“I know in our house, Alex couldn’t survive without you,” Jennifer Lopez said, addressing Tom Ford after her presented with the Fashion Icon Award. ” I like to think it’s me, but it’s you he can’t live without.”

The moment with our new Chairman was just one of many to remember at Monday’s CFDA Fashion Awards at the Brooklyn Museum.

Another one: Outgoing Chairwoman Diane von Furstenberg’s passing of the (literal) torch to Mr. Ford.

“In fashion, we are about glamorous entrances, but beautiful exits are equally important,” von Furstenberg said. “I could not have wished for a better exit, a more glamorous upgrade, and a better successor than Tom Ford.”

As for the new man in charge, he pointed to “all the opportunities I see in the future of American fashion,” said Tom Ford, the new Chairman of the CFDA. I have spent most of my career living and working in Europe, but I am an American fashion designer at heart who started here on Seventh Avenue. When I was asked to take on this new role, I felt a sense of duty to give back to our industry and to support our designers and the American fashion system in any way that I can, and in particular to help the next generation of talent succeed.”

He then went to introduce Carine Roitfeld, whom he called “one of the most inspiring, influential, and extraordinary women I know” and “the sexiest grandmother who ever lived.”

Roitfeld, for her part, exuded grace in her acceptance, thanking von Furstenberg and also remembering Eleanor Lambert (the Founder’s Award is in honor of the CFDA Founder).

“I myself was very lucky to meet Ms Lambert many years ago here in New York,” Roitfeld recalled. “She welcomed me to one of her ‘best dressed’ lunches at Indochine — more than an event, they were a real institution. Ms Lambert was a true champion of fashion and fought to put designers on the front row of the fashion world—two objectives that have been very close to my heart throughout my entire career.”

Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement award recipient delightfully recounted call from von Furstenberg informing him of his honor, while Yara Shahidi, presenting Barbie with the Board of Directors’ Tribute, talked about Barbie’s connection to the fashion industry and her impact.

“I’ve got to be honest. It’s pretty cool to have a Barbie doll that looks just like me,” Shahidi said. “They even got my unibrow and my ‘Vote’ T-Shirt right but even more exciting…is that young people around the world have a Barbie that reflects them.”

Speaking of diversity, Media Award recipient Lynn Yaeger had some words on the topic. “We hear a lot of talk about diversity in fashion, and I would like to say that I stand here as an early example of this, diversity,” the colorful writer said.

When it came to the night’s most emotional moment, we have to hand it to Brandon Maxwell, who seemed completely shaken by winning the Womenswear Designer of the Year award.

“I really thought this was going to be more of a viewing party for me, so I took full advantage of the free bar, and I just feel really sad to have done that now,” he said. “I am so proud to be part of an industry, where we wake up every day charged with the idea that making a woman feel good, that making someone happy is valid.”

As for the way fashion can inspire empowerment, look no further than Ms. Lopez, who commanded the evening in her custom crop top and full skirt ensemble from Ralph Lauren.

“I grew up in the Bronx – some of you may have heard – so of course, I had to wear Ralph Lauren tonight … from the Bronx!” she said. “I know he understands a girl’s love of crop tops, sparkles, and a little drama!”

And we loved it.