• Celebrity
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Women in Music
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
  • Fashion
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion House
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Color Files Podcast
    • Nails
    • How-To
    • Beauty Carnival-Archive
    • Dope Stuff On My Desk
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weaves
    • 4C
    • Spring Hair And Beauty
  • Love
    • Love & Sex
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle News
    • Coronavirus: Everything You Need to Know
    • Health & Wellness
    • Holiday Gift Guide 2020
    • Unbossed Podcast
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
    • Currency Conversations
    • Your legacy
  • News
    • BLACK VOTES MATTER
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Videos
  • Events
    • WELLNESS HOUSE: YEAR OF RENEWAL
    • LEVEL UP: Entrepreneur Summit (DEC 2020)
    • Power Tools
    • SHE GOT NOW
    • Girls United Summit
    • Making Moves Now: Virtual Bootcamp
    • #EF SESSIONS
    • Dear Black Men
    • Cares Act
    • News & Announcements
  • Festival
  • Subscribe
  • Essence Studios
  • Girls United
  • NaturallyCurly
  • Shop Essence

Follow Us

Skip to content
  • Essence Studios
  • Girls United
  • NaturallyCurly
  • Shop Essence
  • Celebrity
    • Celebrity
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Women in Music
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
  • Fashion
    • Fashion
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion House
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Beauty
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Color Files Podcast
    • Nails
    • How-To
    • AVEENO® Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty Carnival-Archive
    • Dope Stuff On My Desk
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
    • Beauty News
  • Hair
    • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weaves
    • 4C
    • Spring Hair And Beauty
  • Love
    • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle
    • Coronavirus: Everything You Need to Know
    • Health & Wellness
    • Lifestyle News
    • Holiday Gift Guide 2020
    • Netflix’s Jingle Jangle Gift Guide
    • Unbossed Podcast
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
    • Currency Conversations
    • Your Legacy
  • News
    • News
    • BLACK VOTES MATTER
    • Essence 50th Anniversary
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Videos
  • Events
    • Events
    • WELLNESS HOUSE: YEAR OF RENEWAL
    • LEVEL UP: Entrepreneur Summit (DEC 2020)
    • Power Tools
    • SHE GOT NOW
    • Girls United Summit
    • Making Moves Now: Virtual Bootcamp
    • #EF SESSIONS
    • Dear Black Men
    • Cares Act
    • News & Announcements
  • Festival
  • Subscribe
Home · News

Fashion Forward Designers 2009 CFDA Nominees

ESSENCE.com celebrates the creativity of the talented designers nominated for the Council of Fashion Designer of America (CDFA) 2009 Awards taking place tonight in New York City. The CDFA is recognized for developing America’s top fashion forward thinkers. Check out this year’s crop of nominee’s and the celebrities who covet them.
By · June 12, 2009October 29, 2020
01
CDFA 2009 Awards

ESSENCE.com celebrates the creativity of the talented designers nominated for the Council of Fashion Designer of America (CDFA) 2009 Awards taking place tonight in New York City. The CDFA is recognized for developing America’s top fashion-forward thinkers. The event will also honor First Lady Michelle Obama. Check out this year’s crop of nominees and the celebrities who covet them.

By Cynthia Caban

Getty
02
Marc Jacobs

Womenswear Designer of the Year Nominee
Lil’ Kim is a huge Marc Jacobs fan and they’re actually very good friends too. While in prison, Kim says of Jacobs: “He wrote me every week.” Though he apparently did not design any of her “Dancing with The Stars” costumes, Jacobs’s style is behind many of Kim’s fashionable looks. Head-to-toe chartreuse may be a bit much but get inspired by the classic cut of this stylish suit.

Getty
03
Rodarte

Womenswear Designer of the Year Nominee
This label is designed by sisters Kate and Laura Mulleavy. The hot young duo have only been around for four years and they’ve already joined the ranks of fashion’s elite. Rodate designed the ripped leather thigh highs that Rihanna was spotted in recently.

Getty
04
Narciso Rodriguez

Womenswear Designer of the Year Nominee
Narciso Rodriguez is one of the top go-to designers for Hollywood’s hardcore fashionistas. Rodriguez has outfitted Kerry Washington, Alica Keys and First Lady Michelle Obama.

Getty
05
Michael Bastian

Menswear Designer of the Year Nominee
Being the menswear director for Bergdorf Goodman for five years prepared Michael Bastian to launch his own collection. Bastian designs clothes for the modern man, favoring looks that are luxurious yet broken in and familiar. Abstract hip-hop artist Kid Cudi is a fan as seen here at the designer’s presentation during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2009.

Getty
06
Band of Outsiders

Menswear Designer of the Year Nominee
You know you’ve made it as a fashion designer if Kanye West approves. He’s so enamored with the Band of Outsiders that he modeled in their fall 2009 collection and then posted the pictures on his blog.

Getty
07
Calvin Klein

Menswear Designer of the Year Nominee
John Legend is single-handedly making it cool to look dapper again. Legend likes rocking crowds in Calvin Klein suits. No one on the corner has swagger like him.

Getty
08
MJ Design Domination

Accessory Designer of the Year Nominee
Marc Jacobs’s design genius is being recognized in two categories this year. Jacobs’s looks range from street-inspired styles to elegant gowns. He is also the creative director at fashion house Louis Vuitton. Beyoncé is among the A-listers who love MJ, as seen here donning one his creations.

Getty
09
Proenza Schouler

Accessory Designer of the Year Nominee
Proenza Schouler designs are always feminine with modern detailing and construction. Rihanna, Tracee Ellis Ross and Rashida Jones are staples at their runway shows.

Getty
10
Vera Wang

Accessory Designer of the Year Nominee
Vera Wang is known for her timelessly decadent wedding gowns. The designer also has her name on accessories, fragrances and even a mattress line. Can’t afford a Wang wedding? Check out her lower priced Simply Vera collection available at Kohls department stores and kohls.com.

Getty
11
Thakoon

Swarovski Award for Womenswear Nominee
First Lady Michelle Obama’s influence on fashion has been tremendous. Mrs. Obama has worn each of the nominees in this category, catapulting them to uncharted fame and spotlight. Model Jordan Dunn, pictured here, rips the runway at Thakoon’s fall 2009 show.

Getty
12
Alexander Wang

Swarovski Award for Womenswear Nominee
Cover girl sensation Arlenis Sosa wore this Alexander Wang dress and blazer off of the runway to a charity event. Give yourself an instant hourglass shape by pairing a brightly colored skirt with a black top and menswear-like blazer.

Getty
13
Jason Wu

Swarovski Award for Womenswear Nominee
Jason Wu blew up overnight after First Lady Michelle Obama wore his creation to the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball. The 26-year-old designer had no idea that the First Lady would be wearing his design until he was sitting in front of the TV watching like the rest of America. Now that’s what we call a lucky break!

Mrs. Obama will be receiving the CDFA Board of Directors Special Tribute for her influence on fashion.

Getty

Read More

Lifestyle
Shop These Valentine's Day Gifts By Black-Owned Brands
News
My VP Looks Like Me: These Inauguration Day Tribute Photos W...
Black Celeb Couples
Black Love: Barack and Michelle Obama's Love Through the Years
Entertainment
‘Bridgerton’ Is Getting A Second Season
Health & Wellness
Tiffany Haddish Unveils Her Slimmed Down Figure After 30-Day...
COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2021 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now