Everything You Need to Know About Tonight’s CFDA Awards
Who’s nominated, which celebrities are slated to attend, and more
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Tonight’s CFDAs are like the Oscars of American fashion. The biggest awards presentation of the year, the evening celebrates design talent and creativity here in New York and across the country. These honors are determined by the CFDA Fashion Awards Guild, an invitation-only voting body of industry peers—fashion editors and journalists, retail executives, stylists, influencers, and other industry professionals—many of whom will gather for the ceremony tonight at New York’s Museum of Natural History.
This year, highly anticipated categories include Womenswear Designer of the Year, whose nominees include both industry heavyweights like Michael Kors and younger talent like Diotima’s Rachel Scott. Google Shopping’s American Emerging Designer of the Year is also a hot category, with buzzy nominees like Emily Dawn Long, Colleen Allen, and Zane Li of Lii. There will also be a number of celebratory honorees, including Tory Burch, who will receive the Positive Change Award, and Anthony Vaccarello, departing creative director of Saint Laurent, who will be given the title International Designer of the Year.
The Council of Fashion Designers of America has guaranteed a star-studded event. Alongside host Keke Palmer, presenters include Lupita Nyong’o, Matt Damon, Naomi Osaka, Cole Escola, Demi Moore, and Cornelia Guest.
To brief you on all the necessary information ahead of the announcements, we’ve aggregated the nominees, awards, and relevant details surrounding them—and will be updating the list with the winners in real time.
American Womenswear Designer
- Catherine Holstein (Khaite)
- Michael Kors
- Rachel Scott (Diotima) - WINNER
- Tory Burch
- Wes Gordon (Carolina Herrera)
This year’s roster of nominated designers spans generations of American design talent, and each has had a significant role in shaping what women’s fashion looks like today. Every nominee is returning. Khaite’s Catherine Holstein has won twice, in 2022 and 2023; Rachel Scott, now head of Proenza Schouler, won for Diotima in 2024; and Michael Kors won in 1999. (He’s also received a number of other honors, including the Lifetime Achievement Award, from the CFDA.) Tory Burch and Wes Gordon of Carolina Herrera have each been nominated in this category once before.
Google American Emerging Designer of the Year
- Colleen Allen - WINNER
- Emily Dawn Long
- Julia Ferentinos (Juju Vera)
- Julian Louie (Aubero)
- Zane Li (Lii)
Based on the year he’s had, Zane Li of Lii is the front-runner in this category, which was won last year by Ashlynn Park of Ashlyn. So far in 2026, he has won the CFDA Fashion Fund and the Fashion Trust U.S. Ready-to-Wear Award; he was also a runner-up for the LVMH Prize. But he has competition: Julian Louie of the artistic label Aubero and Colleen Allen of the buzzy, Victorian-inspired eponymous brand were both nominated in the category last year and have each been named LVMH Prize finalists in recent years. Newcomers include Julia Ferentinos of Juju Vera, who has shot to prominence for her antique-inspired jewelry beloved by fashion It girls, and Emily Dawn Long, whose crochet hats and viral slogan tees made her a favorite among both the downtown set and the Instagram algorithm.
American Menswear Designer of the Year
- Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne (Public School New York)
- Ralph Lauren - WINNER
- Thom Browne
- Todd Snyder
- Willy Chavarria
The menswear nominees are all familiar to this space. Ralph Lauren has won CFDA Awards in both menswear and womenswear, alongside the lifetime achievement recognition. Mexican American designer Willy Chavarria is also a returning winner; he received this award in 2023 and 2024. Thom Browne took it home for the fourth time in 2025. Public School won in 2014. Snyder has never won but has received multiple nominations.
American Accessory Designer of the Year
- Ana Khouri - WINNER
- Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen (the Row)
- Raul Lopez (Luar)
- Sophie Buhai
- Stuart Vevers (Coach)
The accessories category presents an interesting mix of nominees. The Olsen twins have won this award numerous times for the beloved bags and shoes from the Row. Raul Lopez of Luar has won twice, and he’s coming off a year of launching a buzzy handbag collab with MCM. Stuart Vevers won in 2017, and his affordable leather goods for Coach continue to capture shoppers’ attention across generations. As for the final two on the list—both modern minimalist jewelry designers—Ana Khouri has received multiple nominations in this category, while this is Sophie Buhai’s first nomination.
Honorees
The Positive Change Award goes to Tory Burch.
The Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award goes to photographers Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin, typically referred to as Inez and Vinoodh.
The International Designer of the Year Award goes to Anthony Vaccarello for Saint Laurent, who exited the label this fall after a decade at its helm.
The Media Award in honor of Eugenia Sheppard goes to Eva Chen, vice president of fashion at Meta.
The Founder’s Award in honor of Eleanor Lambert goes to Linda Fargo, as the SVP fashion and store presentation director is celebrating three decades at Bergdorf Goodman.
The Isabel Toledo Board of Directors’ Tribute will be presented to Susan Cianciolo, for her RUN collection.
Originally published by harpersbazaar.com. Syndicated material does not necessarily reflect the views of Vogue British.
