Steven Kolb

Monday night’s red carpet at the 2013 CFDA Awards looked particularly fabulous. From fashionable veterans such as Ralph Lauren to Oscar de la Renta and other notable attendants, including Hillary Clinton and Miranda Kerr, pretty much every single person looked divine.

Whether you tuned in to watch it yourself or are reading up on all the little details now, here are the six things you need to know about the CFDA.

1. The 2013 CFDA Award Winners (Obviously!)

In case you missed it, the winners were as follows:

Womenswear Designer of the Year: Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez for Proenza Schouler

Menswear Designer of the Year: Thom Browne

Accessories Designer of the Year: Phillip Lim for 3.1 Phillip Lim

As for the Swarovski Awards for Emerging Talent, those awards were handed out to the following up-and-comers:

Swarovski Womenswear Designer of the Year: Max Osterweis and Erin Beatty for Suno

Swarovski Menswear Designer of the Year: Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne for Public School

Swarovski Accessories Designer of the Year: Pamela Love

The lifetime achievement award went to Vera Wang.

2. The CFDA Has Been Around for Over 50 Years

Yep, you read that right. The CFDA has now existed for over half a century. This not-for-profit organization, started by publicist Eleanor Lambert in 1962, has some serious roots and it isn’t going anywhere for a long time.

3. Fashion Made for Fashionable People

CFDA stands for “Council of Fashion Designers of America” and its annual award ceremony is considered the Oscars of the fashion world.

“Nominations for each award category are submitted by the CFDA Fashion Awards Selection Committee, made up of the 400+ members of the CFDA, along with top fashion retailers, journalists, and stylists. The nominees, as well as recipients of the honorary awards, are ratified by the CFDA Board of Directors,” notes the CFDA website.

4. The CFDA Awards Are Kind of a Big Deal

While the CFDA Awards began as small-scale, intimate event specifically for those in the fashion industry, it’s since become a much more widely covered — and attended — event. From celebrities to debutantes to political figures, everyone shows up to the CFDA Awards.

5. Diane von Furstenberg is the CFDA President

Fashion veteran Diane von Furstenberg, who won the CFDA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005, currently serves as the CFDA president. She took on that role in 2009 and works with Steven Kolb, the Chief Executive Officer.

6. The CFDA Mission

According to the CFDA website, their mission is:

• To further the position of Fashion design as a recognized branch of American art and culture;
• To advance artistic and professional standards within the Fashion industry;
• To establish and maintain a code of ethics and practices of mutual benefit in professional, public, and trade relations;
• To promote and improve public understanding and appreciation of the Fashion arts through leadership in quality and taste;
• To create partnerships which lead to collaborative design opportunities for our Members;
• To support the overall growth of American Fashion as a global industry.

By Wendy Rose Gould