Spurr confirmed his exit to WWD on Friday but claimed he is “not at liberty to say anything about what’s gone on.” Founded by Spurr and business partner Judd Nydes in 2006, the label went on to win the Fashion Group Internationl Rising Star Award in men’s wear just this January.

Meanwhile, how awkward would it be if Simon Spurr edged out fellows menswear nominees Patrik Ervell and Billy Reid at the CFDA’s in June?  [WWD, sub req'd]

This year, marking the Council of Fashion Designers of America’s 50th anniversary, the awards will be presented on June 4 at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tulley Hall in a ceremony hosted by Saturday Night Live also-ran Seth Meyers.

Womenswear Designer of the Year

Marc Jacobs
Proenza Schouler
The Row

Menswear Designer of the Year

Patrik Ervell
Billy Reid
Simon Spurr

Accessory Designer of the Year

Alexander Wang
Reed Krakoff 
Proenza Schouler

Swarovski Award for Emerging Talent – Womenswear

Joseph Altuzarra
Chris Peters and Shane Gabier, Creatures of the Wind 
Max Osterweis and Erin Beatty, Suno 

Swarovski Award for Emerging Talent — Menswear

Antonio Azzuolo
Todd Snyder
Phillip Lim

Swarovski Award for Emerging Talent – Accessory Design

Tabitha Simmons
Pamela Love
Irene Neuwirth

Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award

Tommy Hilfiger

International Award

Rei Kawakubo

Eleanor Lambert Founders Award

Andrew Rosen

Eugenia Sheppard Media Award

Scott Schuman and Garance Doré

Fashion Icon Award

Johnny Depp

So what do you think of the nominees? The Olsens sure have come a long way, baby, but does Marc Jacobs really need/deserve another CFDA nomination?

And bloggers have made their official entrée into the CFDA with noted streetstyle documentarians, Garance Doré and The Sartorialist‘s Scott Schuman, receiving the Media Award — is this a new level of legitimacy for the blogosphere? And if so, who’s next?

Also, when did that homeless man on the street known as Johnny Depp become a fashion icon? These questions and others will be answered on June 4 at the CFDA Awards. [WWD]

The limited edition tees are $85 a pop and are sold through starbucksstore.com and select Nordstrom stores. Though the designers were given a fee to participate, according to CFDA executive director, Steven Kolb, the project gave them the chance “to give back a little bit which is in keeping with the spirit of the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund.”

Not really sure to whom they’re giving back nor am I sure that the spirit of the Fashion Fund is about selling out hardcore, but for $85 I guess you can have your coffee and wear it too. [WWD]

Alexander Wang

Billy Reid (Mens)

Billy Reid (Womens)

Sophie Theallet

- Karl Lagerfeld, clearly bored with the 3,000 other projects he’s juggling, is now designing glassware. [Architectural Digest]

- Victoria’s Secret angels Miranda Kerr, Adriana Lima, Chanel Iman and Doutzen Kroes open up on the cover of Elle magazine. [Fashion Gone Rogue]

- Tommy Hilfiger and the CFDA are sending 10 designers, including Prabal Gurung, Sophie Theallet, Billy Reid and Eddie Borgo to Paris to show their collections. [The Cut]

- Kanye West may or may not be joining those 10 lucky designers in the City of Lights come Paris Fashion Week. [Fashionista]

- I was fully on board for Missoni‘s Target diffusion line until they debuted this beyond creepy 25-foot “blogger.” [Styleite]

Milk is now represented by Creative Artists Agency and has brought on Lexus and American Express as sponsors in addition to original partner MAC Cosmetics.  This partnership has also gone through some changes and beginning this Fashion Week MAC & Milk shows will be under the name of Made.

Lincoln Center on the other hand has IMG, Mercedes-Benz and Maybelline, as well as AmEx with MAC also providing make-up for many a MBFW show.

While Made focuses on emerging designers and does not charge to rent their space — MAC is the exclusive make-up provider leaving models and music on the bill — Lincoln Center caters to more high-profile designers, who in addition to paying for the venue also have to dig deep for models, hair, music and makeup. And these are just a few of the differences:

Number of Shows:

Made – 35

MBFW – 98 (81 on-site, 17 off)

Sponsors:

Made – MAC, American Express and Lexus

MBFW - DHL, Maybelline New York, American Express, TRESemmé, W Hotels Worldwide, Fiber One Bars, ideeli, Fiji Water, AriZona Beverages

Designers:

Made - Sophie Theallet, Cushnie Et Ochs, Peter Som, Erin by Erin Fetherston, Billy Reid, Simon Spurr, Ohne Titel, Jeremy Scott, Nahm

MBFW - BCBG Max Azria, Tommy Hilfiger, Nicole Miller, Cynthia Rowley, Derek Lam, Tracy Reese, L.A.M.B., Diane von Furstenberg, Betsey Johnson, Tory Burch, Badgley Mischka, Vera Wang, Diesel, Michael Kors, Nanette Lepore, J.Mendel, Milly by Michelle Smith, Anna Sui, Elie Tahari

With Fashion Week just around the corner and all those sponsorship dollars, designer reputations and AmEx black cards floating around, the stage is set for a good ole-fashioned walk-off between Milk Studios and Lincoln Center. [WWD]

Anna Wintour and her flock of the fabulous have meticulously the selected 10 designers (and design duos) in the running for the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Award. Last year, Billy Reid took the top prize of $300,000, a year of mentorship and a bronze trophy. The two runners-up Prabal Gurung and Eddie Borgo each took home $100,000 and a year of mentoring. This year, the judges are Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough of Proenza Schouler (who join the committee for the first time this year), Mark Holgate of Vogue, Jeffrey Kalinsky of Jeffrey and Nordstrom, Steven Kolb of the CFDA, Reed Krakoff of Coach, Jenna Lyons of J.Crew, Andrew Rosen of Theory, Diane von Furstenberg of the CFDA, and of course the Queen herself, Anna Wintour of Vogue.

See all the of nominees here:

A. A., Antonio Azzuolo

- Red carpet favorite Marchesa is hopping into less formal territory with its one-off Playboy Bunny costume design for the new Playboy Club opening in London June 4th. Using the original iconic costume design, Georgina Chapman and co. added “Marchesa’s signature details, such as hand draping and embroidery.” I better not see a forty-foot train of tulle cascading from that bunny tail. [Vogue]

- Anna Wintour parachuted into the J. Crew store on Fifth Ave to celebrate CFDA winner Billy Reid and the two designers who subsequently ate his dust, Prabal Gurung and Eddie Borgo.  All three designed capsule collections for the Crew; Reid’s seven piece collection is available online now through May with Gurung’s premiering in June and Borgo’s in July. [Fashionista]

We began the fashion search at Maguire Steele, the PR company that represents Timo Weiland, a designer we thought would evoke their clean cut hippiness. We arrived to find access to not only Timo, but to the Shipley & Halmos and Billy Reid collections, and Duckie Brown shoes. What a lovely way to start the day. Jeff was surprised to find himself liking this salmon Shipley blazer and green saddle shoes by Duckie; once he put them on, he saw the magic in them. Color and fit; bright and tight. That’s the vision.

Playing the green Timo Weiland vertically striped cardigan against the horizontally striped Billy Reid shirt made for optical illusionism – perfect for on-stage psychedelia. We tried with two Shipley & Halmos ties, one a conglomeration of pin thin geometric shapes, the other made of a mustard velvet (which totally called for heavy petting). We’re taking all of it along.

In the looks above, note the Shipley and Halmos pants: crisp, paper thin, glowing blue. Jeff really dug the look and feel of them. This sparked our next stop – Zara. Known in the masculine for modestly priced, modernly cut suits, I thought he might find a pant with a similar fit. Unfortunately, no fancy pants there captured our attention quite like Shipleys; the drawback to going from such a quality level of design down to one of the quickest of the fast fashion powerhouses (2 week turnaround from sketch to shelf!).

We did however conquer his need for new jeans. Imagine, he’s never owned a pair of skinny jeans! FashionIndie’s first instinct was mustard, for its ability to bring a bright spice to the stage. The look on his face when Mustard Slim Cut Jeans were suggested was dubious to say the least. We insisted he give it a try. In the fitting room, dubious shifted to contemplation, and very quickly to impressed contentment. Sold! To the man in yellow. He liked the fit so much, he got them in heather black as well. (TIP – Gentlemen, go to Zara right now… they’re only $39!)

We perused the rest of rushed retail row on Broadway from Broome to Bleecker from Urban Outfitters to Uniqlo, but nothing was jumping out at us. Man, were we spoiled by the gorgeous goods at Maguire Steele. Plus, mass market seems no place to find pieces to encapsulate the unique Heavy Pets sound. Time to switch things up,take it down real low, down all the way to Brooklyn’s poppin’ top vintage haunt, Beacon’s Closet.

Our instructions for The Pet: grab anything that strikes you. With that we end up with armfuls psychedelic patterns, bronze grommets, cowboy flair and a polyester disaster that shall remain on the hanger.

We pruned the options, ready to take eight new/old shirts in their varying sizes back to the rest of The Heavy Pets. The first piece on the rack? Pierre Cardin, $18.95. He looked at it skeptically, FashionIndie looked at it delightedly on him; we managed to convince acception with the tidbit that Pierre Cardin did introduce The Beatles to the Nehru jacket. Done and done.

The full styling goes down around 6:00 p.m. this evening when they are done with the soundcheck. As they are musicians, and this is fashion, that time is of course a rough estimation. But when it happens, we’ll be live tweeting @FashionIndie & @JessicaLapidos.

Come to The Brooklyn Bowl tonight to see The Heavy Pets perform in their new digs. See you there!

If you’re not familiar with his designs, know that Billy’s Southern roots run deep. Born in Florence, Alabama, the famed designer sprinkles a little of the south in each of his pieces. Yet his style has translated unbelievably well into Northeastern markets.

I chatted with Billy at Ann Taylor’s new store opening recently in Flatiron. Impeccably styled and always easygoing, here’s what the designer had to say.

So the big news is the CFDA award. Have you seen any effects so far, has it changed business for you guys in any way?

We have seen certainly more awareness around the business. It’s been a really nice boost, even from the beginning. It really helped quite a bit. Things are very busy in a good way.

We’ve seen your clothes and your collections, but what would you say are the Billy Reid commandments of style?

For us, it’s kind of two worlds coming together. I’m from the south; I grew up in Florence, Alabama. Yet we work out of New York. We manufacture a lot in New York City. And I’ve shared those two worlds for the last 12 years basically.

How do you think the Southern Billy Reid aesthetic meshes here in the North?

The two worlds are really coming together where the clothes can function well in both places. It starts from a very classic look, a lot of our things are timeless.

We always use the word ‘heirloom,’ something you pass down and clothes that last not only in durability. Things are made that way [in the South] and really have a life to them. Each piece really has a living, breathing soul to it. It sounds kind of corny maybe, but that’s what we really try to do.

Whether you’re wearing a jacket at your duck camp in Mississippi or you’re walking in the East Village, it translates well in both places. And that’s what we try to do.

Who are a couple designers you think are super relevant right now? Making waves and doing cool things?

Man, there’s so many. Junya Watanabe.

I think Loden Dager is doing some great things.

Those are maybe a little lesser known folks, but I like what they’re doing a lot.

I know things are heating up and getting extremely busy for you right now. What do you do when you get a second to yourself?

I hunker down this time of year in front of the fireplace and try to light things on fire. A lot of football and a lot of cushy chairs.

We do get a little break for the holidays. We usually shut it down and just stay home this time of year.

For more on Billy Reid and his apparel, visit his Web site.

Billy Reid may have taken top honors, but the real stars of the night were the leggy young starlets who came out in force and in minis to celebrate them.

My magnificent obsession, Leighton Meester, was perfection in a cocktail number from runner-up Prabal Gurung.

Her co-star and cover girl from Vogue‘s Best Dressed special edition issue, Blake Lively showed she earned the title in a lacy Chanel.

Christina Ricci accessorized her Peter Som with a pair of black tights and a serious bang.

Chanel Iman chose Altuzarra,and a sequined clutch she apparently rode in to the ceremony, for her red carpet stroll.

Despite fierce competition, It girl Carey Mulligan might have taken the top prize in this stunning Chanel Haute Couture dress.

There’s nothing to turn the grey skies to a slightly less morose color than pretty girls in pretty dresses.

LINK LOVE: Oh No They Didn’t!, Style.com

< > at Skylight SOHO on November 15, 2010 in New York City.

< > at Skylight SOHO on November 15, 2010 in New York City.

Billy Reid must be a man after my heart, because he and his wife celebrated the honor with a post-ceremony beer and burger at a favorite dive. Congratulations, Billy!

To check out some of the work that earned Reid the award, click here.

(Photo Courtesy of Manofcloth.blogspot.com)

Last year’s GQ designer of the year looks to keep the ball rolling with his latest collection.  And, by the looks of it, he’s doing a pretty damn good job.  Keeping his base inspiration of dapper 50s/60s Southern gentleman, Reid plays with fit, a few unconventional patterns, and a variety of different and daring footwear choices.  Jump like David Lee Roth for more.Overall it looks stunningly good.  It’s tough to make RTW menswear that’s different enough from previous seasons to warrant buying but it seems like Reid’s got a good formula.  Plus, the pretty radical display methods don’t hurt either.  Mayhaps the BR headquarters are silently chanting ‘Repeat!  Repeat!‘  And for good reason.

LINK LOVE: Hypebeast

GQ’s designer of the year Billy Reid showed his latest Fall 2010 collection at the Mac & Milk venue. The collection is classic Americano, totally loved it. Nice choice GQ, and way to follow up after Robert Geller last season.

Gallery: RUNWAY: Billy Reid Fall 2010

LINK LOVE: GQ

Billy Reid, Richard Chai, Unis (designed by Eunice Lee), J.Crew’s Frank Muytjens, Caulfield Preparatory’s Vincent Flumiani and Doug and Ben Burkman of Burkman Brothers were all chosen by GQ’s Editor-in-Chief Jim Nelson and its Creative Director, Jim Moore.

The winner will be chosen next month by a panel of judges including GQ’s editors, the CFDA’s Steven Kolb and Italo Zucchelli, Calvin Klein’s menswear designer — all six nominees will be featured in GQ’s March issue.

Via Fashionista

Real men wear Billy Reid. And with striking clothing like this, who wouldn’t want to? The designer has an affinity for creating beautifully tailored jackets and vests, fitted trousers and jackets with unique details. Reid gets his charming, southern gentleman style from working in his mother’s Amite, Louisiana boutique during his youth. Three years after launching his signature the collection in 1998, the designer won the CFDA Perry Ellis award for Menswear. His sophisticated flagship store stays true to his roots, housed in a historic antebellum home in Florence, Alabama.

But what about the ladies? We want a little Southern charm in our lives and draping off our shoulders as well. Luckily, Reid recently launched his women’s collection, and it couldn’t be more appetizing. Sexy office wear that can easily be worn to the cigar bar with the boys in muted shades of black, gray and brown should make an appearance in every working gal’s wardrobe. Tailored suits and structured wool coats are here just in time for fall along with a cowlneck sweater dress that is absolutely divine. And don’t worry about jetting to the dirty dirty to buy your winter wardrobe; you can purchase Reid’s line on the Web.

Billy Reid launched his new Manhattan boutique on Bond Street. The inside is all about the vintage south, with deer heads and vintage photography on the walls, you can’t help but think of a woodsy, southern hunting lodge. Quick side note, I may just be obsessed with the layout of the store because I think deer heads are the coolest thing ever. Are they not?

Bouwerie Lane Building

54 Bond Street, NY

Thanks for the pictures Mens Style.