The Awards were truly a night to remember – from heartfelt remarks to off-the-cuff moments (“Mom, turn your phone off,” Kim Kardashian said when an audience member’s cell went off). Relive some of the best remarks and happenings of the 2022 CFDA Fashion Awards in Partnership with Amazon Fashion.

Co-hosts Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez of Proenza Schouler provide opening remarks.
“Having had the honor of being up here on stage a few times over the years, we know how exciting and nerve-wracking this evening can be for tonight’s nominees. Winning the CFDA is a tremendous honor and a moment you will not soon forget.”

Host Natasha Lyonne officially kicks off the CFDA Fashion Awards.
“That’s why I’m so excited to celebrate and honor all these positively utopian creative wizards, these brilliant American designers who are making the future seem like an endlessly inspired place I can’t wait to be a part of. There’s nothing like a visionary to make you dream the impossible, and reawaken the cynical soul to life’s beauty and expansiveness.”

Presenter Cher gives fearless words of advice.
“My dear friend and CFDA member Bob Mackie used to say If you’re intimidated by what you’re wearing, you’re not going to pull it off.” I’ll tell you a little secret. Fashion is fun. There is nothing to be afraid of.”

Media Award honoree Patti Wilson speaks on resilience and thanks those who lifted her up throughout her career.
“When I was coming up in fashion, I was one of the few—if not the only—Black person in the room. Everything was beginning to look the same and I considered walking away from the industry. It was at that point in the 90s, that my dear friend and trailblazer, Edward Enninful helped me fall back in love with styling when he brought me into i-D magazine.”

Phillip Lim, a Positive Social Change honoree, encourages us to be our own superheroes by exercising our power to vote.
“There is power in speaking up and fighting for what you believe in. Together, with your help, we can continue to create spaces where everyone can be seen and represented. Tomorrow is Election Day. We are living in truly precarious times, join us in fighting for our democracy and remember to vote!”

Muge Erdirk Dogan discusses the Innovation Award presented by Amazon Fashion.
“We came up with the Innovation Award to bring awareness to fashion visionaries as part of our ongoing mission to support long-term growth in the fashion industry and we are delighted to work with the CFDA on this journey.”

Martha Stewart speaks on female entrepreneurship.
“I also have a little insight on what it takes to be a female entrepreneur. You have to break boundaries and glass ceilings. The best brand building comes from remaining true to who you are—authenticity matters. I respect any man or woman who steps up to champion the empowerment of ALL women.”

Kim Kardashian discusses SKIMS’ innovation as a multi-billion dollar business.
“We’re enormously proud of SKIMS’ ability to not only innovate with our products, but also with our mission of inclusivity. We have put a strong emphasis, since our launch, on continuing to shape the industry to embrace size equity and diversity as a fixture, not a trend, and I see so many of you out here tonight that are also doing just that.”

Laurie Lynn Stark reflects on Chrome Hearts’ beginnings as the 2022 recipients of the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award.
“Our first store opened 27 years ago in a former flower shop on the Upper East Side, on a handshake. The first jacket we sold paid the rent. Our cult following grew from there. Chrome Hearts had a vision to build a factory in Hollywood that embraced artists, and nurtured dreams. Our path has been to be fearless.

Kerry Washington thanks Law Roach for a special friendship of transformative change.
“Law [Roach] saw in me something different. Something more… true. More raw. He challenged me to become more of myself—on the red carpet and in my life. And let me tell you, if you are gonna work with the queen, you better be ready. It doesn’t matter [if it’s] for editorial, for press, for carpets, or for life, Law’s process is exceptional. He doesn’t put together an outfit, he is determined to create a masterpiece.”

Jeffrey Banks is unanimously honored with the Special Anniversary Award.
“At 10 years of age I already knew I wanted to be a designer, and was eagerly plotting my career path. What I didn’t know at the time, however, was how rich a life I would have being in the fashion industry. Being a designer has led me to meet and know amazing people both in fashion and out, and to travel all over the world. I have been able to write several books, persevering the history of fashion for future generations to come.”

Aurora James reflects on the inimitable legacy of the late Virgil Abloh.
“If we are a family, Virgil Abloh was all of our big brother. He was also our North Star. He challenged each and every one of us to be more, do more, create more than we ever thought possible. And always in service of others, beyond ourselves. Virgil, you have left a space in our family that we will mourn always. You have left shoes impossibly big to fill. But in your honor we will do what you’ve taught us, not to try to fill those impossibly big shoes – but to re-imagine walking completely.”

Lenny Kravitz speaks on life lessons learned from the journey of perfecting his personal style.
“What I’ve learned along the way is being yourself is the most important thing you can do. And that you’re going to make mistakes. I certainly have had my fair share of fashion fails. But that’s part of evolving. We all have something inside of us to share. And by sharing it we can understand one another, support one another, and love one another.”