Fun With Fashion (Awards)

By RAY A. SMITH

John Waters didn't hitch a ride to Lincoln Center, Johnny Depp didn't show and Seth Meyers flashed the audience in his underwear.

The latter was but one of different types of flashes that occurred Monday evening at the 2012 CFDA Fashion Awards, hosted by the Council of Fashion Designers of America, underwritten by Swarovski and held at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall.

The event, sometimes referred to as "the Oscars of fashion," and "Fashion's Biggest Night," brought out some of Seventh Avenue's biggest stars including Marc Jacobs, Donna Karan, Michael Kors and the Proenza Schouler boys—and figures from the entertainment world ranging from veterans Bernadette Peters and Lauren Hutton to rising stars such as Jessica Chastain, Zosia Mamet of "Girls" and Jessica Paré, the fashionable Megan on "Mad Men." (When Ms. Paré walked on stage to present the Accessories Designer of the Year award—the winner was Reed Krakoff—"Zou Bisou Bisou," the French ditty she memorably performed in this season's premiere, played, a nice touch.)

But one of Hollywood's biggest stars unfortunately didn't make it. Mr. Depp, this year's recipient of the Fashion Icon award—the first time the award has been given to a man—was on location filming a movie. That is one reason why Mr. Waters was present. The outré filmmaker accepted the award and gave remarks on the actor's behalf.

Mr. Waters, who often thumbs his nose at mainstream cinema, recently thumbed his way across the country for about eight days. "I didn't hitchhike tonight, we had a driver," he said shortly before the awards show started, referring to himself and Adrian Joffe, husband of Comme des Garçons designer Rei Kawakubo. The designer, this year's recipient of the International Award, didn't attend the ceremony either. Mr. Waters accepted both awards and gave remarks back to back, taking the time for a costume change between his speeches.

During his opening monologue, Mr. Meyers, the awards show's emcee, made a joke about fashion going together with comedy "like bar mitzvahs and Galliano," referring to the designer fired from Dior last year for an anti-Semitic outburst, to groans and uncomfortable laughter.

"That joke went so badly I'm going to get fired by Dior," Mr. Meyers rebounded, to applause. The comedian also ribbed Marc Jacobs for wearing a sheer lace Comme des Garçons shirtdress over a pair of very visible white boxers to the Met Gala for the Costume Institute last month. Later, Mr. Meyers walked on stage wearing an outfit just like Mr. Jacobs's, to raucous laughter.

Speaking of underwear, we regretted not asking New York Giants star Victor Cruz, dapper in a Calvin Klein Collection tuxedo, if he was also wearing Calvin Klein underwear.

In another kind of flash: For the first time in its history, the awards were scheduled to be digitally broadcast on Style.com.

And in other news, Tommy Hilfiger, the recipient of the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award, apparently does wicked impressions, including of Mick Jagger, according to Anna Wintour, who presented Mr. Hilfiger with the award. ("Moves Like Jagger" played as Mr. Hilfiger took the stage; an a cappella group, the Princeton Footnotes, complete with a human beat box and clad in preppy Hilfiger letterman cardigans, performed a song for Mr. Hilfiger.)

The awards show moved swiftly, like a flash, leaving audience members with enough energy to head to several after parties, including the official one hosted by Swarovski at the Top of the Standard. ("Dance party!" a CFDA staff member tweeted from the party at 1:23 a.m. with a photo of a few folks busting moves.)

Monday night's other winners and award recipients included The Row, Billy Reid, Joseph Altuzarra, Tabitha Simmons, Andrew Rosen, Phillip Lim and Scott Schuman and Garance Dore. The complete list can be found on the CFDA's website.