CNN –
On Monday evening in New York City, the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) presented its annual Fashion Awards at the American Museum of Natural History. It’s one of the biggest events of the year for industry insiders and creatives, as the ceremony aims to showcase U.S. designers on a global stage.
New York designer Willy Chavarria, known for his Chicano-inspired oversized trousers and collared shirts, won the prestigious Menswear Designer of the Year award, while Catherine Holstein – founder of minimalist label Khaite, which goes by “sexy-yet” made a name for itself – sophisticated knitwear – received the corresponding award for women’s clothing. (The Row, an iconic brand founded by the Olsen twins, won in the Best Accessories Design category.)
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Later in the evening, Anne Hathaway donned a red tulle Spring/Summer 2018 look from Rodarte.
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Demi Moore looked radiant in a sequined strapless Carolina Herrera Spring-Summer 2024 dress.
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Devon Lee Carlson was seen in a burgundy velvet Balenciaga look.
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Jeremy O. Harris wore a distressed brown leather trench coat from Coach.
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Chloe Sevigny stole the show in a sunny yellow dress.
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Gwyneth Paltrow arrived in a custom G. Label by Goop look.
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Hari Nef appeared in JW Anderson, fresh off the runway.
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Molly Ringwald stepped out in a scarlet Zac Posen dress.
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Jenna Lyons opted for a classic back suit with a nipped waist.
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Greta Lee appeared in a sculptural little black dress from Loewe.
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Emma Chamberlain opted for a structured corset dress by Thom Browne.
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Ashley Graham wore a semi-sheer polka dot dress.
The event’s dress code is often more elegant than extravagant. For example, a well-tailored black suit like the one worn by former J. Crew president and current “Real Housewives of New York” star Jenna Lyons is considered a classic rather than something forgotten. Although a number of high-profile celebrities – including fashion trailblazers Gwyneth Paltrow, Chloe Sevigny and Demi Moore – were in attendance to steal the show.
Anne Hathaway’s floral-printed double denim ensemble with pieces from Ralph Lauren’s Spring-Summer 2024 collection was one of the more notable looks on the red carpet. (While it certainly draws comparisons to the blue-jean ballgown Britney Spears infamously wore to the 2001 American Music Awards, it’s more of a tribute to the Western aesthetic that has long served as inspiration for the brand.) Ralph Lauren herself is a long-time member of the CFDA, having received a Lifetime Achievement Award in 1991 and the CFDA’s Fashion Legend trophy in 2007.
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Vanessa Hudgens wore a timeless black dress by Vera Wang.
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Anne Hathaway’s first look of the evening was a double denim dress by Ralph Lauren.
Serena Williams, the first female athlete to be honored as a CFDA fashion icon, also chose an all-American designer. Williams arrived at the Natural History Museum in a black sequined dress by Thom Browne — the current chairman of the CFDA — with sculptural puffed sleeves and a dramatic train.
“From a young age, I knew I was different, so I explored fashion and style to set myself apart,” Williams said as she accepted her award. “For me, in many ways, the tennis courts became my runway and the US Open became my own New York Fashion Week.”
Elsewhere, Vanessa Hudgens stepped out in a classic black Vera Wang princess dress with a sweetheart bodice and leather elbow gloves. It’s the second time Hudgens has worn Wang at the CFDA Awards, after turning heads with a lingerie-inspired look last year. This year, Hudgens presented the acclaimed designer with a tribute for her influence on bridal fashion. The elegant dress — with Wang’s favored timeless, structured bust and draped, voluminous skirt silhouette — could have been the perfect wedding dress for a bride brave enough to embrace gothic, and therefore the perfect look for the moment.
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Law Roach’s look is characterized by unconventional tailoring.
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Kim Kardashian wore Chrome Hearts.
Kim Kardashian and Law Roach, meanwhile, broke ranks and opted to step up smaller US designers with two equally eye-catching looks.
Kardashian’s form-fitting black leather halterneck dress – noticeably more understated compared to the pink Balenciaga Barbie dress she wore to the LACMA gala earlier this week – was made by Los Angeles-based label Chrome Hearts; Roach arrived in a deconstructed business suit from trendy Brooklyn brand Luar. On his lower half, the stylist’s white briefs were visible instead of pants. (Roach accessorized with a pair of fishnet stockings as well as sunglasses and a handbag.)