American Fashion Galore! The 2025 CFDA Fashion Awards Red Carpet Looks
New York’s American Museum of Natural History turned into a cathedral of American style on November 3, 2025, as designers, actors, musicians, and models stepped onto the CFDA Fashion Awards Red carpet. Hosted by multihyphenate Teyana Taylor, the night honored design excellence while serving a master class in modern red-carpet dressing. Taylor set the tone in custom Thom Browne with sculptural shoulders, a velvet pencil skirt, and cascades of rhinestones that turned black-tie into performance art.
What happened inside quickly, so we can talk about clothes outside
The ceremony confirmed several industry favorites: Ralph Lauren won American Wear Designer of the Year; Thom Browne took American Menswear Designer of the Year; Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen for The Row earned American Accessory Designer of the Year; and Ashlyn Park of Ashlyn was named Google Shopping American Emerging Designer of the Year. The venue was the American Museum of Natural History, consistent with the CFDA’s announcement ahead of the show.
A$AP Rocky received the Style Icon Award presented by Anna Wintour and arrived with Rihanna, two generations of fashion power in one tableau. Rocky wore an elegant Chanel look while Rihanna balanced ease and edge in Alaï, a pairing that set social feeds buzzing before the show even began.
The red-carpet mood three ideas dominated the carpet
1) Sheer and “naked” dressing softened
The season’s see-through trend appeared in airy strategic ways rather than shock value. Nina Dobrev’s strapless Carolina Herrera gown, black with vivid roses and a sheer thigh-high skirt, captured that balance of romance and reveal.
2) Tailoring with theatrics
From Teyana Taylor’s architectural Thom Browne hosting look to sharp jackets paired with fluid skirts, the night’s most memorable outfits treated classic tailoring as a stage for exaggeration rather than restraint.
3) Archival references remixed
Vintage-coded moments and archival nods punctuated the carpet, reminding everyone that fashion history is an endless styling resource. Vogue highlighted Amber Valletta’s plunge into Versace’s famed jungle print, forever linked to Jennifer Lopez and a wave of minimal-meets-provocative looks from contemporary labels.
Standout arrivals to know and how they styled it
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Rihanna and A$AP Rocky: A lesson in couples’ coordination without matching. Rihanna’s sleek Alaïa trench and pleated trousers let Rocky’s Chanel knit and silk-gabardine suit do the flexing. It read modern, unfussy, and utterly confident.
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Teyana Taylor: As host, she delivered runway-level drama in a custom Thom Browne, complete with rounded shoulders, velvet pencil line,s and draped rhinestones that moved like jewelry.
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Nina Dobrev: Romance with a twist in Carolina Herrera’s Spring 2026 roses and sheer skirt proves that the sheer trend can feel polished.
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Amber Valletta: Supermodel stature plus a Y2K-era power print, the revived Versace jungle motif remains a crowd-pleaser when styled with restraint.
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Broad carpet gallery highlights: From W and WWD’s lenses, the carpet tracked a wide range – Rihanna and Rocky; editor Sara Moonves alongside Jennifer Lawrence in The Row; and a steady stream of sculptural monochromes that photographed beautifully under the Hall of Ocean Life lights.
Micro‐trends, the carpet confirmed
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Monochrome with texture: Many guests chose one shade head-to-toe, then created depth with materials velvet, satin, tulle, rhinestone mesh. The result reads calm in person and high impact on camera, a trick worth borrowing for holiday dressing.
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Menswear embellished: Menswear codes, knits under suitin,g softened lapel,s jewelry layered over tailoring continue to move from runway to red carpet. Rocky’s look is the north star here, archival-aware, luxury-calm, and accessory-forward.
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The power of a single statement piece: Whether a sculptural hat, an exaggerated shoulder, or a heritage print, guests often anchored otherwise minimal looks with one focal element. Taylor’s hat-and-shoulder combo and Valletta’s jungle motif are case studies.
Why these wins matter
Ralph Lauren’s womenswear win underscores the ongoing appetite for classic American elegance that still evolves with modern life. Thom Browne’s menswear honour recognises the continued mainstreaming of experimental tailoring. The Row’s accessories cement the label’s quiet-power approach to bags and shoes as the luxury uniform of choice, while Ashlyn Park’s emerging designer recognition signals the industry’s enthusiasm for precise, emotionally intelligent design.
Quick facts for readers
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Date and place: November 3, 2025, American Museum of Natural History, New York City
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Host: Teyana Taylor
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Style Icon: A$AP Rocky, presented by Anna Wintour; Rihanna attended
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Top winners: Ralph Lauren, Thom Browne, The Row, Ashlyn Park
