel Zoe, Esteban Cortezar, Magda Berliner, and more.

Kate and Laura Mulleavy of Rodarte threw their own gathering at Passerby. Justin Giunta of Subversive Jewelry hosted his own bash at Smith & Mills. Clearly, it was a busy night for everyone!

See the full story at fashionweekdaily.

Photo Credit: Associated Press.