NEW YORK – It was a gold mine of stars – literally.
Dripping in golden gems, brocade, sequins and lamé, celebrities from Zoë Kravitz to Hailey Bieber and Rosé and more were on hand at the CFDA Fashion Awards in New York City to celebrate the gold standard of the fashion industry Monday, Nov. 2, at the American Museum of Natural History.
Host Keke Palmer also glittered in a vintage Bob Mackie gown on the red carpet before taking the stage for the event, often called the Oscars of American fashion. Palmer sported several hairstyles and outfit changes throughout the night, which brought together everyone from Pamela Anderson and Demi Moore to Matt Damon, Naomi Osaka and Adriana Lima on the Upper West Side.
The night before the midterm elections, fashion's
biggest names and its behind-the-scenes talent found out the results of their votes for the best names in design.
Jamaican-American designer Rachel Scott, who won one of the night's top prizes, womenswear designer of the year, for her work at her brand Diotima, used her acceptance speech to issue a call to action ahead of Election Day.
"It's very unusual that someone like me can stand in a space like this, and in a world where independent and marginalized voices are systematically quieted, I feel extremely lucky and very, very responsible," Scott said. "And we have a lot more work to do, starting tomorrow morning."
What is the CFDA Fashion Awards? Only one of fashion's biggest nights
But before election day, the fashionable attendees elected to have a good time in a diverse room of skill, from models and designers to business owners and pattern makers to musicians, Oscar winners, Olympians and Victoria's Secret Angels. The stars' polka dots, feathers and fur rivaled that of the taxidermy animals in glass casings throughout the night at the museum.
Image architect Law Roach saunters by Moore and fellow actress Emmy Rossum, deep in conversation. Shaboozey works the room all night, shmoozing alongside Becky G at the cocktail hour before the festivities kicked off and smiling for the cameras next to Donatella Versace. Megan Thee Stallion hugs Coi Leray and sits alongside Lila Moss and Coco Jones, later snapping a big group selfie with Palmer, Chloe Bailey, Brandy, Monica, Leray and Jones.
Julia Fox, Monica and Brandy made a fashionable entrance after the first speech by CFDA chairman Thom Browne, while Lola Tung, Elle Fanning and Adriana Lima also snuck in as attendees tucked into dinner: a festive chicken pot pie topped with puff pastry shaped like animals, including butterflies, bears and whale tails.
This marks the first CFDA Fashion Awards since the organization's longtime president and CEO Steven Kolb stepped down in September. The abrupt end to Kolb's tenure came after he was seen grabbing and restraining PETA protestors off the runway at the COS show during New York Fashion Week. He issued a statement before announcing his resignation after 20 years helming the CFDA, days after the videos of him circulated across social media.
Designers from the organization's board, including Thom Browne, Tory Burch, Ralph Lauren and Michael Kors, were in attendance (and celebrated) Monday night.
Damon joined Denim Tears founder Tremaine Emory to present the menswear designer award to Lauren, 87, who was on hand in the room to receive a standing ovation from the crowd. Burch accepted the positive change honor, while Instagram's fashion partnerships leader and former Teen Vogue and Lucky magazine editor Eva Chen earned the media award.
Rappers Future and Travis Scott slipped out early before the final awards of the night, which went to designer Susan Cianciolo (the Isabel Toledo Board of Directors Tribute), photographer duo Inez and Vinoodh (the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award) and Linda Fargo (the Founder's Award in Honor of Eleanor Lambert).
Where previous years have had notable celebs like A$AP Rocky or Naomi Campbell receiving the Fashion Icon honor, this year the title went to architect Peter Marino, who is the force behind designing spaces and boutiques for Armani, Calvin Klein, Chanel, Dior, Louis Vuitton and Barneys New York.
Jewelry designer Ana Khouri surprised with the accessory designer win, and the Google Shopping emerging designer of the year honor went to newcomer Colleen Allen.
Bieber, Kravitz and Rosé sparkled as a trio to present the international designer of the year award to Anthony Vaccarello, who recently stepped down from Saint Laurent after 10 years as creative director. Moore also took to the stage to present Gap Inc. and creative director Zac Posen with the Innovation Award Presented by Amazon Fashion, recalling sharing an iconic brand moment with her daughter.
"In 1990, I stood in front of a camera for Gap in a cropped denim jacket. And then years later, my daughter Rumer recreated that very same look for Gap. I love that something so simple as a denim jacket could become this beautiful little thread between us, connecting generations," Moore said.
Contributing: Morgan Evans, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hailey Bieber, Zoe Kravitz glitter in gold at 2026 CFDA Fashion Awards
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