The 2011 Accessories Council Excellence Awards

Marchesa handbags

Tonight, the Accessories Council will be honoring the year's top contributors to the industry with its annual Accessories Council Excellence Awards. Past honorees include Lady Gaga, Kanye West, Tiffany & Co., Alber Elbaz, and Cole Haan.

This year, the following awards will be handed out:

E-TAILER: HSN – The shopping network’s empire now includes brands that reflect all facets of lifestyle products including fashion, beauty, health, food, toys, crafts and more from hundreds of brands and designers.

VISIONARY AWARD: ROBERT MARC – A fittingly titled award given that Marc has built a global business on eyewear, which will be expanding significantly in 2012.

MAGAZINE OF THE YEAR: MARIE CLAIRE – One of the most influential fashion publication thanks in no small part to its savvy participation in reality TV.

MARYLOU LUTHER JOURNALISM AWARD: KATE BETTS – A contributing editor at Time and Betts is also the author of “Everyday Icon: Michelle Obama and the Power of Style.”

DESIGNER OF THE YEAR: PHILIP TREACY – 2011 marked the most attention given to hats (thanks to a certain Royal Wedding) in recent history so it couldn’t be more fitting that the milliner be honored with this year’s award.

ACCESSORY BRAND LAUNCH OF THE YEAR: MARCHESA’S GEORGINA CHAPMAN AND KEREN CRAIG – Whether it be creating exquisite gowns, dinnerware, makeup, or handbags, it seems that Marchesa can do no wrong. Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig will be honored for their recently launched line of handbags.

Rebecca Minkoff Fall 2011

BREAKTHROUGH AWARD: REBECCA MINKOFF – Few contemporary designers are successful expanding as impressively fast as Minkoff. With handbags, shoes, and apparel already a resounding hit, 2012 will mark expansions into jewelry, eyewear, cold-weather gear, and scarves for the Minkoff brand.

HALL OF FAME: TEMPLE ST. CLAIR – Stocked at more than 100 retailers, the designer’s namesake collection now includes one-of-a-kind pieces made with rare collectable stones.

INFLUENCER OF THE YEAR: NICOLE RICHIE – Few celebrities turned designers are successful – even fewer socialites turned designers find success, let alone find themselves at the helm of an expanding empire. Richie’s House of Harlow 1960 (left) brand now includes jewelry, shoes, sunglasses, and apparel.

SPECIALTY RETAILER: TOURNEAU – With a 111 year history, few brands are as closely linked to luxury watches as Tourneau, which recently opened a 3,135-square-foot flagship on Madison Avenue in New York

BUSINESS VISIONARY AWARD: FRANK FIALKOFF – Fialkoff is the CEO of Haskell Jewels, whose licenses include Kenneth Cole and Betsey Johnson, which along with the other brands owned by Haskell, makes the company one of the largest vendors to Macy’s, J.C. Penney, Kohl’s, and Dillard’s.