Mary-Kate, Ashley Olsen are designers of the year
NEW YORK – Forget that Fuller House reboot they skipped.
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen have quite enough going on, thank you very much.
The sisters won the coveted womenswear designer of the year award on Monday at the CFDAs for their understated luxury line The Row. It's their second time winning, after already taking home the big prize in 2012.
They sweetly congratulated each other on stage, but it was earlier presenter Kanye West who killed it by poking fun at himself. Yes, really.
"I'm sort of like the angrier version of Pharrell," he said, before presenting the fashion icon prize to the musician.
Other winners:
Menswear designer of the year: Tom Ford
Accessories designer of the year: Tabitha Simmons
Swarovski award for womenswear: Rosie Assoulin
Swarovski award for menswear: Shayne Oliver for Hood by Air
Swarovski award for accessory design: Rachel Mansur and Floriana Gavriel for Mansur Gavriel
Yes, the night was in theory all about sartorial achievements and the folks behind the seams.
But in reality, the awards were centered around one woman: Kim Kardashian, whose second pregnancy was announced on Sunday night, and whose stepparent has transitioned into a woman named Caitlyn Jenner, revealed in a stunning Vanity Fair cover that was the talk of social media. And it was the talk of the pre-show cocktail hour.
Kardashian said she felt "so proud" of Caitlyn.
Model Karlie Kloss said Jenner "looks beautiful."
Added Katie Holmes, clad in Ralph Lauren: "I thought it was beautiful. It's a moment, a cultural moment."
Supermodel Gigi Hadid, who is close friends with Kendall Jenner, was supportive. "I think we're watching history happen," said Hadid. "Her message is so incredible. She's freeing herself. It's very special for all of us to see it."
Kardashian was there to present the media award to Kevin Systrom of Instagram; a suitable fit for a woman who has perfected the art of social media domination and who just released a book of selfies called Selfish. She cuddled in the front row with husband West and revealed, on her way into the ceremony, that she was suffering from morning sickness. Otherwise, all was well.
.The event was held, as always, at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall, the awful wet weather blanketing Manhattan notwithstanding.
Cartwheeling grandma Betsey Johnson picked up the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement award. Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli of Valentino were given the International Award – the brand has owned the red carpet of late and been worn by everyone from Charlize Theron to Zoe Kravitz and Pink -- and Pharrell Williams was named this year's Fashion Icon.
"Since I was a little boy, I lived in my head. There were no rules," said Williams, during a lengthy speech.
James Corden hosted, and presenters included Amanda Seyfried, Chelsea Clinton, Joshua Jackson, Kelly Osbourne, and Taraji P. Henson.
"I don't know whether to shake your hand or lick your face," Corden said to an appreciative West on stage.
In a more somber moment, Clinton paid tribute to late designer Oscar de la Renta, who knitted a pink dress for Clinton's daughter Charlotte. "He had a remarkable combination of kind honesty and honest kindness," she said of the designer.