The Best Looks and Biggest Winners at the 2026 CFDA Fashion Awards

Gold was having a moment at the 2026 CFDA Fashion Awards. Hailey Bieber, Zoë Kravitz, Rosé and Anja Rubik arrived in matching metallic tones from Saint Laurent, joining creative director Anthony Vaccarello on the red carpet. Their coordinated appearance was one of the evening's most photographed moments, as New York's American Museum of Natural History welcomed fashion's biggest names on November 2.

Hosted by actress and singer Keke Palmer, the annual ceremony brought together designers, models, actors and musicians to recognize achievements in American fashion. The evening's dress code, American Black Tie, gave guests plenty of room to interpret formal dressing through their favorite designers. Keke Palmer made her own fashion statement in an archival Bob Mackie gown originally worn by Raquel Welch in 1975. The gold design brought a piece of American fashion history back into the spotlight.

Rachel Scott received the American Womenswear Designer of the Year award for Diotima, her label known for its distinctive approach to craftsmanship and Caribbean cultural references.

Ralph Lauren took home American Menswear Designer of the Year, while jewelry designer Ana Khouri won the accessories category. Colleen Allen was named American Emerging Designer of the Year.

Among the evening's honorary recipients was Anthony Vaccarello, who received the International Designer of the Year award as he marked a decade at Saint Laurent. Hailey Bieber, Rosé and Zoë Kravitz presented the award, having joined him on the red carpet in designs from his Spring 2027 collection. Gold dominated their looks, from shimmering fabrics to statement silhouettes, making the group one of the night's most recognizable fashion moments.

Another notable appearance came from Demi Moore, who chose an unexpected material for black-tie dressing: denim. The actress wore a custom GapStudio gown designed by Zac Posen, constructed using familiar details from classic jeans. Layered denim waistbands formed the sculptural bodice, while a long skirt with a front slit completed the design. Moore later presented Gap Inc. with the evening's Innovation Award.

Elsewhere, the red carpet offered an interesting mix of established fashion houses and emerging American designers. Gracie Abrams wore a black velvet gown by Colleen Allen, who would go on to win the emerging designer award that evening. Emily Ratajkowski chose Tory Burch, pairing a black sweater with an orange skirt, while Elle Fanning appeared in Coach, layering a long leather coat over a pale pink slip dress.

Pamela Anderson and Rose Byrne both wore Carolina Herrera, with Byrne opting for a polka-dot dress. Tinashe brought color to the carpet in Christopher John Rogers, while Mona Tougaard chose Lii.

Lila Moss appeared in Juju Vera, Nara Smith wore Altuzarra, and Matt Damon represented Ralph Lauren, the evening's menswear winner.

The ceremony also recognized several influential figures beyond the four main design categories. Architect Peter Marino received the Fashion Icon Award, Tory Burch was honored with the Positive Change Award, and photographers Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin received the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award.

For a night dedicated to American fashion, the red carpet offered an unusually varied picture of the industry: archival glamour, experimental denim, established luxury houses and emerging designers sharing the same stage. And while Saint Laurent's gold-clad group commanded much of the attention, Demi Moore's custom denim gown made an equally memorable case for American design.