The 2026 CFDA Fashion Awards, hosted by Keke Palmer at the American Museum of Natural History, celebrated the industry's top talent. The evening was notable for a heavy presence of "second generation" stars who used the red carpet to highlight both legacy houses and rising designers.
Lila Moss and Gracie Abrams championing emerging labels like Juju Vera Studio
A significant trend at this year's ceremony was the shift from legacy luxury to the discovery of new talent. Rather than leaning solely on established fashion houses, many attendees with famous lineages chose to spotlight emerging designers. Lila Moss, daughter of supermodel Kate Moss, opted for a look from Juju Vera Studio, wearing a black column gown featuring a velvet bust band and a fringed wrap.
Similarly, singer Gracie Abrams—whose father is filmmaker J.J. Abrams—used her platform to wear Colleen Allen. The singer's strapless black velvet gown shared a commonality with other attendees, such as the designer Ferentinos, through its sophisticated simplicity. As the report notes, these choices suggest that the industry's younger elite are acting as much as curators as they are as celebrities.
Meadow Walker’s yellow crinkle set and Esther McGregor’s Thom Browne tailoring
The red carpet also served as a playground for bold, individualistic styling that broke away from traditional evening wear. Meadow Walker, daughter of the late Paul Walker, arrived in a vibrant yellow crinkle-fabric jacket and matching midi skirt, paired with slate-blue pumps for a pop of contrast. This colorful approach stood in stark opposition to the more structured, gender-bending looks seen elsewhere.
Esther McGregor,daughter of Ewan McGregor and Eve Mavrakis, leaned into high-concept tailoring by wearing Thom Browne. Her look featured a gray plaid bodice, a white collared shirt, and a striped tie, paired with a white skirt decorated with geometric detailing. This choice was paticularly timely, as Browne was a nominee for American Menswear Designer of the Year at the event .
Hailey Bieber’s gold Saint Laurent look celebrates Vaccarello’s 10-year milestone
While emerging designers were the stars of the moment, legacy houses still commanded significant attention through high-profile connections. Hailey Bieber, a member of Hollywood's Baldwin family, arrived in an all-gold Saint Laurent dress characterized by ornate metallic floral patterning.. The dress featured dark brown fur-like cuffs, adding a textural element to the shimmering silhouette.
This sartorial choice served as a tribute to one of the evening's major honorees. According to the ceremony details, Vaccarello was recognized with the International Designer of the Year Award, marking a decade of leadership at Saint Laurent. The connection between Bieber and the house underscored the enduring power of established luxury brands at the CFDA awards.
The unknown commercial impact of the 'second generation' red carpet effect
While the visual impact of these celebrity choices is undeniable, the long-term economic results remain unverified. It is currently unclear if the visibility provided to designers like Colleen Allen and Juju Vera Studio translates into immediate commercial growth or sustained brand recognition. The report highlights the fashion choices of these stars, but does not provide data on whether these red-carpet moments lead to significant spikes in sales for the emerging labels involved.
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