Stefano Tonchi Shares American Dreams at the CFDA Preview

It’s unclear whether great clothes can make a great party, but a stunning sunset backdrop doesn’t hurt. Last night, Swarovski threw a pre-emptive soiree in honor of the 2010 Council of Fashion Designers of America Award honorees and nominees the lovely rooftop terrance of Ink 47 Hotel. Nadja Swarovski and W‘s new editor-in-chief Stefano Tonchi co-hosted the event, where designers and creatives enjoyed the crystal-clear view. “There are a lot of new names and it’s a sign of how alive the New York scene is,” Tonchi remarked on the evening’s celebrated nominees.

“Whatever you think about New York Fashion Week, it is still the place you still get more new names every season. Everybody gets a chance. Milan, Paris I think are very locked. New York is a place where it doesn’t matter where you come from, it’s all about people who may not have a past but look toward the future.”

And come fall, we will see Fashion Week at Lincoln Center and Tonchi’s new take on W.  While we won’t get to see his new voice until the October or November issues hit, we asked if he had any favorites of the nominated bunch that evening. “I am a big fan in menswear of [Patrik] Ervell, and for women’s I’m very excited about all the nominees—especially Joseph Altuzarra [pictured above], because I really like his work,” he revealed. Looking across the party, we spotted the likes of established designers Donna Karan, Nicole Miller mixing with young favorites like Jason Wu and Eddie Borgo (and many may more) mingling—representing an entire range of top tier styles to get one excited about New York fashion more than ever.