CFDA Fashion Awards 2026: Vintage Bob Mackie, Siriano Pink and Ralph Lauren Lead the Best Dressed

The 2026 CFDA Fashion Awards turned the American Museum of Natural History into a runway on Monday night, and the red carpet produced clear favorites, a few polarizing choices and some pointed debate about what an awards-night outfit should be. Across the coverage, a pattern emerged: the looks that landed best paired a strong silhouette with a real designer relationship behind it.

A Night Built Around American Designers

Unlike most entertainment-industry ceremonies, the CFDA Fashion Awards put designers at the center and treat celebrities as the vehicle for their work. This year’s dinner took place beneath the museum’s 94-foot blue whale model and was hosted by Keke Palmer. Presenters included Demi Moore, Naomi Osaka, Lupita Nyong’o, Matt Damon and Cole Escola.

Ralph Lauren won American Menswear Designer of the Year for the third time. Rachel Scott of Diotima took American Womenswear Designer of the Year for the second time. Ana Khouri was named American Accessory Designer of the Year, and Colleen Allen won Emerging Designer of the Year over a field that included Zane Li of Lii and Emily Dawn Long.

Several honorees were celebrated beyond the competitive categories. Anthony Vaccarello, who recently announced he is leaving Saint Laurent after a decade as creative director, received the International Designer of the Year award. Tory Burch took the Positive Change Award, and Gap Inc., under Zac Posen, won the Innovation Award. Photographers Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin received the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award, and architect Peter Marino was named Fashion Icon.

The Looks That Won the Carpet

Palmer, the host, drew some of the loudest praise in a vintage Bob Mackie gold halter gown. Business Insider reported that Mackie, who died in September, made the dress in 1975 for Raquel Welch, and said it fit Palmer as if it had been designed for her.

Allison Janney’s hot-pink Christian Siriano look, with its dramatic sleeves and shoulder pads, was a favorite for both WWD and Business Insider. WWD said it came from Siriano’s spring 2027 collection. Janney called him “the most talented designer” and said they have fun together. Siriano also dressed Chloe Bailey in a sheer black design with tulle ruffles and tan feather trim, which Business Insider likened to something off a runway.

Designer-muse chemistry came through most clearly in two pairings. Rachel Scott dressed Indya Moore in a voluminous, textured Diotima dress adapted from her spring 2027 collection, which she described as being about a woman who existed across time in the Caribbean. Moore said they felt “like a sunflower.” Awkwafina wore a black column dress with an embellished neckline by Jason Wu, whom she said she had befriended only weeks earlier. Wu said the goal was to “go chic.”

Pamela Anderson, in a black Carolina Herrera halter gown with feather fringe at the neckline, earned notices from WWD, Harper’s Bazaar and Business Insider alike. Business Insider praised her styling of embellished heels, a satin clutch and red lipstick. Matt Damon led the menswear contingent in a double-breasted, shawl-lapel Ralph Lauren tuxedo over a black turtleneck, saying he has always loved the brand. Travis Scott, in a black satin double-breasted suit with a leather top underneath, was another menswear pick.

Saint Laurent, Coach and Gap Show Up in Force

Brand loyalty was visible across the room. With Vaccarello honored, Hailey Bieber, Zoë Kravitz and Rosé all wore Saint Laurent. Elle Fanning and PinkPantheress wore Coach. Demi Moore and Lupita Nyong’o wore GapStudio by Zac Posen, in step with the Innovation Award for Gap Inc. Gracie Abrams wore a design by newly crowned emerging designer Colleen Allen, and Rose Byrne and Becky G joined Anderson in Carolina Herrera. Tinashe, Megan Thee Stallion and Ashley Graham wore Christopher John Rogers, Kim Shui and Esque/By respectively.

Not Everyone Was Convinced

Business Insider was the one outlet to name misses, and its criticisms were mostly about ambition rather than execution. Emily Ratajkowski’s black sweater, bright orange low-rise skirt and pointed boots looked, in its view, more like a fall outing than an awards look. Ashley Graham’s tailored black-and-white set, with a deconstructed shirt turned into a strapless top, was praised for its fit and originality but judged forgettable. Shaboozey’s Ralph Lauren outfit of cream blazer, distressed jeans, bolo tie and statement belt buckle was called too close to what he wears every day for a fashion-focused event.

Those verdicts are one critic’s opinion, and WWD and Harper’s Bazaar offered no such rankings. They do point to a theme, though. At the CFDA Fashion Awards, where the crowd is trained to notice craft, the looks that stood out were the ones with a clear idea or a real story behind them, whether that was a 1975 gown or a friendship that began two weeks earlier.

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