Inside the 2019 CFDA Awards, the Richest Self-Made American Women

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Brandon Maxwell Takes Home the Top Prize at the 2019 CFDA Fashion Awards
Last night, the CFDA hosted their annual Fashion Awards at the Brooklyn Museum, celebrating some of the biggest names in American fashion. Brandon Maxwell was named Womenswear Designer of the Year, beating out Marc Jacobs, Kate Mulleavy and Laura Mulleavy of Rodarte, Rosie Assoulin, and Sander Lak of Sies Marjan. Meanwhile Rick Owens won Menswear Designer, Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen of The Row won Accessories Designer, and Emily Adams Bode of Bode won Emerging Designer of the Year. Click here to read the full list of nominees special honorees.

Brandon Maxwell (BFA)

The evening also honored fashion industry icons who passed away last year, including Kate Spade, Oribe, Blake Nordstrom, Ruth Finley, Bud Konheim, and Max Azria. And Karl Lagerfeld was given a special tribute by Amanda Harlech.

The evening also saw the passing of the torch from former CFDA chairperson, Diane von Furstenberg, to her successor, Tom Ford, with Furstenberg receiving a surprise tribute from Michael Kors. “I have been privileged to lead the CFDA for the last 13 years,” Furstenberg said. “In fashion, we are about glamorous entrances, but beautiful exits are equally important.”

Diane von Furstenberg (BFA)

“I have spent most of my career living and working in Europe, but I am an American fashion designer at heart who started here on Seventh Avenue,” Ford said. “When I was asked to take on this new role, I felt a sense of duty to give back to our industry and to support our designers and the American fashion system in any way that I can, and in particular to help the next generation of talent succeed.”

Tom Ford (BFA)

Beyoncé, Rihanna, and More Make Forbes New Richest Self-Made American Women List (Forbes)
Forbes had ranked the richest self-made women in America, and a number of women in the fashion industry made the list. Rihanna came in at #37, valued at $600 million thanks to her Fenty lines. Céline Dion is listed at #46 with an estimated worth of $450 million thanks to her Las Vegas residency and L’Oreal deal. Meanwhile, Beyoncé came in at #51, valued at $400 million thanks to her recent On the Run II tour and Ivy Park line. Other women on the list include Kylie Jenner (#23), Tory Burch (#29), Madonna (#39), and Serena Williams (#80).

(Patrick McMullan/PMC)

Balmain Will Present Its Men’s Collection During a Music Festival (WWD)
Balmain will present its Spring 2020 menswear collection during the Fête de la Musique in Paris, on June 21. Music for the show itself will be provided by Gesaffelstein, a French DJ. Because the Fête de la Musique is a public event, Balmain will provide 1,500 tickets on its website starting June 7. The tickets are free, but the brand is asking guests to donate to (RED), an organization fighting against AIDS. All proceeds from Balmain’s merch and food sales from the event will also go to the charity.

Forever 21 in Talks to Restructure (Bloomberg)
In an effort to turn its business around, Forever 21 is talking with lenders and restructuring advisers. It is also allegedly discussing potentially setting up debtor-in-possession financing with Apollo Global Management. “Forever 21 is speaking with our lenders in the normal course of business and are in compliance with all of our agreements and continue to operate as usual,” the company told Bloomberg.

Fashion Centered Holds Its Annual Dinner to Support the LGBTQ Community in NYC
Over the weekend, Derek Lam co-chaired the 2019 Fashion Centered dinner. Guests including Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez of Proenza Schouler, Jonathan Saunders, Hanne Gaby Odiele, LadyFag, Casey Spooner, and Susanne Bartsch were treated to a special performance by LP. The night raised over $270,000 for The Center’s advocacy program, RiseOut. Since its inception in 2013, Fashion Centered has raised over $2 million to support the LGBTQ community in New York City.