Vaccarello Wins Designer of the Year at CFDA
Saint Laurent creative director Anthony Vaccarello was honored with the International Designer of the Year Award at the 2026 CFDA Awards.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Fashion
Anthony Vaccarello received the International Designer of the Year Award at the 2026 CFDA Awards, held at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. Celebrities including Zoë Kravitz, Hailey Bieber, and Rosé attended in custom Saint Laurent looks to support him.
Why it matters
The honor recognizes Vaccarello's decade-long tenure at Saint Laurent and places the house's creative leadership in the national spotlight. It also highlights how brand ambassadors' red-carpet choices can showcase a designer's current collections.
Vaccarello presented his final gold-dipped Spring/Summer 2027 collection at Saint Laurent, and Zoë Kravitz wore a gold-leaf creation from it. Hailey Bieber and Rosé wore brocade pieces from the same Spring/Summer 2027 collection.
The players
Anthony Vaccarello
Anthony Vaccarello is the creative director of Saint Laurent, whose decade-long tenure has defined the house's contemporary sensibility.
Zoë Kravitz
Zoë Kravitz is an actress and musician who wore a gold-leaf Saint Laurent creation to the CFDA Awards.
Hailey Bieber
Hailey Bieber is a model and beauty entrepreneur who wore a brocade piece from Saint Laurent's Spring/Summer 2027 collection to the CFDA Awards.
The details
Vaccarello's house ambassadors arrived in custom looks to support him, with Bieber and Rosé making a synchronized entrance. Elle Fanning wore a custom Coach ensemble, and Alexa Chung wore a draped duster jacket.
Timeline
The 2026 CFDA Awards red carpet took place on November 3, 2026, at the American Museum of Natural History.
Culture Shift
Celebrities wearing custom looks from a designer's current collection to the CFDA Awards continues the long-standing red-carpet pattern through which the awards amplify designers' work. The pattern positions the ceremony as a showcase for both honorees and the runway calendar.
Shoppers interested in Saint Laurent's Spring/Summer 2027 pieces can track the collection's release through the brand's retail channels. The red-carpet visibility of brocade and gold-leaf looks offers a practical preview of the season's statement pieces.
The takeaway
Red-carpet appearances at industry awards can serve as a real-time preview of a designer's upcoming season. Readers following fashion can use these looks to gauge which textures and finishes are likely to move from runway to retail.
Further reading
Explore more in Fashion coverage of designers, collections, and red-carpet trends.
