2009 CFDA Awards: Rodarte And Obama Win Fashion Honors (PHOTOS, POLL)

NEW YORK — The fashion industry made it clear at its annual awards ceremony Monday night that it's looking to future stars to see it past the doldrums of the recession, shunning longtime favorites and honoring a largely new guard: Rodarte, Proenza Schouler, Alexander Wang _ and Michelle Obama.

The Council of Fashion Designers of America's special tribute award went to the first lady, considered a new player in this world.

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Noting her "meteoric rise as a fashion icon," CFDA president Diane von Furstenberg said Obama had "a unique look that balances the duality of her lives" in her roles as trusted adviser to her husband, President Barack Obama, and busy mother to their two daughters.

Although she was missing from the crowd at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Obama's presence was felt throughout the star-studded ceremony, which included Heidi Klum and Blake Lively, both wearing Michael Kors, and Bradley Cooper in a Calvin Klein suit.

It took host Tracey Ullman less than two minutes in her opening monologue to mention the new first lady of fashion. As complimentary as she was, though, Ullman, a Brit, did say Obama shouldn't have worn a cardigan to meet Queen Elizabeth II.

Obama accepted her award via a pre-taped video speech. Wearing a crisp white button-down shirt and two strands of pearls, she honored fashion as an American "art form" with "ingenuity and craftsmanship that contribute so much to our economy and culture."

Laura and Kate Mulleavy, the California-based sisters behind Rodarte, seemed touched and surprised when Diane Kruger, in a red minidress with black beaded shoulders, announced that they had won the big prize of the night as the nation's top womenswear designers. It was only last year that they won the award for emerging talent.

"I'm just so shocked," Kate Mulleavy said. "It's so hard to be up here when we think where we started, making clothes in our house three years ago. We never thought we'd be a part of this world."

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Rodarte beat out industry veterans Narciso Rodriguez and Marc Jacobs, while Proenza Schouler's Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez topped Jacobs and Vera Wang in the accessories category.

Jacobs didn't go home empty-handed, though. He was named the top international designer for Louis Vuitton.

Comedian and talk show host Jimmy Fallon read the names of both Italo Zucchelli for Calvin Klein and Scott Sternberg for Band of Outsiders in a tie in the menswear category.

Alexander Wang and his rocker look beat Jason Wu and Thakoon Panichgul, both favorites of Obama, for the Swarovski Award as the up-and-coming womenswear designer, while Justin Giunta for Subversive Jewelry won for accessories and Tim Hamilton won for menswear.

Industry icon Ralph Lauren won the first popular award after being chosen by 16,000 online voters as their favorite designer.

"What an honor to win this award," Lauren said in an e-mail to The Associated Press after the ceremony. "After 42 years, it is nice to be recognized this way."

The White Stripes' Jack White put on a sparkly brown suit to hand Anna Sui her lifetime achievement award, saying he especially admired her style for being timely instead of trendy.

Several big Hollywood names honored GQ creative director Jim Moore. Tom Cruise and Jake Gyllenhaal appeared in a video with Moore, and Justin Timberlake appeared on stage, in a black suit, skinny black tie, silver tie clip and white pocket-square, looking almost like Moore's twin.

Timberlake said that while he is particular about his wardrobe and had a good sense of what he likes and doesn't like, he's receptive to guidance from Moore.

"It turns out I'm a guy who could pull off wearing a kilt," he said. "Who knew?"

Comments

[letscutthebs]

Designers and the fashion industry promote Michelle Obama because she sells, not because she is truly stylish or beautiful. The way the economy is going they are right to take advantage of this opportunity.

[courteney]

If she wasn't stylish her stuff wouldn't sell.

[letscutthebs]

It's who she is (Mrs. Barrack Obama) that sells. Not her natural style. And it can't be easy for her to be under the microscope 24/7 and have to keep up with this fiction. It involves an around the clock personal make up artist and hairstylist and putting away your madras shorts for the next eight years. It's a burden and after eight years she'll be glad to let her hair down and not have to live up to this monument. That's a long time and a lot of effort.

[OldFreddie]

I guess my question is, why are people trying so hard to push this "fashion icon" label on Michelle when it basically ends up calling attention constantly to what she wears and ultimately pointing out that up to this point in time her choices in what she wears are hardly "fashion icon" material. She has a pear-shaped body, like many women in America today. Tight sheath dresses only accentuate that body type, and by extension, the derriere. The same applies to poofy skirts with horrendous gaudy belts worn above the waist. The gaudy belts call attention to the waist and then the eye naturally follows downward to the larger hip area, which is exactly what you want to avoid if that's your largest "asset". Jackie Kennedy had impeccable taste, and the term "fashion icon" was given to her because so many American women adapted parts of her style as their own. The jury is out as to whether or not we see the same phenomenon happen with the style selections of Michelle Obama, but my personal opinion is that most women in America with any sense of classic style and design will pass.

[letscutthebs]

None of the models you see when go through fashion magazines are anything like the Michelle Obama prototype. I think no one is being fooled about this. But she stands for a "brand" that sells; J. Crew was the first to seize this opportunity despite the fact that her figure is far from what their classic ideal (which is not a realistic version of the average American woman anyway) is. Yet their marketing strategy has worked. It is smart of the fashion industry to take a free ride on this. You will also see her on the cover of fashion and celebrity gossip magazines for the same reason. It sells.
And it also boosts the Obama popularity at so it works for everyone involved.

[ElsaIndy]

Thank you for your post. So this is the reason the fashion media is promoting MO....to sell clothes! I did not even think of that as I wondered why in the world were they fawning over her. She has really allowed herself to be used by the fashion world. By not having professional help, MO has allowed herself to become the target of the fashion industry, not because of her "style" but because she is First Lady and her "cheap" clothes sell....plus she has the misfortune to have the whole world commenting on her clothing choices..what a nightmare.

[mamacat]

Something the fashion industry doesn't want to hear:

Michelle is a beautiful dresser, not because she chooses great outfits, but because she is inately a beautiful person. Her inner beauty shines through no matter what she wears. Ultimately, it is the person who makes the clothes look good, not the clothes who make the person look good.

One or two of the outfits that Michelle has worn have really made me wince, but I have remained an admirer of the person who chose them. Whether wearing blue jeans or haute couture, she looks fine.

[PoliticalAmazon]

Hogwash. Who she is as a person is different from what she wears. Who she is as a person stimulate people to make excuses for her atrocious taste in clothing, but it does not change the fact that she has shown a lack of skill in dressing herself.

Almost every one of her outfits has one huge fashion "What was she thinking" element. She so consistently dresses badly that if she doesn't show up in public in clown shoes and a clown nose, she's praised to high heaven.

I admire her accomplishments, and she seems like a nice person, but her taste in clothing is atrocious, and I won't make excuse for her, nor will I lie for her, because I think that is a short-sighted approach to someone we want to do well.

[betty22]

what I think Queen Latifah,,,Jennifer Hudson..Vivica Fox..Angela Bassett...that to me are beautiful dressers. not michelle

[PoliticalAmazon]

Thank you. ITA.

[PoliticalAmazon]

ITA. Well said.

[timewaster2dcore]

To those who think Michelle does not deserve the award, I say: Go and strangle yourselves if you don`t like it when a black woman gets an award. I will trust the award judges over marginalized and unrecognized ``fashion critics`` like you any day. Color of your skin is not part of fashion as you think it is. She was given the award because she`s not afraid to wear anything she wants. Now, that is personal security--something that you guys don`t have.

[PoliticalAmazon]

R ac ist. This has nothing to do with that.

And you honestly say "go strangle yourself"? That's a very violent comment to make on a message board, especially towards other posters.

Clearly, MO's award was a pity award. They feel sorry for her because she dresses so atrociously.

Care to argue that point? If this group gives her an award for being a fashion icon, why are there NO pictures of any of the guests wearing any of MO's trademark eye-rolling styles? Did you see any scrunchy little too-tight sweaters? Huge ballerina skirts? Wide belts that are worn too high? Dressing to look pregnant when they are not?

[betty22]

hahahahahahahaah I need my eyes checked again hahahahaha

[PoliticalAmazon]

I don't think it's you who needs their eyes checked.

[natalie0nine]

This has GOT to be some kind of joke---?

[PoliticalAmazon]

Funny--they name her a fashion icon, but not one person there would be caught dead in anything she wears.

[michaleenflynn]

Michelle Obama, fashion icon?

The Emperess Has No Clothes.

Same old story - only the gender has changed.

[t iessa]

Exactly.

[Epiphany2b]

So when did wearing ratty old jeans with a suit jacket become a fashion statement? Shouldn't Ralph Lauren know better? Talk about the mid-Western shopping-at-Walmart look! (which I found very demeaning when applied to MO's outfits).

[PoliticalAmazon]

Have you been to any large cities? California? That ensemble is worn quite frequently. It's something that looks great on most people and--surpr­ise!--does not make them look pregnant when they are not.

They gave her a pity award. If she's such a fashion icon, why was no one wearing any scrunchy little too-small sweaters, or any of the other unfortunate choices MO has made her trademark?

[kbkw54]

Michelle Obama a fashion icon???? Give me a break.!! If Mr. Blackwell were alive he would put Michelle in the WORST dressed category.

[courteney]

Yes there are lots of people that see her as one.Get over it.

[natalie0nine]

She's just commenting on the article - calm down.

[PoliticalAmazon]

Really? Why wasn't anyone at the event where MO was given her pity award wearing any of the pieces MO does?

[TchoupitoulasCanal]

Boo hoo....just because Laura Bush and Sarah Palin were never seen as fashion icons doesn't mean that the award iss not valid.

Outside of Jackie Kennedy, not many first ladies have sparked as much discussion (either positive or negative) than Ms. Obama.

Not being a fan of Michelle is absolutely okay. Not having a grasp on the realities of today is not.

[rsprags]

Laura Bush no problem with her; Sarah Palin - I think you have to wear and have your own style not what the RNC and politcal aides spent $160.000 dollars on!

[julesbh]

People are automatically republicans if they don't like her style? I'm a democrat and I maybe like 5% of what I see her wearing, so should we go join the republican party because of that? Are we traitors of some sort? She is hardly a fashion Icon, and she doesn't have to be. She's smart and nice looking woman. I think you probably have other motives for being so defensive of her.

[sweetwhine]

Yes please get over it.

[Pleneras]

Only 5 were very nice.... all the others were horrible. Goes to show fashion is like a private society club.... they too will lie to you. Real beautiful clothes can be spot by those who have great taste and do not lie.

[TchoupitoulasCanal]

What?

[epiphany1234]

Well, since bloggers here are not above dragging other subjects into the conversation...

Let me just say, NO WAY.

Princess Letizia of Spain is a "fashion icon", if one must be named.

[jukesgrrl]

You'd see better-looking outfits at a Hadassah dinner-dance in New Jersey.

[sweetwhine]

LOL!

[julesbh]

good one

[EducatedObserver]

Mrs Obama's "meteoric rise as a fashion icon"?

Is this supposed to be a joke?

To be fair, Mrs Obama is only the latest in a long line of first ladies who did not exactly set the fashion world afire. The two Mrs Bushes were too provincial, but at least they dressed appropriately. Hillary Clinton - bless her - seemed to be at perpetual war with her hips until she discovered the pantsuit.

Nancy Reagan and Jacqueline Kennedy had style. And unlike Mrs Obama, did not (as far as I can recall) make grossly embarrassing clothing decisions.

The "lady" bit which comes after "first" is vital. And I am afraid that Madras shorts, wedding cake skirts and improperly styled hair do not quite make the cut.

[michaleenflynn]

EducatedObserver- point for point, the best post on the topic.

[ToniaB]

considering that there are only 2 pages thus far; that isn't saying much!

[sweetwhine]

I think what "gets" you people the most is that Michelle Obama can give a rat's @@@s what you or anyone on else thinks. She knows exactly who she is and you and many many others have never seen anyone with this amount of confidence in your life! You've never seen anything like it. Ever!! You see, you dress for yourself first. She doesn't need you or me or anybody else telling her what's "grossly embarrassing clothing"! Ha! You are a piece of work. And you wouldn't know a real "lady" if she slapped you across your pompous a*SSS!

Michelle Obama IS our First Lady and don't you ever forget it.

[TchoupitoulasCanal]

Of course, because Jackie Kennedy and Nancy Reagan never wore Madras shorts, wedding cake skirts, and improperly styled hair? Really?

Honestly, I think only difference is that Michelle doesn't fit your ideal of beauty because she's not Caucasian. There is no other comprehensible explaination, because if you did a Google search of your own statements you'll find examples of Nancy and Jackie wearing everything that you seem to suddenly disdain.

Subtle you're definitely not.

[julesbh]

There are plenty of African American woman who have a lot more style then Michele Obama, you are really reaching now. It's not racial, she just really picks the wrong clothing for her body type. Perhaps you are being so defensive because she is black? If she were Caucasian would you be championing her this much?

[ElsaIndy]

There are plenty of well dressed African American professional women who probably wish MO would get help in her dressing because she looks foolish. ( I am not one of them)

Condi Rice and Eleanor Holmes Norton always dressed beautifully and appropriately.

I do not remember MO wearing foolish outfits during the primaries but I never thought the sheath looked particularly good on her because I thought she wore it too tight.

First Ladies are not supposed to be trend setters or fashion icons. They just need to get through the day without looking foolish. Looking foolish adds fuel to their husbands' enemies. A smart First Lady does not do that.

[ToniaB]

Base on your extremely SHALLOW post; you may want to consider changing your screename!

[boredwell]

Fashion like interior design should be a reflection of one's individuality and lifestyle. Both are highly personalized art forms. In this they can be high or low, casual or formal, put together or eclectic. With this in mind, upon viewing the cfda's photos, I would have to say that the outfits profiled are more statements about the designers- "absolutely fab-YOU-lous" - than the wearers" YOU" look fabulous. Wu's crocheted epaulets, Zac's gratuitously ruffled red, Rodarte's B&W wrapped mini all remind me of a dictum of Elsie deWolf, America's first bona fide interior designer. She declared that every well-dressed room needed to have something "ugly" in it to "refresh" the eye and leaven the decor, to save it from being mundane. The couturiers heeded this dictum. But heck the awards honor them not their chosen celeb models. As for Michelle's award, she must be embarrassed! It's obvious that the industry hopes to ride on her coat tails.

[rsprags]

You know that style is a personal reflect because you are intelligent and enlighten person; however, 100% of the women and men posting ugly remarks about the FL are ignorant, racist, and had a beef with her from day one! These folks 21% have been release all over the net to blog ugly things about the FLOTUS and POTUS. There is nothing that President Obama or the FL can do to satisfy these folks; their posting is just a sign of the types of low brain wave folks left in the re-thug party. It is really, really sad to see a group of folks in 21st century still hating, bigotry, disliking, and not being able to see the wholeness of an individual while still professing to love Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ who has a reputation for hanging out with all kind of folks from every walk of life; and, the same Jesus who some of us love so much, gave his life for the sins of ALL men so that we could be free and spend eternity with him.