Review: ‘Calendar Girl,’ starring Ruth Finley

November 12, 2020

by Carla Hay

Ruth Finley in “Calendar Girl” (Photo by Christian D. Bruun)

“Calendar Girl”

Directed by Christian D. Bruun

Culture Representation: Taking place in New York City, the documentary “Calendar Girl” features a group of predominantly middle-aged and senior citizen white people (with a few Asians and African Americans) discussing Fashion Calendar founder Ruth Finley, who also participated into the documentary.

Culture Clash: Finley was very resistant to new technology and refused for years to sell Fashion Calendar.

Culture Audience: “Calendar Girl” will appeal primarily to people who are interested in the American fashion industry and New York Fashion Week.

Steven Kolb and Ruth Finley in “Calendar Girl” (Photo by Christian D. Bruun)

Long before software spreadsheets and the Internet existed, the schedules of the U.S. fashion industry in New York City were and still are largely influenced by the subscription publication Fashion Calendar, which launched in 1941. Ruth Finley was the founder of Fashion Calendar, which is still considered the most influential scheduling “bible” for people in American fashion, especially those who attend New York Fashion Week. Finley’s name might not be as famous as longtime Vogue (U.S.) editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, but Finley holds a place in fashion media as an underrated pioneer. The engaging documentary “Calendar Girl” tells Finley’s story.

Directed by Christian D. Bruun, “Calendar Girl” (which had its world premiere at DOC NYC in 2020) was filmed over the course of several years in the 2010s. Finley passed away in 2018, at the age of 98, but she fully participated in the film, which includes interviews with numerous colleagues and family members of Finley. A few of the interviewees have also since passed away, such as photographer Bill Cunningham and former Bloomingdale’s executive Joseph “Joe” Siegel, who was Finley’s beau toward their end of their lives. Therefore, “Calendar Girl” looks dated in some ways, but the inspiring message of the movie is timeless.

Rather than giving a boring and predictable chronological telling of Finley’s story, “Calendar Girl” gives a non-chronological but insightful overview of Finley as a businessperson, mother and beloved influencer, as well as how she fits into the larger cultural context of the fashion industry. The movie begins with footage of her being honored at a 2014 Hall of Fame Tribute to celebrate Fashion Calendar, an event presented by Citymeals on Wheels. Later in the documentary, there’s footage of Finley getting the Board of Directors’ Tribute at the 2014 Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Awards, as well as Finley receiving the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) President’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016.

Through Finley’s own words and the words of her colleagues and her three sons (Joe Green, Jim Green and Larry Lein), a story emerges of a dedicated and sassy woman who went against society norms to start Fashion Calendar during an era when women were expected to not have careers. She was a single, working mother for most of her career, long before it was common or even acceptable to be a mother who worked outside of the home. Finley also kept working well past the age when most people are expected to retire. 

And her passion for fashion is almost unparalleled, as she kept up her rigorous work schedule for decades. She was tirelessly attending fashion shows well into her 90s. “Calendar Girl” includes footage of her attending some of these shows. In the documentary, Finley says, “Sometimes I do as many as 12 shows a day.” She also mentions that her personal career record for going to fashion shows was attending 150 shows in one week.

Fashion Calendar had a very simple concept that worked extremely well: Publish a calendar schedule of all the major fashion events happening in New York City. For years, before Fashion Calendar had office space, Finley worked out of her home. Fun fact: Before Emmy-winning actress Doris Roberts was famous, she worked as a teenage typist for Fashion Calendar in the publication’s early years.

The Fashion Calendar newsletter eventually grew into a booklet-styled publication years later. CFDA founder Eleanor Lambert, who started out as a fashion publicist, rose to prominence at around the same time that Finley did. Lambert, Finley and former Vogue (U.S.) editor Diana Vreeland are mentioned by several people as the three most influential women in fashion in the 1950s and 1960s.

Fashion Calendar, which was published weekly and then bi-weekly, was typewritten or mimeographed on pink paper for years, before computer technology existed. Finley and her small staff also kept files and Rolodexes that they still used until CFDA purchased Fashion Calendar in 2014 and Finley took on the role of consultant. At the time Fashion Calendar was sold to CFDA in 2014, the publication had only three full-time employees, including Finley and longtime Fashion Calendar editor Mary Hackle.

The idea of making Fashion Calendar pink ended up being one of the best ideas for the publication, not only because it made Fashion Calendar stand out from other fashion publications, but also, as Finley says, “The reason why we kept this color is so people would find it on a messy desk.” It’s why Fashion Calendar ended up being nicknamed “The Pink Bible.”

Finley (who was born in 1920, in Haverhill, Massachusetts) launched Fashion Calendar while she was still a student at Simmons College in Boston, where she majored in journalism and minored in nutrition. After graduating from college in 1941, she moved to New York City and devoted herself full-time to Fashion Calendar, which included listings for movie premieres and Broadway shows in the publication’s early years. Under her ownership, Fashion Calendar never had ads or took sponsorship money, which is unusual for any print-media publication.

Finley’s youngest son Larry Lein comments in the documentary: “She realized all along that she could’ve taken ads and she could’ve made more money, but she thought it would ruin the integrity of what she was doing and ruin her credibility. It never occurred to her that her business should be anything but an impartial listing service.” He also says that his mother’s business success could be attributed to her frugality, because she learned early on to keep overhead costs low.

While her Fashion Calendar business was thriving, Finley experienced major heartaches and tragedies. Her first marriage to businessman Hank Green ended in divorce in 1954, at a time when being divorced was considered somewhat scandalous, especially for women. Finley’s sons Joe and Jim Green were born from that marriage.

In the documentary, Finley says that her first marriage was a mistake that happened because she wanted to rebel against her domineering housewife mother, who didn’t approve of Hank Green and thought that women should not have careers. Finley and her mother didn’t see eye-to-eye on a lot of issues, but their relationship is described as close, despite any ongoing tensions.

Not long after her divorce from Hank Green, Finley married second husband Irving Lein, who owned a women’s designer sportswear company. Her third and youngest son Larry was born from that marriage. However, Irving tragically died of a heart attack at the age of 44 on January 14, 1959, which also happened to be Finley’s 39th birthday.

The widowed Finley told people at the funeral that she never wanted to get married again. And she never did. Finley says in the documentary that her way of dealing with tragedy and setbacks was to try to be as positive as possible: “I always believed in looking at the happy side. And too many people don’t know how to do that.”

That optimistic outlook on life served her well in an industry that tends to be very fickle and not well-suited for people who are sensitive to criticism. As the fashion industry grew in America (especially in New York City, the fashion capital of the United States), so too did Fashion Calendar’s influence. Finley found herself not just publishing the fashion schedules of the industry but also becoming a power broker who could decide who and what could be scheduled where and when. It was also a job that required a lot of negotiating skills to deal with the huge egos and histrionics in the fashion industry.

Her clout had a major effect not just with big-name designers but also with up-and-coming designers. Several people in the documentary, including fashion designers Betsey Johnson and Jeffrey Banks, have nice things to say about how Finley have them big breaks in their careers. And her Fashion Calendar work also affected the careers of countless other industry people besides designers, such as buyers, media, retailers and wholesalers. Ellin Saltzman, a former Saks Fifth Avenue buyer, says of Finley: “Without Ruth, I couldn’t do my job.”

Fashion designer Nicole Miller says in the documentary that for Miller’s first New York Fashion Week show in 1991, Finley was “tough” in insisting that then-newcomer Miller get a less-than-desirable time slot: 9 a.m. on a Tuesday. Miller says, through a lot of heated discussions with Finley, she was able to negotiate for a better time slot at 12 noon. Miller says that these negotiations weren’t easy because Finley was considered an industry powerhouse that a lot of upcoming designers did not want to alienate.

Fashion designer Nanette Lepore comments in the documentary that although Finley was no pushover, she still brought a sense of decorum and politeness to her job, in an industry where screaming tantrums and rudeness are very common: “She was constantly smoothing over egos, negotiating for someone … There was a gentlemanliness about how people approached fashion and Fashion Week, mostly because of how Ruth’s gentlewomanliness was managing it.”

Because she conducted most of her business over the phone, Fashion Calendar had a personal touch that many other fashion media executives lost as computer technology took over many businesses and people used email or social media to communicate with each other. In the documentary, Finley says that as long as she owned Fashion Calendar, she made sure that she and her small number of employees were always accessible through phone calls. 

It was a very traditional mindset that people in the documentary say was both an asset and a detriment. Even though Crafting Beauty CEO François Damide says in the documentary of Finley, “I really think she’s the Steve Jobs of our industry,” that comment might be overstating her influence. Even Finley herself admits that she was far from a technology pioneer, and she didn’t really invent anything. She just provided a particular news service for the fashion industry before anyone else did.

Finley’s resistance to new technology would ultimately lead to her decision to sell Fashion Calendar. For decades, Finley turned down offers from other companies to buy Fashion Calendar. One of the reasons why Finley’s family convinced her to sell Fashion Calendar was that the American fashion industry and New York Fashion Week were just too big for Finley and her small staff to handle just by their old-fashioned methods of Rolodexes and hand-written drafts of schedules.

The Fashion Calendar staff eventually used computers, but former CFDA executive director Fern Mallis says, “Ruth was very late to get to the technology. People begged her to be online. She resisted.”

In 2014, CFDA president/CEO Steven Kolb and then-CFA chairperson Diane von Furstenberg approached Finley to sell Fashion Calendar to CFDA. Kolb says in the documentary that CFDA had been considering launching a rival fashion calendar business, but approached Finley to sell Fashion Calendar to CFDA, out of respect for Finley and with the promise that they would keep her core integrity for the business intact. The CFDA took over Fashion Calendar in October 2014. Fashion Calendar’s last print edition was published in December 2014.

Kolb comments in the documentary, “Technology, whether we like it or not, whether we accept it or not, it forces us to move forward in a way, because if we don’t, then we become irrelevant.” Kolb adds that Finley was also convinced to sell Fashion Calendar because he told her that stepping away from day-to-day managerial duties “frees her up … and lets her focus on the fun stuff.”

The documentary also gives a great overview of the priceless contributions that Finley made to the fashion industry, in terms of historical significance. She meticulously kept all of the Fashion Calendar issues, which she donated to the FIT Museum for posterity. These archives are incredible resources for research and for examining what was going on in fashion at the time. There are no other archives like it in the world.

Fashion Calendar wasn’t a flashy publication and there was “not a lot of production value,” comments independent archivist David Benjamin, who helped transfer Fashion Calendar archives to the FIT Museum. “But it’s important, in terms of the information it contains.”

Because “Calendar Girl” was filmed over several years, there are many other people who were interviewed for the documentary. Fashion designers who offer their glowing commentary on Finley include Carolina Herrera; Mark Badgley and James Mischka of Badgley Mischka; Tadashi Soji; Thom Browne; Ralph Rucci; Dennis Basso; and Steve Herman, a former CFDA president.

Other “Calendar Girl” interviewees include FIT Museum director/chief curator Valerie Steele; FIT Library head of special collections and college archives Karen Trivette; former Costume Institute/Metropolitan Museum of Art curator-in-charge Harold Koda; Costume Institute/Metropolitan Museum of Art communications officer Nancy Chilton; Fashion Group International creative director Marylou Luther; Cushnie et Ochs CEO Peter Arnold; Paper magazine editorial director Mickey Boardman; The Ground Crew CEO Audrey Smaltz; Victoria Royal president Alan Sealove; KCD co-chair Julie Mannion; and InStyle magazine editor-at-large Eric Wilson. 

Even though all of these talking heads in the movie are very laudatory of Finley, “Calendar Girl” does an admirable job of not placing her too high on a pedestal, since it includes some constructive criticism of how Finley’s technophobia affected her business. “Calendar Girl” director Bruun was also the film’s cinematographer, and he brings an unpretentious intimacy to this fashion documentary, in contrast to so many other documentaries about fashion influencers that tend to lean into “larger than life” pomp and circumstance. Most of all, “Calendar Girl” is a noteworthy tribute to Finley, by showing that her name might not be well-known outside of the fashion industry because she remained humble and cared more about her work than she cared about being famous.

UPDATE: Syndicado will release “Calendar Girl” on digital and VOD on March 8, 2022.

2019 CFDA Fashion Awards: Jennifer Lopez, Brandon Maxwell, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen among the winners

June 4, 2019

Jennifer Lopez at the 36th annual CFDA Fashion Awards at the Brooklyn Museum in New York City on June 3, 2019. (Photo courtesy of BFA)

The following is a press release from Council of Fashion Designers of America:

 

Tom Ford named chairman of the Council of Fashion Designers of America

March 19, 2019

Tom Ford

The following is a press release from Tom Ford:

The Council of Fashion Designers of America announced today that Tom Ford will be the next Chairman of the CFDA, effective June, 2019.

Ford was ratified by the CFDA Board during a meeting at the CFDA offices earlier today. He succeeds CFDA’s current Chairwoman Diane von Furstenberg.

Tom Ford is an award-winning fashion designer, film director, screenwriter, and film producer. In April 2005, the American born designer announced the creation of his eponymous luxury brand, beginning with menswear. Today, the TOM FORD brand offers a complete collection of Menswear, as well as Womenswear, Accessories, Eyewear, Beauty and most recently underwear and timepieces. Ford previously served as the Creative Director of Gucci Group, where he designed for luxury houses Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent until 2004.

Ford, who began his career as a design assistant for CFDA Member Cathy Hardwick, has been a member of the CFDA since 2000. He has won a total of seven CFDA Fashion Awards: Menswear Designer of the Year (2015, 2008), Womenswear Designer of the Year (2001), Accessory Designer of the Year (2002), Board of Director’s Tribute (2004), International Designer of the Year (1995), and the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award (2014). Ford has shown his collections in London, Los Angeles, and New York.

“I have had the privilege of being a member of the American Fashion community for many years and have experienced what the CFDA does for its members and the industry as a whole,” Tom Ford said. “Having lived and worked in each of the global fashion capitals of the world, I look forward to working with the Board of Directors to further the voice of American Fashion and its designers.  As the Chairman, I look forward to continuing the incredible work Diane has done over the last 13 years. Diane is a true force and her contribution to the CFDA and to American fashion is immeasurable. We all owe her a great deal.”

“I am so excited that Tom Ford has agreed to come and lead the CFDA,” Diane von Furstenberg said. “American Fashion could not wish for a better visionary to further grow its impact in the global landscape. Tom is a role model for all of us, and we are very lucky to have him as the next Chairman of the CFDA.”

“Diane has been an incredible partner who helped build CFDA into a world class organization,” CFDA President and CEO Steven Kolb said. “I’m excited to now work with Tom to further strengthen the organization and support American designers with new creative and business opportunities.”

Von Furstenberg was named President of the CFDA in 2006 and became Chairwoman in 2015. Past CFDA Presidents were Stan Herman, Carolyne Roehm, Perry Ellis, Mary McFadden, Bill Blass, Herbert Kasper, Oscar de la Renta, Norman Norell, and Sydney Wragge.

About the CFDA
The Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc. (CFDA) is a not-for-profit trade association founded in 1962 with a membership with 500 of America’s foremost womenswear, menswear, jewelry, and accessory designers. In addition to hosting the annual CFDA Fashion Awards, the organization owns the Fashion Calendar and is the organizer of the Official New York Fashion Week Schedule. It also offers programs which support professional development and scholarships. Member support is provided through the Strategic Partnerships Group, a group of high-profile companies offering designers strategic opportunities. The CFDA Foundation, Inc. is a separate, not-for-profit organized to mobilize the membership to raise funds for charitable causes and engage in civic initiatives. For more information, please visit www.CFDA.com, facebook.com/cfda, instagram.com/cfda, twitter.com/cfda, cfda.tumblr.com, and youtube.com/cfdatv

About TOM FORD
In April 2005, Tom Ford announced the creation of the TOM FORD brand. Ford was joined in this venture by former Gucci Group President and Chief Executive Officer Domenico De Sole, who serves as Chairman of the company. In that same year, Ford announced his partnership with Marcolin Group to produce and distribute optical frames and sunglasses, as well as an alliance with Estee Lauder to create the TOM FORD beauty brand. In April 2007, his first directly owned flagship store opened in New York at 845 Madison Avenue and coincided with the debut of the TOM FORD menswear and accessory collection. In September 2010, during an intimate presentation at his Madison Avenue flagship. Ford presented his much-anticipated womenswear collection. Presently there are over 100 freestanding TOM FORD stores and shop-in-shops in locations such as: London, Milan, Zurich, Munich, Rome, New York, Toronto, Beverly Hills, Puerto Banus, Moscow, Osaka, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Baku, Dubai, Tokyo, Seoul, Montreal, San Francisco, Beirut, Hong Kong, Shanghai, New Dehli, Kowloon, Beijing and Sydney.

2018 CFDA Fashion Awards: Raf Simons, Supreme, Mary Kate and Ashley Oslen among winners

June 4, 2018

CFDA Fashion Awards logo

An unidentified man, John Varvatos, Vera Wang, Thom Browne, Michael Kors, Ralph Lauren, Diane von Furstenberg, Donna Karan, Jason Wu, Alexander Wang, Tommy Hilfiger, Marcus Wainwright at the 35th annual CFDA Fashion Awards at the Brooklyn Museum in New York City on June 4, 2018. (Photo courtesy of BFA)

The following is a press release from Council of Fashion Designers of America:

On June 4, 2018, the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) paid tribute to the winners and honorees of the 2018 CFDA Fashion Awards in Partnership with Swarovski at the Brooklyn Museum in New York. Issa Rae, the star of HBO’s hit show “Insecure,” was the host for the evening. The Awards took place in partnership with Swarovski for the seventeenth consecutive year.

The evening’s Womenswear Designer of the Year honor went to Raf Simons for Calvin Klein, presented by Cate Blanchett. Supreme took home the Menswear Designer of the Year award, presented by Trevor Noah. Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen were named Accessory Designer of the Year, presented to them by Julia Garner.

Karlie Kloss presented the Swarovski Award for Emerging Talent to Sander Lak for Sies Marjan.  The designer will receive generous financial support from the company as well as exposure to the company’s vast and innovative crystal products and applications for fashion.

Busy Philipps presented Kim Kardashian West with the CFDA’s first Influencer Award.

Naomi Campbell was named Fashion Icon, presented by Lee Daniels.

Oprah Winfrey presented Edward Enninful with the Media Award.

Donatella Versace was recognized with this year’s International Award, presented by Lupita Nyong’o.

The Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Narciso Rodriguez by Claire Danes.

The Founder’s Award in honor of Eleanor Lambert was presented to Carolina Herrera by Caroline Kennedy.

The Swarovski Award for Positive Change was presented to Diane von Furstenberg by Parkland student Delaney Tarr.

In one of the highlights of the evening, Ralph Lauren received A CFDA Members Salute by designers Vera Wang, Tommy Hilfiger, Michael Kors, Alexander Wang, Thom Browne, Jeffrey Banks, John Varvatos, Donna Karan, Marcus Wainwright, Jason Wu, and Diane von Furstenberg. Tory Burch, Carolina Herrera, Marc Jacobs, Norma Kamali, Calvin Klein, and Reed Krakoff participated in the salute via a soundscape.

“The range and depth of talent honored at the CFDA Fashion Awards is the perfect proof that American fashion is a global powerhouse,” said Steven Kolb, President and CEO of the CFDA. “I would like to thank Nadja Swarovski and Swarovski for their continued support of the CFDA Fashion Awards and American fashion.”

“It has been 17 years since Swarovski and the CFDA first partnered to recognize the talented minds of our industry at the CFDA Fashion Awards. Having the opportunity to witness the change and evolution of the American fashion industry over the last two decades has been a true inspiration and honor,” said Nadja Swarovski, Member of the Swarovski Executive Board. “In my mind, we celebrate fashion not only in its purest form of creating beautiful fabrics that adorn us, but as a true reflection of the Zeitgeist. It serves as a reminder that we influence so much more than what’s ‘in season’ – through fashion comes powerful self-expression and continuous empowerment.”

The 2018 CFDA Fashion Awards red carpet and ceremony were broadcast on Facebook Live at facebook.com/cfda.  Additional highlights will be featured on www.cfda.com and CFDA’s YouTube channel on Tuesday, June 5th.

CFDA & SWAROVSKI:

Diane von Furstenberg, Steven Kolb, Nadja Swarovski

AWARDS HOST:

Issa Rae

CFDA FASHION AWARDS NOMINEES:

Womenswear: Raf Simons for Calvin Klein, Gabriela Hearst, Marc Jacobs, Virgil Abloh for Off-White, Ashley Olsen & Mary-Kate Olsen for The Row

Menswear: Raf Simons, for Calvin Klein, Virgil Abloh for Off-White, Supreme, Thom Browne, Tom Ford

Accessory: Stuart Vevers for Coach, Irene Neuwirth for Irene Neuwirth Jewelry, Rachel Mansur & Floriana Gavriel for Mansur Gavriel, Paul Andrew, Ashley Olsen & Mary-Kate Olsen for The Row

Swarovski Award for Emerging Talent: Mike Amiri for Amiri, Laura Vassar Brock & Kristopher Brock for Brock Collection, Aurora James for Brother Vellies, Kerby Jean-Raymond for Pyer Moss, Sander Lak for Sies Marjan

HONOREES: Naomi Campbell, Edward Enninful, Carolina Herrera, Kim Kardashian West, Ralph Lauren, Narciso Rodriguez, Donatella Versace, Diane von Furstenberg

PRESENTERS:

Issa Rae (Host), Cate Blanchett, Claire Danes, Lee Daniels, Julia Garner, Caroline Kennedy, Karlie Kloss, Trevor Noah, Lupita Nyong’o,  Busy Phillips, Delaney Tarr, Oprah Winfrey

CELEBRITY GUESTS: Sarah Paulson, Brooke Shields, Diane Lane, Liya Kebede, Julianna Margulies, Jessica and Jerry Seinfeld, Katherine Langford, Lili Reinhart, Cole Sprouse, Amber Heard, Gigi Hadid, Anwar Hadid, Kendall Jenner, Rosario Dawson, Whoopi Goldberg, Kaia Gerber, Lewis Hamilton, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Laura Harrier, Julia Garner, Olivia Culpo, Jourdan Dunn, Ashley Graham, Victor Cruz, Jasmine Sanders, Irina Shayk, Erika Jayne, Lily Aldridge, Emily Ratajkowski, Shanina Shaik, Chanel Iman, Lais Ribeiro, Elsa Hosk, Josephine Skriver, Martha Hunt, Stella Maxwell, Sara Sampaio, Winnie Harlow, Grace Elizabeth, Hari Nef, Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent, Paul Wesley, Marley Shelton, Alessandra Ambrosio, Tracee Ellis Ross.

DESIGNERS: Alexander Wang, Tommy Hilfiger, Michael Kors, Fernando Garcia and Laura Kim, Donna Karan, Vera Wang, Erik Torstensson, Brett Heyman, Eva Zuckerman, Rachel Zoe, Rafe Totengco, Tanya Taylor, Kobi Halperin, Carly Cushnie, Nicole Miller, Danielle and Jodie Snyder, Zac Posen, Alexandre Birman, Rebecca Minkoff, Stacey Bendet Eisner, Sarah Flint, Tabitha Simmons, Sachin and Babi Ahluwalia, Christian Siriano, Joseph Altuzarra, Reed Krakoff, Prabal Gurung, Telfar Clemens, Phillip Lim.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

The CFDA Remembers segment honored the passing of Amsale Aberra, Azzedine Alaïa, Pierre Bergé, Benjamin Cho, Hubert de Givenchy, Lance Karesh, Judith Leiber, Bernadine Morris, and Virginia Thoren.

As part of the CFDA’s commitment to design education, CFDA member Phillip Lim acknowledged the following scholarships and post-graduate opportunities and their recipients.

CFDA Scholarship Awards: Hannah Hyesoo Kim, Rhode Island School of Design; Yayi Chen, Parsons School of Design

Geoffrey Beene Design Scholarship Award: Kritika Manchanda, Fashion Institute of Technology

Liz Claiborne Design Scholarship Award: Cameron Orland, Academy of Art University

Kenneth Cole Footwear Innovation Award: Susan Zienty, Academy of Art University

2017 CFDA Fashion Awards: Raf Simons wins big for Calvin Klein

June 6, 2017

by Estelle Marine

CFDA Fashion Awards

Raf Simons at the 34th Annual CFDA Fashion Awards at Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City on June 5, 2017. (Photo courtesy of BFA)

Raf Simons was the big winner at the 2017 CFDA Fashion Awards, held in partnership with Swarovski, at The Manhattan Center’s Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City on June 5, 2017. Simons won both Womenswear and Menswear Designer of the Year for Calvin Klein. It is the second time in CFDA history that a designer was honored with this award for both Menswear and Womenswear. The first time was in 1993, when Calvin Klein himself received both honors.

The 2017 CFDA Fashion Awards were hosted by Seth Meyers. Presenters included Diane von Furstenberg, Nicole Kidman, Jon Bon Jovi, Armie Hammer, Alek Wek, Mandy Moore, Anna Wintour, Amber Valletta, Karen Nelson and Kerry Washington.

Celebrity guests included Matt Bomer, Salma Hayek, James Franco, Chloë Grace Moretz, Kate Bosworth, Amanda Peet, Rebecca Hall, Kathy Najimy, Nate Berkus, Ellie Kemper, Mandy Moore, Heidi Klum, Jaime Alexander, Priyanka Chopra, Diane Kruger, Lupita Nyong’o, Choe Sevigny, Brooke Shields, Erin Foster, Brit Marling, Bernadette Peters, Olivia Munn, Mia Moretti, Olivia Palermo, Gigi Hadid, Bella Hadid, Harley Viera-Newton, Lily Aldridge, Josephine Skriver, Joan Smalls, Arizona Muse, Coco Rocha and Erin Wasson.

Eryn Allen Kane performed Martha Wash’s “Carry On” at the end of the event.

The Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc. (CFDA) is a non-profit trade association, founded in 1962, whose membership consists of more than 500 of America’s foremost womenswear, menswear, jewelry and accessory designers.

The following statements were issued via press release:

“Tonight, we have come together to honor the best and brightest talents and bring recognition to all of American fashion,” said Steven Kolb, President and CEO of the CFDA. “It was also a night to put a spotlight on the industry’s commitment to civic responsibility. We would like to thank Nadja Swarovski and Swarovski for 16 years of a partnership that always inspires.”

“When Steven and I started to work together 10 years ago, our main goal was to make the CFDA more and more of a family, a family of talent,” said CFDA Chairwoman Diane von Furstenberg. “In a world where everything is changing so rapidly, talent is more important than ever. Business models may change, distribution may be disrupted, fashion week questioned, but talent is the heart, the engine, and that is what will make our industry not only survive but thrive. Talent is what we celebrate today.”

“We are honored to continue our partnership with the CFDA and it is particularly special this year,” said Nadja Swarovski, Member of the Swarovski Executive Board. “Swarovski has a long history of philanthropy woven into our DNA. And it’s with that spirit that we wanted to celebrate this industry’s propensity for giving back. The CFDA Swarovski Award for Positive Change was created because positive change is the pinnacle of excellent design. And this year, with the Emerging Talent Award, we’ve identified those designers pushing boundaries across multiple categories. These designers are the visionaries of tomorrow and we’re proud to champion them today.”

Here is the complete list of winners of the 2017 CFDA Fashion Awards:

Womenswear Designer of the Year: Raf Simons for Calvin Klein

Other nominees:

  • Joseph Altuzarra for Altuzarra
  • Marc Jacobs for Marc Jacobs
  • Jack McCollough and  Lazaro Hernandez for Proenza Schouler
  • Ashley Olsen and Mary-Kate Olsen for The Row

Menswear Designer of the Year: Raf Simons for Calvin Klein

Other nominees:

  • Robert Geller for Robert Geller
  • Thom Browne for Thom Browne
  • Tim Coppens for Tim Coppens
  • Todd Snyder for Todd Snyder

Accessory Designer of the Year: Stuart Vevers for Coach

Other nominees:

  • Irene Neuwirth for Irene Neuwirth Jewlery
  • Rachel Mansur and Floriana Gavriel for Mansur Gavriel
  • Paul Andrew for Paul Andrew
  • Ashley Olsen and Mary-Kate Olsen for The Row

Swarovski Award for Emerging Talent: Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia for Monse

Other nominees:

  • Laura Vassar Brock and Kristopher Brock for Brock Collection
  • Virgil Abloh for Off-White
  • Sander Lak for Sies Marjan

Swarovski Award for Positive Change: Kenneth Cole

Fashion Icon: Franca Sozzani  (Sozzani’s son Francesco Carrozzini accepted the award on behalf of his late mother.)

Founder’s Award in Honor of Eleanor Lambert: Pat McGrath

International Award: Demna Gvasalia of Vetements and Balenciaga

Board of Directors’ Tribute: Gloria Steinem, Cecile Richards and Janelle Monáe.

Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award: Rick Owens

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