This year, Michael Kors will join the ranks of Donna Karan, Carolina Herrera, Diane Von Furstenburg, Valentino, Karl Lagerfeld, and Yves Saint Laurent when he is presented with a Geoffrey Beane Lifetime Achievement Award.
A variety of other awards have been given to influencers who, though not designers, have powerful voices as masters of red carpet style, as with Sarah Jessica Parker, or as journalists like this year's winner Tonne Goodman of Vogue. Occasionally, distinction is given to one who may not even work in fashion at all, but who posesses the style and grace to reignite a nation's passion for dressing well and standing tall. In last year's winner, Michelle Obama, the Council of Fashion Designers of America intended not to honor notoriety, but herald the birth of legend.
This year's celebration will include one somber moment, as Alexander McQueen is remembered for his work. Though his life was cut short, his unique voice will continue to underscore the creative thoughts of designers, entertainers, artists and the everyman for generations.
Andrew Sotomayor is a celebrity makeup artist in New York who's worked with Juliette Binoche, Kerry Washington, Saffron Burrows, Rose Byrne, Justin Kirk, Jonathan Groff and champion boxer Andre Berto. His clients have appeared on Project Runway, The Today Show, The CBS Early Show, Good Day New York, and CNN. He's created the makeup for Victoria Beckham's denim and eyewear look books, and assisted on fashion shows for Dior, Diesel, Marchesa, and Project Runway. Magazines like Marie Claire, Shape, InStyle, Glamour, People, and numerous blogs have interviewed him, and he's appeared on television for Access Hollywood. Andrew leads makeup artistry workshops for the students at The High School of Fashion Industries. See his work at DramaFreeMakeup.com
