Olsen twins get fashion’s big prize

By S. CRITCHELL
AP Fashion Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen took home the biggest prize at the annual Council of Fashion Designers of America awards. The former child TV stars were selected Monday night as the country’s top womenswear designers for their collection called The Row.
“I’d like to thank you — you,” Mary-Kate said, turning to her twin, as she accepted.
Jessica Chastain announced the 25-year-olds as winners at Lincoln Center in front of an audience that drew not only from the fashion world but also from Hollywood.
“Mad Men’s” Jessica Pare gave Reed Krakoff his trophy as best designer of accessories, and “White Collar’s” Matt Bomer gave menswear designer Billy Reid his.
The previously announced style icon award went to Johnny Depp, but he was on the set of “The Lone Ranger” and didn’t attend. He sent an email — and filmmaker friend John Waters — in his place.
Standing in front of a collage of Depp’s outfits over the years, Waters said, “This man can’t look ugly no matter how hard he tries.”
Waters also accepted the international award on behalf of Tokyo-based Rei Kawakubo, who won honors as an international designer for her often creative, balloonlike silhouettes created for the label Comme des Garcons. Waters said he was a fan of her clothes — and she also was a personal friend.
However, he joked, some people might describe her clothes as “disaster at the dry-cleaner,” rattling off the slew of warnings often found on washing labels.
Ceremony host Seth Meyers took on many targets, from John Galliano to Marc Jacobs. After making fun of Jacobs’ sheer lace “dress” worn over boxer shorts to last month’s fashion gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the industry’s other important red carpet event, Meyers proceeded to put on the get-up later in the show.
Using what he called fashion terminology, Meyers described the outfit as “breezy.”
And, no matter, he joked, if all the designers and models in the auditorium didn’t like his act. “Fashion people like hating things more than they do liking things.”
In presenting Tommy Hilfiger with his lifetime achievement award, Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour said the designer could be pretty funny, especially in his imitations of famous people such as Karl Lagerfeld, Donna Karan and even Mick Jagger.
“As long as you’re not imitating me, we’re all good,” the famously serious Wintour said.
The CFDA also presents a series of awards sponsored by Swarovski to up-and-coming talent: Joseph Altuzarra won in the women’s category, Phillip Lim in men’s and Tabitha Simmons in accessories.

Published in The Messenger 6.5.12

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