The Council Of Fashion Designers Of America has spoken, now so must we… about those outfits.
‘Fashion is about eventually being naked,' Vivienne Westwood once declared, and so, to receive the Style Icon Of The Year accolade at last night’s CFDA awards, Rihanna saw fit to effectively turn up in the buff.
Other big winners included Joseph Altuzzara, who took Womenswear Designer Of The Year and Mary-Kate and Ashley’s label The Row, which came out top for accessories, but really, let’s face it, one woman stole the show.
Here’s our analysis of that dress and a few other stylish starlets who managed to get a look in…
Rihanna
Did it all just go a little bit Emperor’s New Clothes at camp RiRi? And did she have to keep her hands/fur stole arrangement strategically positioned like that ALL NIGHT? We have many, many questions, but equally feel in awe of her display of body confidence and ability to pull of a bejeweled swimming cap in a way that’s positively silver screen siren. What little fabric there actually is here was provided by Adam Selman, FYI.
Solange Knowles
Her first fashion appearance since the elevator incident needed to offer some damage control. The soft pewter slip by Calvin Klein Collection, teamed with her biggest, best-est hair do and a cool pink lip make for a good recovery.
Lupita Nyong’o
Ah Lupita. Let us count the ways. Single-handedly showcasing the eveningwear potential of this summer's key trouser trend, culottes, in structured satin Suno. We’ve never been so interested in blue eyeshadow, either.
Blake Lively
We are reminded how amazing Lively’s legs are in this Michael Kors-designed, scalloped hem mini. She’s gone hard on the Sixties dolly chick accessories – the hoop earrings, the jangling arm party bangle stack and the Bardot headband.
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen
Would it be controversial to pick a favourite twin? Both looked simple and chic in all black every-thang by their label The Row, but we think Mary Kate’s Christian Louboutin ribbon sandals give her the edge?
Karlie Kloss As many here have demonstrated, not dictating a dress code for your event can lead to all kinds of confusing interpretations as to what exactly ‘normal eveningwear’ is. Recognising that, honestly, all you need is a simple column dress, Karlie Kloss looks totally on-point in her Band Of Outsiders number.
Mira Duma
The fashion insider’s favourite, she’s a street-style heroine who knows exactly how to play it on the red carpet too. Clever styling tricks (note the hair tucked in to that embellished top) stop it being too pretty.
Joan Smalls
The best hybrid fashion word to be invented since jeggings, 'splicing' (literally splitting and slicing, you can't make it up) will be banded about all over the place come autumn. Joan’s got a head start in this slashed-up Prabal Gurung number.
Dree Hemingway
Trying to gain Brownie points by wearing one of CFDA President Diane von Furstenberg’s creations to her own party. Clever. Slinky and sophisticated, rather than OTT.
Marion Cotillard
Really, Marion had to wear this Dior Couture winged mini. How else would she prove her loyalty to designer Raf Simons when she presented him with the International Designer Of The Year award? The things we do for our friends.
See every look from the 2014 CFDA Fashion Awards...