And the winner is ...

It's awards season in the fashion world, too.
The Council of Fashion Designers of America held its annual awards on Monday in New York and handed out top honors to designers for womenswear, menswear, accessories and up and comers. The award for womenswear was particularly interesting, reflecting the fashion world's current split personality - embracing the classic style of a revered fashion icon while acknowledging the consistent excellence of one of the new kids on the block.


(from left) Lazaro Hernandez of Proenza Schouler, Oscar de la Renta, and Jack McCollough of Proenza Schouoler.

Womenswear Designers of the Year: Oscar de la Renta and the Proenza Schouler designing duo of Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough.
Menswear Designer of the Year: Ralph Lauren.


Derek Lam.

Accessory Designer of the Year: Derek Lam.
Up and Comers Awards: Phillip Lim, David Neville and Marcus Wainwright for Rag & Bone, and Jessie Randall for Loeffler Randall.


Ralph Lauren.

Lauren, nattily dressed in white tie, also received the first ever American Fashion Legend Award. He was introduced by Oprah Winfrey.

Honorary awards were given to jewelry designer Robert Lee Morris for lifetime achievement, Washington Post fashion critic Robin Givhan, French designer Pierre Cardin, and the rock star Bono and his wife, Ali Hewson, for their humanitarian work.


What are the top fragrances of the year? The FiFi Awards, hosted by the Fragrance Foundation, were handed out last week.
The winners are:

Women's Luxe: Juicy Couture
Men's Luxe: Terre d'Hermes and Unforgivable by Sean John
Men's Nouveau Niche: Viktor & Rolf Antidote
Women's Private Label: Dream Angels Desire from Victoria's Secret
Men's Private Label: Banana Republic Black Walnut
Women's Popular Appeal: American Beauty Wonderful Indulgence
Men's Popular Appeal: Antonio - Antonio BAnderas
Fragrance Hall of Fame: Angel by Thierry Mugler