CFDA Board of Directors Hosts Pre-Fashion Awards Dinner at Café Zaffri

On Thursday evening at Café Zaffri, the CFDA Board of Directors hosted a dinner to honor the nominees for the 2026 CFDA Fashion Awards. Michael Kors, nominated for American womenswear designer of the year, spoke to attendees about the importance of individuality in American fashion. He was accompanied by fellow nominees Rachel Scott and Wes Gordon, along with menswear designer of the year nominees Willy Chavarria and Dao-Yi Chow, and Maxwell Osborne from Public School New York. Emerging designers Colleen Allen, Zane Li, Julia Ferentinos, and Emily Dawn Long, recognized in the Google emerging designer category, were also in attendance, as was jewelry designer Ana Khouri. Kors reminisced about his beginnings at Lothar’s on 57th Street, his CFDA membership since 1985, and early accolades, including one from Katharine Hepburn. He acknowledged Dawn Mello of Bergdorf Goodman for her support of new talent. The event was attended by Linda Fargo, this year’s Founder’s Award recipient, as well as Vera Wang, Lance LePere, Joseph Altuzarra, and former CFDA president Stan Herman. This gathering served as a precursor to the CFDA Fashion Awards scheduled for November 2.