Monday’s news cycle undoubtedly belonged to Caitlyn Jenner, née Bruce, and the reveal of her major transformation on the cover of Vanity Fair. Well after the sun had set and Monday had become Tuesday, the CFDA Awards crowd was still gushing about it at the after-party. “I mean…that cover!” said model Josephine Skriver as she made her way inside The Top of the Standard for the Refinery29-cohosted fete. “I was like, ‘I know that person, but who is this hottie? I’ve got to get my hands on one of those issues immediately—this is literally history in the making.”
Jenner’s son-in-law Kanye West was a scene-stealer in his own right at the awards show. Guests were still trying to make sense of the superstar rapper’s speech introducing the evening’s Fashion Icon, Pharrell Williams. “You couldn’t put it together, maybe bits and pieces, but it felt like it was important,” said Creatures of the Wind designer Christopher Peters. “I feel like Kanye might have included a Caitlyn Jenner reference in his speech, too? I think no one is totally sure,” said Peters’ partner, Shane Gabier.
It wasn’t until shortly past 11 p.m. that the room started to fill with designers and their model and/or actress dates, including Alexander Wang and Anna Ewers (those boots!); Jennifer Fisher and Joan Smalls; and Esteban Cortazar and Hanne Gaby Odiele. As Wang arrived and made a beeline toward the dance floor, where Grammy-nominated artist Jhené Aiko was about to do a set, he told Style.com, “James Corden was my favorite! He was so funny.”
For those in last night’s winner’s circle, receiving fashion’s top honor was the clear highlight. “I am overly very happy that it’s over—I get nervous about speeches,” Betsey Johnson said. “It was the best awards ceremony I have ever been to, and I have been to a lot of them.
—Kristin Tice Studeman
