Good Company

(NEW YORK) "I feel the anxiety in the air," said Philip Crangi, cocktailing with fashion's finest moments before last night's CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Awards. "Having been in the same position last year, I know what these people are going through." It's been a long, nerve-wracking process for the ten finalists--Richard Chai, Jason Wu, Alexander Wang, Lisa Mayock and Sophie Buhai of Vena Cava, Irene Neuwirth, Alejandro Ingelmo, Juan Carlos Obando, Albertus Quartus by Albertus Swanepoel, Obedient Sons & Daughters by Swaim and Christina Hutson, and Organic by John Patrick. Before the winners were announced by none other than John Galliano (squired by muse Charlize Theron), Anna Wintour et al toasted the lot of them with cocktails in an adjacent room at Skylight Studios.

"It's nice to come to an awards ceremony where you're not nominated!" joked Peter Som while date Piper Perabo sought out glasses of champagne. ("I'm slowly working my way into his good favor," she laughed.) Will Som be one of those coveted mentors someday soon? "They all have amazing careers ahead of them. I don't need to mentor them--I think they might need to mentor me!" Meanwhile, Phillip Lim wiped the sweat from his brow while his friend Juliette Lewis caught up with Rose Byrne. "I'm nervous for the kids," he said. "I have my favorites and I'm rooting for them. OK, I'll tell you--I want Richard Chai to win. I keep reminding him to breathe!"

"This is such an important thing," said the CFDA's Accessory Designer of the Year Tory Burch, admiring the Norman Jean Roy photographs of the designers looming large throughout the room. "Winning was a big deal. It was huge for me personally, but also for my company. To have your peers vote for you is a serious honor."

"I don't remember how I celebrated my win last year, so I think it was successful," deadpanned Crangi. "I'm going to celebrate the end!" said Alexander Wang. "I'm just nervous because it's been so long. There's been so much build up! I'm ready for it to be over and continue life. It's been an amazing experience, but I need closure."

"I thought that I would be fine tonight, because the whole rest of the process has been so much easier the second time around, but no dice," said Mayock. "I'm feeling really nervous! Tomorrow, we're going to take all our employees out to lunch and say, 'You guys are awesome. Thanks for holding down the fort while we were running around!'"

"I'm in really great company," said Wu. "It's been an incredible year overall, so whatever happens, I'm just happy to have been a part of it. As a group of young designers, we encounter the same challenges. We're all a graduating class tonight."

Meanwhile on the red carpet, the arrivals were still pouring. Wintour warmly greeted each guest personally while Souri Kim and Patrick O'Connell comandeered the press corps. "It's really fun to be involved and see all your peers succeed," said a flashbulb-shocked Chris Benz. "After this, I'm looking forward to the holidays. I'm going to Eva [Amurri's] house upstate for Thanksgiving!"

The revelers were a bit frantic (blame the nerves), but the selection committee of CFDA president Diane von Furstenberg, CFDA executive director Steven Kolb and associate director Lisa Smilor, Vogue's Wintour and Sally Singer, Theory's Andrew Rosen, Coach's Reed Krakoff, Jeffrey Kalinsky of Jeffrey New York and Nordstrom, Gap's Patrick Robinson, and Barneys New York's Julie Gilhart had level-headedness to spare.

"My favorite part of this process is seeing how well they do," said von Furstenberg. "The truth is, they already learn so much going through the preparation and the application." Wintour was similarly enthusiastic. "My favorite experience is the spirit of all the young people, and how excited they are. It's such a terrific experience meeting them all and getting to know them. It's very magical, I think. Hello, Tommy!"
ASHLEY BAKER