Anna Sui

>> The 2009 CFDA Award nominees have just been announced, and Marc Jacobs has already won an award — the International Award for his work at Louis Vuitton (he's nominated in two more categories).  Last year's Swarovski Award winners, Rodarte and Band of Outsiders, have both been bumped up to compete in the respective major league categories, and 2008 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund contenders Albertus Q. Swanepoel, Alejandro Ingelmo, and Jason Wu have all entered the Swarovski Award ring this year. 

We'll have to wait until June 15 to see who wins what, but the ceremony might mark fashion's first Michelle Obama event appearance — she's being honored with this year's Board of Director's Special Tribute for her style choices and penchant for up-and-coming talent.

And now, the nominees . . . »

>> THE ZEITGEIST —Having a camera-toting entourage seems to be in vogue this season: Coco Rocha had an E! camera crew following her around in New York, Jessica Stam led MTV News around backstage at Anna Sui, Anna Wintour, who was joined by 60 Minutes's Morley Safer at Ralph Lauren and more recently, Dolce & Gabbana, is still filming for that video profile, and now Carine Roitfeld is being followed by a CNN crew in Milan and Paris for a Revealed show, to be aired after the Paris collections. [WWD Twitter, CNN]

>> THE MODELIZER —Agyness Deyn recently prompted rumors of retirement when she said of Fashion Week: "I do like doing it. But you know when you kind of have it figured out in your head that you don’t want to do this forever?"  And it didn't help that days of runway shows passed, and no sign of Agy . . . until this evening.  She did both opening and closing honors at Anna Sui Fall 2009, "skipping down the runway" at the end of the show. [BunnyBisous Twitter, CarolHan Twitter]

*image: source

>> Damrosch Park is the place of Fashion Week's future — for the next five years starting in 2010, anyway.  Although she hasn't been thrilled about the location in the past, Anna Wintour seems to have come around: "We had obviously worn out our welcome at Bryant Park, so it’s very exciting to be going to someplace where they want us.”  But how is everyone else seem to be taking the news?

Like Anna, editors are generally satisfied with the move — Glenda Bailey, editor of Harper’s Bazaar, too seemed excited.  “How great that fashion is going to take center stage at Lincoln Center. It is where art meets culture . . . meets cabs.”  Cathy Horyn suggested "a separate space for small or new designers — not unlike the set-up in London and Paris — to present their things during Fashion Week, rather than each of them staging a costly runway show."

Designers, on the other hand, are more reticent about the move, especially since it takes them farther away from the Garment District.

"I hate the idea." »