Everything you need to know about the CFDA Awards 2016

Michael C. Hall performs a tribute to David Bowie as models display fashions onstage at the 2016 CFDA Fashion Awards

The annual Council of Fashion Designers of America Awards brings together and honours the most talented designers in the fashion industry, and this year’s ceremony turned out to be a more star-studded spectacle than ever before. At the Hammerstein Ballroom in NYC, Joel McHale was the charming host of the evening along with presenters Tilda Swinton and Alexander Skarsgård. The generous guestlist consisted of A-list celebrities, supermodels and Oscar winners, focusing on the achievements of the recipients of honorary awards such as Norma Kamali (winner of Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award), Donna Karan (winner of the Founders Award), and Gucci’s Alessandro Michele (winner of International Award).

Beyoncé accepts The CDFA Fashion Icon Award onstage at the 2016 CFDA Fashion Awards

The Council Awards also paid their respects and acknowledged the on-going fashion legacy of David Bowie who was this year’s recipient of the Board of Directors’ Special Tribute following a dedicated catwalk collection. The winner of Style Icon of the year, Beyoncé made a top secret appearance, with no hint of her nomination till the end. The star paid homage to the late singer in a Givenchy a/w16 striped suit, tipping her toes in androgynous glamour, joining a long list of best-dressed attendees. Another fashionable moment on stage was when Jennifer Hudson took charge and delivered her powerful rendition of Prince’s ‘Purple Rain’ to remember the late singer and style icon.

Jennifer Hudson performs onstage to pay tribute to late singer, Prince at the 2016 CFDA Fashion Awards

To sum up, here’s a list of #MOJEHhighlights from the 2016 CFDA Awards:

1. Preceding the CFDA awards, Presidents Diane von Furstenberg and Steven Kolb wrote an open letter to New York designers, reminding them to “celebrate diversity and protect women, and very young girls in particular, within the business, sending the message that beauty is health.”

2. Ashley, Mary-Kate and Elizabeth Olsen, made a rare yet stunning appearance in an all-black matching palette, to celebrate their family label, The Row’s double nomination for the night, for the fifth year in a row.

The Olsen sisters, designers behind The Row, were nominated for two CFDA awards this year for accessory and for designer this year.

3. “We have an opportunity to contribute to a society where any girl can look at a billboard or a magazine cover and see her own reflection. The soul has no colour, no shape, no form. Just like all of your work, it goes so far beyond what the eyes can see, ” Beyoncé accepted her Style Icon of the Year award, delivering an empowering speech, thanking her mother, grandmother and for the power of fashion that has affected her since she was little.

4. Alessandro Michele of Gucci, made a rare public appearance, in a bright pink suit to accept the International Award, for his paradigm shifting contribution to fashion including pussy-bow blouses for menswear and fur-lined takes on the Gucci loafer.

5. Bringing on stage, two illustrious household names of American design, Donna Karan was presented the Founders Award in honour of Eleanor Lambert by Calvin Klein himself.