The highlight of the event was Sarah Jessica Parker’s tribute to Alexander McQueen. The actresses honored the late designer with the Board of Directors’ Special Tribute.
Michael Kors also took home an honorary award, the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award, which was presented to him by Anna Wintour (who, surprisingly, opted to wear a flower-print Carolina Herrera dress over a Kors piece).
Paper editor and publisher Kim Hastreiter walked away with the Eugenia Sheppard Award, while the International Award went to Burberry’s Christopher Bailey, and the Eleanor Lambert Award went to Vogue fashion director Tonne Goodman.
David Neville and Marcus Wainwright of rag & bone won best Menswear Designer of the Year, which was somewhat unexpected. The duo beat out Michael Bastian and Tom Ford.
Alexis Bittar picked up a much deserved Accessory Designer of the Year award, beating out Marc Jacobs and the Proenza Schouler boys, Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough. Michelle Obama favorite Jason Wu went home with the Swarovski Award for Womenswear, over fellow up-and-comers Joseph Altuzarra and Prabal Gurung. Richard Chai walked away with the Swarovski Award for Menswear (over Patrick Ervell and Simon Spurr), and the Popular Vote award went once again to Ralph Lauren.
