Former BAZAAR Cover Star Yara Shahidi Stuns On Her First Ever CFDA Awards Red Carpet
The brunette beauty then took to the stage to present Barbie with the Board of Director’s Tribute Award
As the fashion flock descended on the Brooklyn Museum last night for the 2019 CFDA Awards, guests including Bella and Gigi Hadid, Ciara and Jennifer Lopez brought their sartorial best to the red carpet in support of the exceptional contributions by their favourite designers at the annual event presented by the Council of Fashion Designers of America. But the one woman who really caught our eye? Yara Shahidi.
The actress, model, philanthropist and former Bazaar cover star – who was making her CFDA debut – stunned in an elegantly-draped Monse ensemble, teaming a ruched print turtleneck with high-waisted red trousers. But if there’s anything that got the style set talking, it was her sculptural braided updo that floated behind her in super-chic style.
Crafted by hair stylist Nikki Nelms, the work of art was inspired by Diana Ross in 1975’s Mahogany, who cornrowed Shahidi’s lengths back vertically before weaving delicate micro-braids around wire and moulding them into these gravity-defying shapes. That’s no small feat!
Later in the evening, Yara took to the stage to present Barbie with the Board of Director’s Tribute Award, with the CDFA saying of the brand: “Her social reach continues to grow by the millions. She’s run for President six times. She beat Neil Armstrong to the moon. And with 60 years of experience and over 200 careers and counting, she’s made an indelible mark on society while continuously inspiring all ages to believe that they can be anything.”
Just earlier this year, brunette beauty Shahidi was selected to front the brand’s ‘Shero’ campaign by creating her very own version of the Barbie doll, saying: “Let’s continue to inspire the next generation and each other. We need your voices and are watching you all blossom and shine!” $1 from every Barbie purchased went towards the company’s Dream Gap Project – a project designed to level the playing field for young girls.
Take a look at the list below for the full list of winners at the 2019 CFDA Awards here:
Womenswear Designer of the Year: Brandon Maxwell
Menswear Designer of the Year: Rick Owens
Accessory Designer of the Year: Ashley Olsen and Mary-Kate Olsen, The Row
Emerging Designer of the Year: Emily Adams Bode, Bode
Carine Roitfeld, former Editor-in-Chief of Vogue Paris, received the Founders Award while Lynn Yaeger, a contributing editor to Vogue, took home the Media Award in Honor of Eugenia Sheppard.
Fashion designer Eileen Fisher was awared the Positive Change Award, while Alexander McQueen Creative Director Sarah Burton got the Valentino Garavani and Giancarlo Giammetti International Award.
Last but not least, prolific costume designer Bob Mackie – who designed outfits for The Carol Burnett Show, as well as costume’s for Cher’s tours – received the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award.