STYLE COUNCIL

Smocking In The Boys’ Room: The Designer Dudes Of The CFDA Fashion Awards

YSL

Fashion has long been a boys’ club. A gay boy’s club, mostly. Of course, there are the Coco Chanels, Miuccia Pradas, Diane von Furstenbergs, Elsa Schiaparellis and so on and so fierce. But from the heady days of the Belle Epoque and Charles Frederick Worth to the sculptural designs of Cristobal Balenciaga in the early half of the 20th century, the post-war New Look of Christian Dior and the modern masculin/feminin edge of Yves Saint Laurent (above), there have been a fair share of dudes dictating the way men and women dress over the ages.

Tonight’s Council of Fashion Designers of America Awards is a decidedly testosterone-filled affair, peppered gingerly with designer fragrances. Though not quite as glamorous as the Met Ball, the CFDA Awards are like the Oscars of the fashion world. Just think of Marc Jacobs as Meryl Streep and you’ll get the gist of it. Let’s storm the catwalk for a look at Jacobs and some of the other gentlefellows vying for fashion’s top honor.

Marc Jacobs – Womenswear Designer of the Year

Marc-Jacobs

(Photo: FarFetch)

The iconic iconoclast is as well known for his eponymous fashion line — he also pulls double duty for Louis Vuitton — as for his tendency towards nudity since sobering up and slimming down a few years back.

Proenza Schouler – Womenswear Designer of the Year, Accessories Designer of the Year

ps

(Photo: Style Blog)

Handpicked by Anna Wintour herself, the duo of Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez are critical darlings with an adamant following among the Ittest of ‘It’ girls.

Alexander Wang – Womenswear Designer of the Year, Accessories Designer of the Year

wang

(Photo: Linalista)

Recently named the creative director of Balenciaga, the wunderkind king of downtown cool has some big, architectural heels to fill, namely those of his beloved predecessor Nicolas Ghesquière.

Thom Browne – Menswear Designer of the Year

Thom-Browne

(Photo: Hype Means Everything)

Aside from popularizing the exposed ankle among the three-piece set, Browne has launched a quiet revolution among menswear with his surreal, and downright trippy designs, for his own label as well as for Moncler.

Michael Bastian – Menswear Designer of the Year

michael-bastian-2(Photo: Esquire)

Bastian won the title in 2011 and has since eschewed the all-American preppy aesthetic that has been his calling card for an edgier, sexier take on menswear.

Duckie Brown – Menswear Designer of the Year

Steve-Cox-and-Daniel-Silver-Duckie-Brown

(Photo: Justin Bridges, Four Pins)

Daniel Silver and Steven Cox have endeared themselves to lovers of quirk (each collection references Barbra Streisand, such as their last one, “Duckyl“) and a drop-crotch with their smart and forward-thinking designs.

Phillip Lim – Accessories Designer of the Year

lim

(Photo: Aviva)

Lim has picked up CFDA Awards for womenswear and menswear so he’s looking to make it a perfect trifecta as he continues to expand his reign on classic tailoring.

riccarod-tisci

(Photo: Maciek Kobielski, Self Service Magazine)

Riccardo Tisci – International Award

Kanye West’s rumored lover was the one who dressed Kim Kardashian in that much-maligned couch upholstery at the Met Ball, perhaps adding fuel to the fire that he’s Kanye West’s secret lover because that is some grade-A shade. However, his revival of Givenchy using his own androgynous take on design has made him one of the leaders of the new fashion school. Plus, he designed Madonna‘s Super Bowl costumes. Just sayin’:

madge-superbowl

You can catch the CFDA Awards exclusively on Style.com June 4.

Don't forget to share:

Help make sure LGBTQ+ stories are being told...

We can't rely on mainstream media to tell our stories. That's why we don't lock Queerty articles behind a paywall. Will you support our mission with a contribution today?

Cancel anytime · Proudly LGBTQ+ owned and operated