The New York City air crackled with a unique blend of artistic anticipation and sartorial quality last Monday as the industry’s best descended on the American Museum of Natural History. Under the majestic, floating blue whale, the crème de la crème of fashion gathered for one of the most prestigious evenings on the calendar: the CFDA Fashion Awards 2025.
This annual ceremony, orchestrated by the Council of Fashion Designers of America, serves as both a barometer for the current state of American design and a heartfelt tribute to the individuals shaping its future. With a guest list that seamlessly intertwined legendary icons, groundbreaking emerging talent and a constellation of celebrity admirers, the evening promised a powerful mix of glamour, emotion and historic victories.
2025 #CFDA Host of the Fashion Awards @TEYANATAYLOR has hit the red carpet pic.twitter.com/yJsTnhUcp4
— @XFashion (@XFashion) November 4, 2025
Hosted by the multi-talented singer-songwriter and actress Teyana Taylorthe event was anything but a sedate, formal affair. Taylor’s infectious energy and sharp humor set a celebratory tone, leading the audience through an evening that honored everything from lifelong achievement to disruptive innovation. The presence of the CFDA chairman Thom Browne and CEO Steven Colb ensured that the event retained its appeal, while presenters enjoyed it Julianne Moore, Naomi CampbellAnd Jennifer Lawrence added a layer of Hollywood star power.
From the moment guests step onto the red carpet, expertly hosted by the ever-stylish Jenna Lyonsit was clear that this would be an evening to remember, a definitive chapter in the story of the CFDA Fashion Awards 2025.
The crowns of the evening: Lauren, Browne and The Row take top honors
Congratulations @RalphLaurenwho took home the American Womenswear Designer of the Year award presented by Naomi Watts at the 2025 CFDA Fashion Awards presented by Amazon Fashion in New York City. pic.twitter.com/DYSERHHIqe
— Council of Fashion Designers of America (@CFDA) November 4, 2025
American Women’s Clothing Designer of the Year:
Wes Gordon for Carolina Herrera
Rachel Scott for Diotima
Daniella Kallmeyer for Kallmeyer
Ralph Lauren – WINNER
Tory Burch
American Menswear Designer of the Year:
Mike Amiri for Amiri
Mike Eckhaus and Zoe Latta for Eckhaus Latta
Ashley Olsen and Mary-Kate Olsen for The Row
Thom Browne – WINNER
Willy Chavarria
American Accessories Designer of the Year:
Ana Khouri
Catherine Holstein for Khaite
Raul Lopez for Luar
Ashley Olsen and Mary-Kate Olsen for The Row – WINNER
Tory Burch
Celebrating the vanguard: Rising talent and honorees shine
What is it like to be a fashion icon? “I feel good, and I think that’s an understatement,” #ASAPRocky said during our Winner’s Walk during the 2025 #CFDAAwards. pic.twitter.com/eVQbJG3SUL
— Council of Fashion Designers of America (@CFDA) November 4, 2025
Google Shopping American Emerging Designer of the Year:
Taylor Thompson for 5000
Ashlynn Park for Ashlyn – WINNER
Julian Louie for Aubero
Bernard James
Colleen Allen
Honorees 2025:
Tribute to Isabel Toledo’s Board of Directors: Andre Walker
Founder’s Award in honor of Eleanor Lambert: Cynthia Rowley
Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award: Ralph Rucci
Media Award in honor of Eugenia Sheppard: Sara Moonves
Fashion Icon Award: A$AP Rocky
Award for Positive Change: Donatella Versace
Innovation Award presented by Amazon Fashion: Jerry Lorenzo
International Designer of the Year: Pieter Mulier
The ceremony and the crowd
Alaïa’s Pieter Mulier won “International Designer of the Year” at the CFDA Fashion Awards!! pic.twitter.com/Ab1YYU0AzX
— Kea (@jacquemusx) November 4, 2025
One of the most compelling aspects of the 2025 CFDA Fashion Awards is how the guests read as a cross-section of today’s cultural moment. Presenters included Olivia Dean, Addison Rae, Amber VallettaJulianne Moore, Naomi Campbell, Jennifer Lawrence, Ava DuVernay, Anna Wintour, Donatella Versace and more: an eclectic mix that reflects the porous boundaries of fashion with music, film, activism and media.
The setting added to the magic. The halls of the museum gave the evening a gravitas that replaced the typical ballroom glamour. Guests walked through pale stone corridors, beneath high ceilings with naturalistic motifs; it felt less like a show and more like a statement: fashion in dialogue with history and space.
And then there were the red carpet moments. As host, Teyana Taylor wore a striking Thom Browne ensemble with oversized rhinestones and statement silhouette choices. Amber Valletta turned heads by re-wearing the iconic Versace jungle dress from 1999 – a perfect tribute to Donatella Versace’s evening celebration.
Why the 2025 CFDA Fashion Awards matter
The CFDA Fashion Awards were star-studded. pic.twitter.com/Nu7LA8MILY
— Deeds Magazine (@Deedsmag) November 4, 2025
In an era where fashion is breaking boundaries and challenging categories, the 2025 CFDA Fashion Awards feel particularly resonant. The ceremony goes beyond spectacle and emphasizes stories: emerging voices, transformative social impact and designers refining heritage in real time. It also reaffirms how much American fashion depends on both tradition and reinvention.
Tonight, the winners and awards will be recorded in footnotes in the archives, but their influence will shape seasons, collections and cultural conversations to come. The list of winners already reads like a ledger of relevance. The CFDA Fashion Awards 2025 are a live reflection of who we are, where fashion comes from and where it is going.
As the final applause died down beneath the museum’s vaulted ceilings, it was clear: this was more than a ceremony. CFDA Fashion Awards 2025 turned an evening in New York into a cultural highlight. For designers, creatives and fans, this is a moment to mark, remember and follow what comes next.
Check out some of the celebrities who graced the 2025 CFDA Fashion Awards red carpet…
Ladies
| Photo: Getty Images
| Photo: Getty Images
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Gentlemen
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The couples
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