Francisco Costa, Rosita Bernard and Annelise Peterson at the Carlyle Hotel's Bemelmans Bar as Annelise Peterson, PR for Calvin Kline, kicks off the The Fete du Jour, a Summer au revoir and a gathering of the New Dimensions Committee for the Henry Street Settlement. Photo Credit: Elizabeth Lippman/Splash News

Francisco Costa, the creative director of the famous Calvin Klein clothing label, was named the Womenswear Designer of the Year at the 2006 Council of Fashion designers of America awards (CFDA).

Francisco beat Marc Jacobs and Proenza Schouler's Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough who were picked as the best up-and-coming designers only three years ago, to become the Womenswear Designer of the Year.

While accepting the trophy from actress Scarlett Johansson at the ceremony held at the New York Public Library on Monday night, Francisco Costa voiced in uplifted spirits, "If there is an American dream, this is it for me".

The honor was bestowed upon Costa for his skilful tailoring and attention to minutest detail on dresses ranging from power suits to chiffon gowns in Calvin Klein's spring and fall 2006 collection. Calvin Klein himself had won the CFDA award earlier in 1993 and 1987.

The fashion empire, Calvin Klein Inc, was sold for US$730 million to Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation in 2002.

Calvin Klein Spring 2006 collection revealed refreshingly flirty knee-length white dresses and separates in cotton voile

Francisco, the Brazilian-born New Yorker who lives with his mission of "I wanted more tailoring", is not new to big brands. He was a senior designer at Gucci for four years prior to joining Calvin Klein as the head designer for the CK collection in 2003.

Upon his arrival for the awards Costa said he was unfazed by being nominated up against the likes of Marc Jacobs and Proenza Schouler's Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough. He told reporters, "I'm not nervous, I'm very excited. I just want to have a good time and fun tonight."

The other top victors that night were Thom Browne as Menswear Designer of the Year, and Tom Binns as Accessory Designer of the Year.

Jeff Halmos, Josia Lamberto-Egan, Sam Shipley and John Whitledge for Trovata won the Swarovski's Perry Ellis Award for Menswear, Doo-Ri Chung won Swarovski's Perry Ellis Award for Womenswear, and Swarovski's Perry Ellis Award for Accessory Design went to Devi Kroell.

The Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc (CFDA) is a not-for-profit trade Association of 273 of America's foremost fashion and accessory designers. Founded in 1962, the foundation aims to honor those designers who have made a mark in the fashion industry and helped advance the artistic and professional status of fashion designing. CFDA has often been termed as the "Oscars of Fashion".

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