“Fashion For Haiti” Campaign Raised Funds For Victims Of Earthquake

April 14, 2010 (New York) — The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) donated $1 million to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund last night at the Pierre Hotel in New York City. The check, presented to President Bill Clinton by CFDA President Diane von Furstenberg, Andrew Rosen, CEO of Theory / Helmut Lang, and designer Tory Burch, represents the proceeds from the “Fashion for Haiti” T-shirt initiative which raised monies for the victims of the January 12 earthquake.

The initiative was widely supported by the American fashion industry, including the entire CFDA membership, and carried the endorsement of fashion leaders Burch, Rosen, von Furstenberg, and Ralph Lauren, along with Kevin Carrigan, Kenneth Cole, Francisco Costa, Oscar de la Renta, Tommy Hilfiger, Donna Karan, Vera Wang, Anna Wintour, Italo Zucchelli, among many, many others. Supporting retailers numbered in the hundreds and included Barneys New York, Bergdorf Goodman, Bloomingdales, Gilt.com, J. Crew, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, QVC, Saks Fifth Avenue, among others.

The $25 short sleeve T-shirt was manufactured by Theory and went on sale on February 16, 2010 at retailers across the country and online. The “Fashion for Haiti” T-shirt logo was designed by Peter Arnell.

About the CFDA
The Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc, (CFDA) is a not-for-profit trade association that leads industry-wide initiatives and whose membership consists of more than 350 of America’s foremost womenswear, menswear, jewelry, and accessory designers. In addition to hosting the annual CFDA Fashion Awards, which recognize the top creative talent in the industry, the organization offers programs which support professional development and scholarships, including the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, the Geoffrey Beene Design Scholar Award, the Liz Claiborne Scholarship Award, and the CFDA/Teen Vogue Scholarship. Member support is provided through the Business Services Network, a high-profile group of companies offering designers strategic opportunities. The CFDA Foundation, Inc. is a separate, not-for-profit organized to mobilize the membership to raise funds for charitable causes. Through the Foundation, the CFDA created and manages Fashion Targets Breast Cancer; raises funds for HIV/AIDS organizations with 7th on Sale; addresses the issue of model health with The CFDA Health Initiative; and is a key participant in other programs such as the annual Fashion’s Night Out. For more information, please visit www.CFDA.com.

About the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund
The earthquake that rocked the coast of Haiti killed or injured a devastating number of people. Even more were left in need of aid, making this one of the major humanitarian emergencies in the history of the Americas. In the aftermath of the disaster, President Barack Obama asked President Bill Clinton and President George W. Bush to raise funds for immediate, high-impact relief and long-term recovery efforts to help those who are most in need of assistance. In response, the two Presidents established the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund (CBHF) to respond to near–term unmet needs, while focusing largely on longer–term reconstruction, especially promoting job creation and economic opportunity, with the goal of helping the people of Haiti rebuild their lives and livelihoods so that they can “build back better.” The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund will do this by working with and supporting the efforts of effective and innovative partners, including nongovernmental and nonprofit organizations. Presidents Clinton and Bush oversee the CBHF through their respective nonprofit organizations, the William J. Clinton Foundation and Communities Foundation of Texas. For more information, visit www.clintonbushhaitifund.org.

Press contact:
Souri Kim
CFDA/KCD
Kim@kcdworldwide.com 212.590.5113

Won last year by Ralph Lauren, The Popular Vote sponsored by L’Oréal Paris will be presented at The CFDA Fashion Awards for the second year in a row on June 7.  Vote once a day using the link below until May 28.

http://www.wwd.com/popular-vote

Speaking on a panel at the Harvard Business School, Anna Wintour, Michael Kors and Natalia Vodianova discussed the CFDA Health Initiative and its efforts to promote the well-being of models working in the industry.  Health Matters: Weight in Wellness in the Word of Fashion which was organized by The Harris Center for Education and Advocacy in Eating Disorders at Massachusetts General Hospital, gave each panelist the opportunity to share their insights and thoughts from inside the fashion industry with a crowd of 1,000.

Kors publicaly declared that he would honor the CFDA Health Initiative guideline of not working with models under the age of 16 in runway presentations and Wintour recounted April’s Vogue story of model Kim Noorda’s moving account of her struggle with food issues and how, through treatment and support from CFDA, she has gained the confidence to live a healthy and fulfilling life. Vodianova bravely shared her own struggles with eating disorders and praised the CFDA for its efforts to create stronger self-esteem among models.

The event was moderated by Dr. David Herzog, the Director of The Harris Center and attended by model Doutzen Kroes, casting agent James Scully, CFDA Executive Director Steven Kolb and Vogue staff including Health Editor Abigail Walch and Bookings Editor Valerie Bolster.

Please click here for more information about the program.

Michael Kors finally gets his trio. “This is my third Supreme,” Kors said of his CFDA Lifetime Achievement Award, his third CFDA Award overall. “I have the two back up singers and this is my Diana Ross.” He added that the award is a great one to kick off his 30^th year in business. “I never thought that I’d ever do anything other than maybe have a show in New York. This is great because I’ve always been a flag waver for American design. For me, it’s exciting to see the impact of American style and taste around the world.”

Kors joined many of the other nominees, the CFDA’s Diane von Furstenberg and Steven Kolb, Swarovski’s Nadja Swarovski and fashion’s best and brightest at von Furstenberg’s studio in the Meatpacking District Wednesday evening to celebrate the nominees for the CFDA Awards. One nominee for the Swarovski Award for Womenswear almost didn’t make it.  “I was late because of the St. Patrick’s Day parade. I was on 55^th Street,” said Jason Wu, “and traffic was insane. I was walking up the stairs when my name was called. It was serendipity,” he added. Fellow nominee Prabal Gurung was similarly taken aback. “When I came here, I didn’t know what to expect,” he said, “and then I saw all my friends, so I figured we were all invited.” And then his name was called, “I’m literally kind of speechless. In my head I’m trying to form a sentence that sums it all up.” Swarovski Award for Menswear nominee Simon Spurr was quickly in and out, as he was on his way to the airport for a flight to Italy. “I’m overwhelmed and jubilant and proud to be there especially when I think of the competition,” he said. “I think of myself as a humble guy, so I’m just pleased to be here.”

“To me, this year truly marks the emergence of a new chapter,” said Swarovski, whose company sponsors the emerging talent awards, and the Awards show overall. “Last year’s designers are already moving up to the big awards,” she added, citing that von Furstenberg should take much of the credit. “Diane is the Godmother of the industry. She really brings camaraderie to the fashion industry. She’s bringing us together like a family.” The 2010 CFDA Fashion Awards winners will be announced on June 7 at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center. The public can get involved by voting for its favorite designer in the Popular Vote Award sponsored by L’Oréal Paris starting in April.

For a complete list of nominees and honorees, visit http://www.cfda.com/cfda-announces-2010-cfda-fashion-awards-nominees-honorees/.

FOR THE NINTH YEAR IN A ROW, SWAROVSKI GENEROUSLY UNDERWRITES THE EVENING

Popular Vote Sponsored by L’Oréal Paris Returns

NEW YORK, March 18, 2010 – Last night, The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) announced the nominations for the 2010 CFDA Fashion Awards at an exclusive event hosted by Nadja Swarovski and Diane von Furstenberg at the designer’s studio in the Meatpacking District.  The 2010 CFDA Fashion Awards winners will be announced at the annual gala, generously underwritten by Swarovski, on June 7 at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center.

The nominees for Womenswear Designer of the Year Award reflect the depth of accomplishment and enduring influence of American fashion, ranging from the rising talent of Alexander Wang to the modern vision of Marc Jacobs to the timeless iconoclasm of Donna Karan.

The Menswear Designer of the Year nominees are:  Michael Bastian, Tom Ford, and  Marcus Wainwright & David Neville for Rag & Bone. For Accessory Designer of the Year Award the nominees are: Alexis Bittar, Lazaro Hernandez & Jack McCollough for Proenza Schouler, and Marc Jacobs.

Joseph Altuzarra, Prabal Gurung, and Jason Wu have been nominated for the Swarovski Award for Womenswear. The nominees for the Swarovski Award for Menswear are Richard Chai, Patrik Ervell, and Simon Spurr. For the Swarovski Award for Accessory Design, the nominees are Eddie Borgo, Dana Lorenz, and Alexander Wang.  The Swarovski Award recipients in each category will receive generous financial support from Swarovski as well as exposure to the company’s vast and innovative Swarovski crystal resources.

The Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Michael Kors.

The CFDA Board of Directors chose to honor Alexander McQueen with their Special Tribute Award.

The other special award honorees are:

Eugenia Sheppard Award – Kim Hastreiter, Paper

International Award – Christopher Bailey for Burberry

Fashion Icon Award – Iman

Eleanor Lambert Award – Tonne Goodman, Vogue

“American fashion designers continue to prove their creative mettle,” says Steven Kolb, executive director of the CFDA. “This year’s nominees and honorees truly represent the depth of great accomplishment and immense talent.”

“Swarovski is pleased to announce our sponsorship of the CFDA Fashion Awards for the ninth consecutive year,”  said Nadja Swarovski, vice president of International Communications, Swarovski. “We have a long-lasting and ongoing commitment to emerging talent in the fashion industry and The CFDA Fashion Awards provides the perfect platform for our mission to embrace and foster young designers with immense and unique creative abilities. These relationships allow Swarovski to not only be one of fashion’s most prestigious global brands, but also a significant part of the industry’s future.”

The nominees and honorees were selected by the CFDA membership, press, retailers and stylists. The nominees, as well as recipients of the honorary awards, were confirmed yesterday at a meeting of the CFDA Board of Directors. The final votes will be tabulated by Ernst & Young LLP, the official accounting firm of the 2010 CFDA Fashion Awards.

This year will again feature The Popular Vote Award sponsored by L’Oréal Paris, giving the public the opportunity to vote for its favorite designer.  The online site, hosted by Women’s Wear Daily, will present looks from designers of womenswear, menswear, and accessory design and includes a write in option.

The winners will be announced at the June 7 Awards gala.

The 2010 CFDA Fashion Awards will be produced by KCD and art directed by Laird + Partners.

Continental Airlines is the Awards’ official airline and W Hotels Worldwide is the official hotel.

About the CFDA – The Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc. (CFDA) is a not-for-profit trade association whose membership consists of more than 340 of America’s foremost womenswear, menswear, accessory and jewelry designers. CFDA Foundation, Inc. is a separate not-for-profit organization, which was organized to raise funds for charity and industry activities. www.cfda.com

About Swarovski – In 1895, Daniel Swarovski I, a Bohemian inventor and visionary, moved to the village of Wattens, Tyrol in Austria, with his newly-invented machine for cutting and polishing crystal jewellery stones. From this beginning that revolutionised the fashion world, Swarovski has grown to be the world’s leading producer of precision-cut crystal, for fashion, jewellery and more recently lighting, architecture and interiors. Today, the company, still based in Wattens, family-owned and run by 4th and 5th generation family members, has a global reach, with some 23.900 employees, a presence in over 120 countries and a turnover in 2008 of 2.52 billion Euros. Swarovski comprises two major businesses, one producing and selling loose elements to the industry and the other creating design-driven finished products. Swarovski crystal components, known by their product brand names CRYSTALLIZED(tm) – Swarovski Elements for fashion and STRASS® Swarovski® Crystal for architecture and light, have become an essential ingredient of international design. Since 1965 the company has also catered to the fine jewellery industry with precision-cut genuine and created gemstones, and from April 2008 has strengthened this relationship by revitalising and renaming the product brand ENLIGHTENEDTM – Swarovski Elements.  Showing the creativity that lies at the heart of the company, Swarovski’s own-brand lines of accessories, jewellery and home décor are sold through more than 1,600 retail outlets in all major fashion capitals. The exclusive Daniel Swarovski accessories collection has meanwhile become the company’s couture signature. The Swarovski Crystal Society has close to 350,000 members worldwide, keen collectors of the celebrated crystal figurines. And in Wattens, Swarovski Kristallwelten, the multi-media crystal museum, was opened in 1995, as a celebration of Swarovski’s universe of innovation and inspiration. The Swarovski corporation also includes Tyrolit®, manufacturing grinding tools, Swareflex, for road safety reflectors and Swarovski Optik, producing precision optical instruments.

About L’Oréal Paris – The L’Oréal Paris division of L’Oréal USA, Inc. is a total beauty care company that combines the latest in technology with the highest in quality for the ultimate in luxury beauty at mass.  The L’Oréal Paris brand encompasses the four major beauty categories – haircolor, haircare, skincare and cosmetics – and includes such well-known brands as Preference, Excellence, Féria and Healthy Look haircolor; Elnett Satin Hairspray, EverPure, EverStrong, VIVE Pro, Studio Line and L’Oréal Kids haircare; Revitalift, Age Perfect, Ideal Skin Genesis, Collagen, Sublime Bronze and Men’s Expert skincare; and the Colour Riche, True Match, Infallible, Bare Naturale and Studio Secrets Professional cosmetics collections, along with a portfolio of mascara including Voluminous, Double Extend and Telescopic among many others. For more information on L’Oréal Paris and its brands, and to get comprehensive, personalized beauty information from the experts, visit www.lorealparis.com for access to unique content and dynamic interactive features, including the exclusive “Can I Help You” diagnostic tool.

For More Information on the 2010 CFDA Fashion Awards:

Souri Kim / KCD
Tel – 212 590 5113 or Fax – 212 590 5101 kim@kcdworldwide.com

Background on the CFDA Fashion Awards

Womenswear Designer of the Year:

Awarded to an American designer or a designer whose business is headquartered in the U.S. who has made the most outstanding contribution to and has influenced the direction of women’s ready-to-wear fashion with his or her Spring and Fall 2010 collections. The designer selected must have his or her business based primarily in America.

2010 Nominees:

Marc Jacobs
Donna Karan
Alexander Wang

Menswear Designer of the Year:

Awarded to an American designer or a designer whose business is headquartered in the U.S. who has made the most outstanding contribution to and has influenced the direction of men’s ready-to-wear fashion with his or her Spring and Fall 2010 collections. The designer selected must have his or her business based primarily in America.

2010 Nominees:

Michael Bastian
Tom Ford

Marcus Wainwright & David Neville  for Rag & Bone

Accessory Designer of the Year:

Awarded to an American designer or a designer whose business is headquartered in the U.S. who has made the most outstanding contribution to and has influenced the direction of accessory design with his or her Spring and Fall 2010 collections. The designer selected must have his or her business based primarily in America.

2010 Nominees:

Alexis Bittar
Lazaro Hernandez &  Jack McCollough for Proenza Schouler
Marc Jacobs

Swarovski Award for Womenswear:

Awarded to an American designer or a designer whose business is headquartered in the U.S. who has made the greatest impact as an emerging new talent in womenswear design with his or her Spring and Fall 2010 collections. The Swarovski Awards, originally called Swarovski’s Perry Ellis Awards, were established to recognize and support the talent and creativity of the next generation of American designers. The designer selected must have his or her business based primarily in America.

2010 Nominees:
Joseph Altuzarra
Prabal Gurung
Jason Wu

Swarovski Award for Menswear:

Awarded to an American designer or a designer whose business is headquartered in the U.S. who has made the greatest impact as an emerging new talent in menswear design with his or her Spring and Fall 2010 collections.  The Swarovski Awards, originally called Swarovski’s Perry Ellis Awards, were established to recognize and support the talent and creativity of the next generation of American designers. The designer selected must have his or her business based primarily in America.

2010 Nominees:
Richard Chai
Patrik Ervell
Simon Spurr

Swarovski Award for Accessory Design:

Awarded to an American designer or a designer whose business is headquartered in the U.S. who has made the greatest impact as an emerging new talent in accessory design with his or her Spring and Fall 2010 collections. The Swarovski Awards, originally called Swarovski’s Perry Ellis Awards, were established to recognize and support the talent and creativity of the next generation of American designers. The designer selected must have his or her business based primarily in America.

2010 Nominees:

Eddie Borgo
Dana Lorenz
Alexander Wang

HONOREE AWARDS:

Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award:

Awarded for a lifetime of consistent, creative influence and dedication to fashion.

2010 Honoree: Michael Kors

Eugenia Sheppard Award:

Awarded to a writer, photographer, or editor who has used his or her craft to further the profession of fashion reporting and coverage, or to a creative director, fashion editor, stylist, or artist whose exceptional creativity has shaped fashion visually.

2010 Honoree: Kim Hastreiter, Paper

International Award:

Awarded to a designer working outside of America who has made an outstanding creative contribution to the world of fashion.

2010 Honoree: Christopher Bailey for Burberry

Board of Directors’ Special Tribute:

A special tribute by the Board of Directors of the CFDA, given from time to time to acknowledge significant contributions and commitment to fashion.

2010 Honoree: Alexander McQueen

Fashion Icon Award:

Awarded to an individual whose signature style has had a profound influence on fashion.

2010 Honoree: Iman

Eleanor Lambert Award:

Awarded for a unique contribution to the world of fashion.

2010 Honoree: Tonne Goodman, Vogue

Ernst & Young LLP is the official accounting firm of the 2010 CFDA Fashion Awards.

A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Making of the World’s Largest Fashion Celebration

The CBS Television Network announced today that the making of Fashion’s Night Out 2010 will be the subject of a one-hour prime-time special on Wednesday, September 15 (8:00pm-9:00pm, ET/PT).

Now in its second year, Fashion’s Night Out, a worldwide initiative to celebrate fashion and boos the retail industry, was launched in 2009 by Vogue, the Council of Fashion Designers of America, and NYC & Company in response to the global economic downturn. The upcoming CBS special will focus on year two of intense planning and preparation and tracking the night itself as it unfolds across the globe. Cameras will follow celebrities, designers, editors, and retailers as they prepare for one of the most anticipated events of the year, providing a unique view of the creative and logistical work that goes into coordinating an event of this scale. And looking beyond the glamour to the real-life implications at stake, the show will focus on the individuals working in all parts of the industry, from salespeople to design staff, for whom the vibrancy of the fashion business is a question of economic survival.

“While New York City is the epicenter of this event,” says CBS executive producer Susan Zirinsky, “cities all over the world took the baton last year and ran with it, and 2010 promises to be even bigger. The message is clear: Responsible spending can breathe new life into the economy, and that means jobs. Fashion’s Night Out is a self-styled stimulus package by the fashion industry that has ignited a global movement.”

For one night last September, in thirteen cities around the world, designers, celebrities, movie stars, models, and fashion editors staged exciting, one-of-a-kind events and performances in stores open after-hours to the public. In New York City alone, over 800 participating stores across the five boroughs feted thousands of shoppers. Sarah Jessica Parker and Bette Midler sang standards with Oscar de la Renta; Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen tended bar at an uptown fashion emporium; Sienna Miller hosted a party at a downtown boutique. Retailers saw a surge of new shoppers and increased sales, customers relished the street-party atmosphere, and the fashion industry experienced a much-needed lift.

For more information on Fashion’s Night Out, please visit www.fashionsnightout.com.

The special will be produced by CBS News’ Eye Too Productions.

CBS Press Contact:
Kim Izzo-Emmet
212.975.3820
krizzo@cbs.com

Fashion’s Night Out:
Susan Portnoy
212.286.6047
sportnoy@condenast.com

Those in the Union Square area on February 23^rd will enjoy a special appearance by Sports Illustrated models Julia Henderson, Jessica White and Irena Shayk as the beauties, ARC NY, Rothmans Union Square and FashionIndie.com come together for an exclusive signing of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue and Calendar. Signed issues will be offered for $50 to raise funds for Fashion for Haiti, an industry initiative organized by the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA).

Swarovski to Generously Underwrite the Evening

Nominating Ballots Sent Out February 8

New York, NY, February 18, 2010—The 2010 CFDA Fashion Awards, honoring the best in American fashion, will take place Monday, June 7 at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center. For the ninth year in a row, the Awards will be generously underwritten by Swarovski, the world’s leading producer of cut crystal. The evening will start with a cocktail hour followed by the Awards ceremony and then a light dinner in the theater lobby.

“We are excited to be returning to Alice Tully Hall for a second time,” said Steven Kolb, executive director of the CFDA. “The CFDA Fashion Awards deserves a proper theater and stage. This year’s show will be very powerful and we will again include live fashion elements as we salute the top talent in our industry.”

Given annually since 1981, a CFDA Fashion Award is the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a member of the fashion community. In an ongoing effort to recognize the outstanding contributions made to American fashion by individuals from all sectors of the industry, awards will be given for design excellence in womenswear, menswear and accessories as well as extraordinary accomplishments in journalism, creative vision and lifetime achievement. Last year’s winners included Kate & Laura Mulleavy of Rodarte for Womenswear Designer of the Year, a tie between Scott Sternberg for Band of Outsiders and Italo Zucchelli for Calvin Klein for Menswear Designer of the Year, and Jack McCollough & Lazaro Hernandez for Proenza Schouler for Accessory Designer of the Year. Anna Sui was honored with the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award.

Additionally, each year the CFDA honors emerging designers for their achievements with the Swarovski Awards. Winners of the Swarovski Awards receive generous financial support from Swarovski in addition to access to the company’s extensive crystal resources. Last year Alexander Wang was the recipient of the award for womenswear; Tim Hamilton took the menswear award; and Justin Giunta of Subversive Jewelry won the award for accessory design. The Swarovski Awards are some of the most anticipated awards of the evening, and serve as a barometer of fashion’s future. Past recipients include Scott Sternberg for Band of Outsiders, Doo-Ri Chung, Derek Lam, Phillip Lim, Kate & Laura Mulleavy for Rodarte, Zac Posen, Jack McCollough & Lazaro Hernandez for Proenza Schouler, and Marcus Wainwright & David Neville for Rag & Bone.

“Swarovski is pleased to announce our sponsorship of the CFDA Fashion Awards for the ninth consecutive year,” said Nadja Swarovski, vice president of international communications, Swarovski. “We have a long-lasting and ongoing commitment to emerging talent in the fashion industry and the CFDA Fashion Awards provides the perfect platform for our mission to embrace and foster young designers with immense and unique creative abilities. These relationships allow Swarovski to not only be one of fashion’s most prestigious global brands, but also a significant part of the industry’s future.”

Nominating ballots were emailed on February 8 to the more than 800 CFDA members, press, retailers and stylists of the CFDA Fashion Awards Selection Committee. Committee members can then cast their nominating ballots at www.cfda.com until 11:59pm on Friday, March 12. On Wednesday, March 17, Nadja Swarovski and Diane von Furstenberg will host a press conference and cocktail party to announce the Award nominees and honorees.

A final round of voting will commence mid-May. Ernst & Young LLP, the official accounting firm of the 2010 CFDA Fashion Awards, will tabulate the ballots and determine the winners, which will be revealed at the June 7 Awards gala.

The 2010 CFDA Fashion Awards will be produced by KCD and art directed by Laird + Partners. W Hotels Worldwide is the official hotel.

ABOUT THE CFDA - The Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc. (CFDA) is a not-for-profit trade association whose membership consists of more than 340 of America’s foremost womenswear, menswear, jewelry and accessory designers. CFDA Foundation, Inc. is a separate not-for-profit organization, which was organized to raise funds for charity and industry activities.

PRESS CONTACTS
CFDA:
Souri Kim / KCD
212.590.5113
kim@kcdworldwide.com

Swarovski:
Jennifer Meyer / Starworks
646.336.5920
Jennifer@starworksny.com

Saving the best for last is always a good way to end an extra long week. And to many, showing the established triumvirate of Ralph, Calvin and Tommy on the last day of New York’s fashion week is stacking the deck in the favor of great fashion. Not surprisingly, all of the designers who showed on Thursday were pretty darn spectacular.

William Rast’s Justin Timberlake and Trace Ayala, with the help of Johan and Marcella Lindeberg, offered a mix of military inspired pieces mixed with model-chic slim bits.  A box of rich chocolates and its luxe packaging inspired Marc Bouwer’s deep hued collection of red carpet worthy dresses and gowns. Visiting flower markets across the world through his collection of floral prints, Ralph Lauren tempered the feminine with tailored tweeds and great shearling pieces. Isaac Mizrahi’s whimsical romp through the inspiration of Central Park resulted in sequined parkas, strapless dresses of quilted outerwear fabrics and weatherproof clear plastic handbags. Marcella Lindberg’s Paris 68 was a frock-tastic collection of goth/rock fringe-y dresses paired with tailored jackets packet with attitude. Stephen Burrows’ offerings were brightly colored and full of joie de vivre, like the man himself, with a long burgundy dress one of the best pieces.

Calvin Klein’s Francisco Costa, the pioneer of sculpted and shaped pieces, let his collection evolve to a more refined state which included molded strong shoulders and molten gowns. Gorgeous patchworked furs opened J. Mendel’s collection, but the frothy little gowns he’s so good at were like icing on this cake. Receiving a bona fide standing ovation, Naeem Khan’s triumphant collection was awash with incredibly intricate beading with a rock ‘n’ roll edge. Closing out fashion week and the era at the Bryant Park tents, Tommy Hilfiger’s collection was celebratory in feel, and with the help of consultant Peter Som, the pieces, described as “preppy with a pop” were youthful.

Tommy’s was the last show in Bryant Park and in closing the end of an era he thanked past CFDA President Stan Herman and IMG’s Fern Mallis for having the vision 18 years ago to centralize the shows. See you next season at the tents at Lincoln Center.