CFDA/Vogue "Fashion Fund" Award Recipients - Vogue.com

Vogue's Mark Holgate and Jenna Lyons (um, hum - J. Crew) hosting
CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Award Recipients
"Perfect Pairings" Vogue.com by Edward Barsamian and
photographed by Hannah Thomson

The 2013  CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund was iso great to watch on the Ovation network.  Somewhere along the way I missed the crucial finish line covered in last couple episodes so not sure what happened on that end, but thank God for social media! 

2013 Winners Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell
Osborne, Public School

I love how these designers mixed in representing fashion clothing and/or across accessories are assigned to meet with some of the industries best and brightest obviously including Anna Wintour, DVF and this year Jenna Lyons was selected as one of the judges.  You can go to http://video.vogue.com/watch/the-fashion-fund-series-premiere to see the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Video Series/episodes.

Women's Wear by Public School

2013 Winners Dao-Yi Chow & Maxwell Osborne of Public School are "too cool for school!" and I mean that in the best way possible.  The clean, almost architectural lines are impeccable - see their first Women's Wear Collections. I love the edginess which almost makes traditional corporate wear a thing of the past.  I would at least say, "let's not go back" as there is a new, inventive, edgy and fresh approach to Women's Wear in town! There is a major twist to say the least.  I would have thoroughly loved to wear some of these outfits during my ad agency days. Check out their site at publicschoolnyc.com.

The Fashion Fund has really become the launch pad for major designers - Alexander Wang, Rodarte, Rag & Bone and so many more talents have come up through the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund ranks. Every major designer within the past 10 years has likely gone through this program.  Anna Wintour has provided the kind of support a designer could only previously dream about.  To make it to this prestigious contest - hundreds of designers apply and only 10 are selected to compete in the Fashion Fund.  This year (2013) Jenna Lyons was one of the prestigious judges that not only mentored these designers, but gave them real life interpretations of how their pieces may or may not be relevant to consumers.

This particular season was fun to watch because for the most part they were all pretty green, meaning that they were not yet forged ahead as brands.  I love to see the process evolving from each of the designers whether they are a pair designing men's clothing or a designer representing jewelry which can be very difficult to break through from an accessories standpoint.

2013 Runner Up Marc Alary
Photo: Courtesy of J. Crew

Marc Alary for J. Crew Kissing Birds

On June 13th in NYC,  there was a cocktail reception for the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Award Recipients.  As I noted above, Jenna Lyons was a host so it was neat seeing her not only judging throughout the process, but also again in the final stages of announcing the winners.  J. Crew collaborates with award recipients and then their product is featured in their StyleGuide, in store and of course online.  

jcobando.com

For example, 2013 runner-up Marc Alary's enchanting little jewelry pieces were favorites of mine and I purchased the 'Kissing Birds' bracelet through J. Crew.  I find his pieces to represent a little whimsy, but not so much - a little romantic too.

This competition prepares them for how they will present for Fashion Week.  They get that first rush in the spotlight and present to the judges and the people that make the fashion industry tick.  These talented designers are fortunate to get the exposure to the most important people in this industry and they get raw feedback through the FashionFund.  It is amazing to see them transform throughout the process.  They are all brilliant.

2013 Runner Up
Juan Carlos Obando

See the "10 Things You Will Want To Buy From the New CVFF x J. Crew Collaborations: Public School, Marc Alary, and Juan Carlos Obando" by Alessandra Codinha
(Vogue.com).

I adore the fluidity of Juan Carlos Obando's work who was also a 2013 runner up.  The movement and draping of his work seem romantic, but also contemporary. His work is sensual and let's face it, all women want to feel beautiful in there clothing. Obando's work is the pinnacle of femininity.

Whether you are an artist, a fashion enthusiast, designer...you will love the competition and coverage of the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund.  Over the last ten years, this competition has set the course for designers to take flight in one of the hardest industries to break through, period.

And to this I say, "Cheers to you all!"