In pictures: See the best dressed stars at the 2025 CFDA Awards

The CFDA Awards 2025: Best dressed

Since its founding in the early 1980s, the CFDA Awards has garnered a reputation for the quality of its red carpet. While the Met has become a celebrity costume party, and the VMAs some sort of reality star launch pad, the red carpet at the Council of Fashion Designers of America has remained a faithful purveyor of modern style, which makes a lot of sense since it’s the governing body of American fashion. This mostly made-up theory was put to the test last night (November 3) at the council’s 2025 ceremony, and its immediate confirmation was a win for both fashion fans but also me who’d already pre-written this introduction.

As expected, the current king and queen of red carpet style – Rihanna and A$AP Rocky – were hand in hand in phresh off the runway looks, setting the bar extremely high for the rest of the court underlings. Dropping the kids off at the nanny’s, Robyn went for some ruched white trousers and a belted trench from Pieter Mulier’s most recent Alaïa show, while Rakim opted for a custom men’s version of Matthieu Blazy’s new Chanel. After signing Kendrick Lamar as a brand ambassador last April, could this be yet another sign that we’re finally getting menswear at Chanel? Rocky was the recipient of last night’s Fashion Icon award, so if anyone can make it happen, it’s him.

Elsewhere on the carpet, models Alex Consani and Alton Mason cut gothic figures in monochromatic Michael Kors, Paloma Elsesser was sleek in satin Simkhai, while Precious Lee arrived in a camp and clashing ensemble from NY fave Area. Ceremony host Teyana Taylor also continued her generational run of red carpet dressing with four Thom Browne looks – a mix of custom, couture and new season ready-to-wear – while rising Slovakian pop star Adéla went for a gargantuan Marc Jacobs gown. And while the CFDA awards isn’t known for its archive pulls, tending to lean towards the modern designers it’s celebrating, Sombr bucked the trend in Thom Browne AW12, while Amber Valletta re-wore the leaf print Versace gown she originally debuted on the SS00 catwalk.

For all those looks and more, scroll through the gallery at the top of the page, and see below for the full list of winner

AMERICAN WOMENSWEAR DESIGNER OF THE YEAR

Ralph Lauren

AMERICAN MENSWEAR DESIGNER OF THE YEAR

Thom Browne

AMERICAN ACCESSORY DESIGNER OF THE YEAR

Ashley Olsen and Mary-Kate Olsen of The Row

AMERICAN EMERGING DESIGNER OF THE YEAR

Ashlynn Park

ISABEL TOLEDO BOARD OF DIRECTORS TRIBUTE

Andre Walker

INTERNATIONAL DESIGNER OF THE YEAR