CVFF Takes Over L.A.’s Chateau Marmont for the Finalists’ Show
October 21, 2015
Marc Karimzadeh
Anna Wintour, Kanye West and Kim Kardashian
Chrissy Teigen and John Legend
Reese Witherspoon
Solange Knowles
Chanel Iman
Rodger Berman, Rachel Zoe, and actor Balthazar Getty
Anna Wintour, Kanye West and Kim Kardashian
Models wearing Gypsy Sport at Chateau Marmont
Models wearing CG at Chateau Marmont
Models wearing Chromat at Chateau Marmont
Models wearing David Hart at Chateau Marmont
Models wearing Cadet at Chateau Marmont
Models wearing Thaddeus O'Neil at Chateau Marmont
Models wearing Baldwin at Chateau Marmont
Models wearing Baja East at Chateau Marmont
Models wearing Jonathan Simkhai at Chateau Marmont
Designers Aurora James and Becca McCharen with Kanye West
Camilla Belle
Nikki Reed and Lily Collins
Jennifer Meyer, Bee Shaffer, Lisa Love, Derek Blasberg, and Kelly Sawyer
Rachel Roy
Kiernan Shipka and Jamie King
Kim Kardashian poses with CADET's Raul Arevalo and Brad Schmidt
Jenna Lyons
CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalists (back row, L-R) Matt Baldwin, John Targon, Brad Schmidt, Becca McCharen, Jonathan Simkhai, David Hart, (front row, L-R) Scott Studenberg, Aurora James, Raul Arevalo, Rio Uribe, Chris Gelinas, and Thaddeus O'Neil
For the last step before the Nov.2 gala crowning the winner and two runners-up, the 10 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Finalists brought their collections to the Chateau Marmont hotel in West Hollywood. The show and afternoon tea that followed –both presented by Amazon Fashion — were reason enough for major names to come out and show their support. There was event co-host Kanye West, talking to Chromat’s Becca McCharen and Brother Vellies designer Aurora James before turning to talk show host James Corden. Kim Kardashian West, who also hosted, got a chance to catch up with Anna Wintour, while, nearby, Alexandra and Talita von Furstenberg waited for the show to start (Talita is the granddaughter of CFDA chairman Diane von Furstenberg). Others in the crowd included Reese Witherspoon, Solange Knowles, Jaime King, Chrissy Teigen and John Legend, as well as CFDA Members such as Rachel Zoe, Rachel Roy, Juan Carlos Obando, Scott Sternberg, Greg Chait, Jennifer Meyer and Kate Mulleavy.
They were all in for a surprise, in the most positive sense. Vogue’s Mark Holgate, who sits on the Fund’s Selection Committee and hosted alongside the Wests, Amazon Fashion’s Cathy Beaudoin, and Vogue’s Lisa Love explained a switch in the creative direction at the 11th hour. “Things are a little different today,” he told the audience. “One of the things we discussed is the importance of authenticity in fashion and [these designers] have it in abundance.” Add to that the mixture of diversity with gender identity and you get the picture. “Ten days ago, I called Lisa Love to change the show completely” — by casting real-life models. Checking in on her a few days later, Love, Vogue’s West Coast Director, demonstrated her acerbic wit. “‘It’s great,’” Holgate said, recalling Love’s reaction, “‘but I think we will skip the tea afterwards and go straight to vodka.” No need for that – the show was a big success. Reminiscent of a flashmob, it featured marching band drummers, several children, at least one man on a skateboard and several dogs on the runway including Irene Neuwirth’s pooch Teddy. The models walked, danced, vogued and stretched (the latter for Chromat’s athletic lineup). “There is just so much energy,” said Francisco Costa. “It’s so much fun.”