The Most Memorable CFDA Awards Looks of All Time

Iconic, bold, and unforgettable—L’OFFICIEL looks back at some CFDA Fashion Award looks that have stood the test of time.

Zendaya in custom Vera Wang at the 2021 CFDAs. Photography: Getty Images.

If the Met Gala is the fashion Super Bowl, then the CFDAs are the Oscars of fashion. Year after year, The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) annual Fashion Awards ceremony acts as the backdrop for the most show stopping looks of the year, as the best the industry has to offer are heralded for their work and contributions.

The 2024 CFDA Fashion awards will be held at the American Museum of Natural History on Monday, October 28th. Cynthia Erivo, the Tony, Emmy and Grammy winner and Academy Award-nominated actress and singer, is to serve at the host for what is guaranteed to be quite the star studded event. Many celebrities are confirmed to be presenters, including Nicole Ritchie and Paris Hilton, Anna Wintour, Jenna Lyons, and Erykah Badu. Badu is the recipient of the 2024 CFDA Fashion Icon Award, considered one of the highest distinctions in fashion.

Founded by renowned American publicist Eleanor Lambert, who also established the first formal fashion week in the 1940s, the CFDA presently consists of America’s most prominent innovators in the realm of womenswear, menswear, jewelry and accessories. The CFDA Fashion Awards were founded by Lambert in 1980 and held its first ceremony the following year. Notable past recipients of CFDA accolades include Giorgio Armani, Ralph Lauren, and Michael Kors.

As the 2024 CFDA Fashion Awards are upon us, L’OFFICIEL looks back on some of the ceremony's most captivating looks in years past.

1 / 11

Two years prior to wearing the jaw-dropping jungle Versace dress to the Grammys in 2000, Jennifer Lopez set the tone for her style in this figure hugging Halston gown by Randolph Duke.

Elizabeth Hurley made waves when she stepped out in the Versace safety pin dress in 1994, and extended her relationship with the house a few years later when stepping out for the 1999 CFDAs in a pink-hued oroton gown.

As the year’s recipient of the Fashion Icon Award, Lady Gaga showed up in a theatrical, sultry black dress by Mugler with her trademark platform boots to the CFDAs in 2011.

To receive the Fashion Icon Award in 2014, Rihanna graced the red carpet in arguably her most daring look yet - a scantily clad, barely there Adam Selman ensemble.

As the Fashion Icon Award recipient in 2018, Naomi Campbell arrived at the CFDAs in a striking red look by Calvin Klein that had a vivacious movement.

Just a month after she wore an Off-White look to the 2018 Met Gala, Kendall Jenner wore another look by the brand to the CFDAs - this time an asymmetrical lilac, feathered dress.

A year after his debut as the artistic director for Louis Vuitton menswear, the late Virgil Abloh accompanied Gigi Hadid to the 2019 CFDAs, with both wearing looks by Louis Vuitton.

Bella Hadid channeled Studio 54 in this black sequinned plunging Michael Kors gown with feather detailing on the skirt at the 2019 CFDAs.

Winnie Harlow arrived at the 2019 CFDAs with full drama in an indigo Christian Siriano mini dress with trailing feathers.

Jennifer Lopez went for an archival two-piece Ralph Lauren ensemble, featuring a bare-midriff displayed crop top and a matching silk taffeta skirt to collect her Fashion Icon Award at the 2019 CFDAs.

The youngest person to receive the Fashion Icon Award, Zendaya lived up to that very title as she arrived to the 2021 CFDAs in a custom Vera Wang design, with an ab-barring bandeau top and a peplum-style skirt.