The Coty American Fashion Critics' Awards (awarded 1943–1984) were first announced in January 1942 by the cosmetics and perfume company Coty, Inc. to promote and celebrate American fashion, and encourage design during the Second World War. They were conceived and created by Coty, Inc. Executive Vice President, Jean Despres, founder of The Fragrance Foundation and FiFi Awards, and Grover Whalen (a member of the New York City Mayor's Committee, and president of the 1939 New York World's Fair). The publicist and champion of American fashion, Eleanor Lambert, was employed to promote and produce the awards. The awards were given solely to designers based in America, unlike the Neiman Marcus Fashion Awards. Up until its discontinuation in 1985, the Coty Award was considered one of the most prestigious awards in the field of fashion. The awards were designed by Malvina Hoffman. The womenswear awards are popularly known as Winnies; the menswear award which began in 1968 has no name. Repeat awards were the Return Award and the Hall of Fame award. Special Awards were also awarded to designers in specialist fields.
In 1985, Donald Flannery, the senior vice-president of Pfizer, Inc., Coty's parent company, announced that through their promotion of American fashion design and designers, the awards had successfully brought America into the worldwide fashion scene. This had been the primary reason for the Coty Awards' creation, and as their work was complete it was decided to discontinue them.
1943WinnieNorman NorellSpecial AwardsLilly Daché (millinery)
John Frederics (millinery)
Additional citationsHattie Carnegie (fashion designer & retailer)
Clare Potter (American sportswear)Charles CooperMainbocher (American couture)
Claire McCardell (American sportswear)
Valentina (American couture)
1944WinnieClaire McCardellSpecial AwardsPhelps Associates (leather accessories)
Sally Victor (millinery)
1945WinniesGilbert AdrianTina LeserEmily Wilkens
1946WinniesOmar Kiam (of Ben Reig)Vincent Monte-SanoClare Potter
Additional citationsCeil ChapmanHelen MorganCarolyn SchnurerWallace MackeyMorris WolockBrooke CadwalladerNina Wolf
1947The awards of 1947 recognised the work of the four main branches of the fashion industry: bespoke high-end design, high end wholesale, mid-priced wholesale, and junior fashion.
WinniesJacob H. Horwitz (junior fashions)Mark Mooring (couture design for
Bergdorf Goodman)
Nettie Rosenstein (high end wholesale)
Adele Simpson (medium end wholesale)
1948WinnieHattie CarnegieSpecial AwardsJoseph de Leo (furs)Esther Dorothy (furs)Maximilian (furs)
1949WinniePauline TrigèreSpecial AwardsDavid Evins (shoes)Toni Owen (American sportswear)
1950WinniesCharles JamesBonnie Cashin
Special AwardsMabel & Charles Julianelli (shoes)Nancy Melcher (lingerie)
1951WinnieJane DerbyReturn AwardNorman NorellPauline Trigère
Special AwardsAnne Fogarty (prettiest dresses)
Vera Maxwell (American sportswear)
Sylvia Pedlar (lingerie)
1952WinniesBen ZuckermanBen Sommers of
CapezioSpecial AwardsKaren Stark at Harvey Berin (concept of dressing)Sydney Wragge (concept of dressing)
1953WinnieTom BriganceSpecial AwardsHelen Lee (children's clothing)John Moore at Matty Talmack (evening wear)
1954WinnieJames GalanosSpecial AwardsCharles James (innovative cutting)
1955WinniesAnne KleinJeanne CampbellHerbert Kasper
Special AwardAdolfo (millinery)
1956WinniesLuis EstevezSally Victor
Return AwardJames GalanosHall of Fame AwardNorman NorellSpecial AwardGertrude & Robert Goldworm (knitwear)
1957WinniesLeslie MorrisSydney Wragge
Special AwardEmeric Partos (furs)
1958WinnieArnold ScaasiReturn AwardBen Zuckerman
Hall of Fame AwardClaire McCardell (posthumous)
Special AwardsDonald Brooks (influence on evening clothes)
Jean Schlumberger (jewelry)
1959Hall of Fame AwardsJames GalanosPauline Trigère
1960WinniesFerdinando SarmiJacques Tiffeau
Special AwardsRudi Gernreich (innovative body clothes)Sol Klein at Nettie Rosenstein (
costume jewelry)Roxane of Samuel Winston (beaded evening wear)
1961WinniesBill BlassGustave Tassell
Hall of Fame AwardBen Zuckerman
Special AwardsBonnie Cashin (deep-country clothes)Kenneth (leadership in hair-styling)
1962WinnieDonald BrooksSpecial AwardHalston (millinery)
1963WinnieRudi GernreichReturn AwardBill BlassSpecial AwardsArthur and Theodora Edelman (leather design)Betty Yokova of Neustadter Furs Inc.
1964WinnieGeoffrey BeeneReturn AwardJacques Tiffeau
Special AwardDavid Webb (jewelry design)
Return Special AwardSylvia Pedlar1965Tzaims Luksus (fabric design)Pablo of Elizabeth Arden (leadership in make-up)Gertrude Seperack of Warner's (
bodystockings and foundation garments)
Special AwardsAnna Potov of Maximilian (furs)Sylvia de Gay (young fashion)Edie Gladstone (young fashion)Stan Herman (young fashion)Victor Joris (young fashion)Gayle Kirkpatrick (young fashion)Deanna Littell (young fashion)Leo Narducci (young fashion)Don Simonelli (young fashion)
Bill Smith (young fashion)
1966WinnieDominic at Matty Talmack
Return AwardsRudi GernreichGeoffrey Beene
Special AwardKenneth Jay Lane (costume jewelry)
1967WinnieOscar de la RentaReturn AwardDonald Brooks
Hall of Fame AwardRudi Gernreich
Special AwardHerbert & Beth Levine (shoes)
1968WinniesGeorge HalleyLuba Marks
Return AwardsBonnie CashinOscar de la Renta
Special AwardGiorgio di Sant' Angelo(fantasy accessories and ethnic fashions)
1969WinniesStan HermanVictor Joris
Return AwardAnne Klein
Special AwardsAdolfo (millinery)
Halston (millinery)Julian Tomchin (fabric designs)
1970WinniesGiorgio di Sant' AngeloChester Weinberg
Return AwardHerbert KasperHall of Fame AwardBill BlassSpecial AwardsWill & Eileen Richardson of Up Tied (Tie-dyed fabrics)
Steven Brody and Daniel Stoenescu of Cadoro (costume jewelry)
Alexis Kirk (costume jewelry)Cliff Nicholson (costume jewelry)
Marty Ruza (costume jewelry)Bill Smith (costume jewelry)
Menswear AwardRalph Lauren1971WinniesHalstonBetsey Johnson at Alley Cat
Hall of Fame AwardAnne Klein
Hall of Fame CitationBill Blass
Special AwardsJohn Kloss of Cira (lingerie)Nancy Knox (men's shoes)Levi Strauss & Co (worldwide fashion influence)
Elsa Peretti (jewelry)
Menswear AwardLarry Kane of Raffles Wear
1972WinnieJohn Anthony
Return AwardHalston
Hall of Fame AwardBonnie CashinSpecial AwardDorothy Weatherford of Mountain Artisans (patchwork and quality)
Special Menswear AwardsRobert Margolis of A. Smile Inc. (excitement in menswear)Alan Rosanes of Gordon Gregory Ltd. (excitement in menswear)Alexander Shields (excitement in menswear)Pinky Wolman & Dianne Beaudry of Flo Toronto (excitement in menswear)
1973WinniesStephen BurrowsCalvin Klein
Hall of Fame AwardOscar de la RentaSpecial AwardsClovis Ruffin (original young fashion)Joe Famolare (shoes)Don Kline (hats)
Judith Leiber (handbags)Herbert & Beth Levine (shoes)Michael Moraux of Dubaux (jewelry)Celia Sebiri (jewelry)
Menswear AwardPiero Dimitri
1974WinnieRalph LaurenReturn AwardCalvin KleinHall of Fame AwardsGeoffrey BeeneHalston
Special AwardsStephen Burrows (lingerie)Stan Herman (lingerie)John Kloss (lingerie)Fernando Sánchez (lingerie)Bill Tice (lingerie)
Menswear AwardBill Kaiserman of Rafael
Menswear Return AwardPiero Dimitri
Special Menswear AwardsSal Cesarani (menswear)
John Weitz (menswear)Aido Cipullo (male jewelry)
1975WinniesCarol Horn
Hall of Fame AwardCalvin KleinHall of Fame CitationGeoffrey BeeneHall of Fame Award (menswear)Piero Dimitri
Special AwardsBill Blass for
Revillon America (fur design)Fernando Sanchez for
Revillon America (fur design)Calvin Klein for Alixandre (fur design)Viola Sylbert for Alixandre (fur design)Monika Tilley for Elon (swimwear)
Menswear AwardChuck Howard & Peter Wrigley at Anne Klein Studio
Menswear Return AwardBill Kaiserman of Rafael
Special Menswear AwardNancy Knox (leather menswear)
1976WinnieMary McFaddenReturn AwardsJohn AnthonyRalph Lauren
Hall of Fame AwardHerbert KasperHall of Fame Award (menswear)Bill Kaiserman
Special AwardsAmerican Sporting Gear (Sportswear (activewear))Barbara Dulien (womenswear)
Menswear AwardSal Cesarani
Special Menswear AwardsVicky Davis (men's neckwear)Lowell Judson (men's loungewear)Ronald Kolodzie (men's loungewear)Robert Schafter (men's loungewear)
1977WinniesStephen BurrowsDonna Karan & Louis Dell'Olio for Anne Klein
Hall of Fame AwardRalph Lauren
Hall of Fame CitationGeoffrey Beene (Contribution to American Fashion)
Special AwardsTed Muehling (jewelry)Fernando Sanchez (lingerie)
Menswear AwardAlexander Julian1978WinniesBill AtkinsonCharles Suppon
Return AwardMary McFaddenSpecial AwardsJoan & David Helpern (shoes and boots)AMF Head Sportswear Co. (outstanding contribution to activewear)Danskin Inc. (exercise and sports clothing)
Menswear AwardRobert StockMenswear Hall of Fame CitationBill Kaiserman
1979WinniePerry EllisHall of Fame AwardMary McFadden
Hall of Fame Citationsfor contributions to international status of American fashionGeoffrey BeeneHalstonCalvin KleinRalph Lauren
Special AwardsBarry Kieselstein-Cord (jewelry)Gil Truedsson (shoes)Joan Vass (knitwear)
Menswear AwardLee Wright
Menswear Return AwardAlexander JulianSpecial Menswear AwardConrad Bell (men's furs)
1980WinnieMichaele VollbrachtSpecial AwardsJeffrey Aronoff (handwoven fabrics)Stewart Richer for Reminiscence (retailers)
Menswear AwardJhane BarnesMenswear Special AwardRon Chereskin
1981After Beene, Klein and Lauren all rejected their awards, it was decided that all nominees would receive awards.
WinniesCalvin KleinPerry EllisGeoffrey Beene
Special AwardsBarry Kieselstein-Cord (jewelry)Alex Mate & Lee Brooks (jewelry)Fernando SánchezFabrice Simon (beaded evening wear)Hot Sox (hosiery)
Robert Lee Morris (jewelry)Laura Pearson at Tijuca (knitwear)
Menswear AwardJhane BarnesAlexander JulianRalph Lauren
Menswear Special AwardsAndrew FezzaNancy KnoxRobert Lighton
1982WinnieAdri
Return AwardsNorma KamaliDonna Karan & Louis Dell'Olio (of Anne Klein)
Special AwardsSusan Bennis & Warren Edwards (shoes)Jay Lord HattersPatricia Underwood (millinery)Ted Muehling (jewelry)Allen Veness (weaving and knitwear)
Special Award CitationGeoffrey Beene (fifth Coty Award citation)
Menswear AwardJeffrey BanksMenswear Return AwardSal Cesarani
Menswear Special AwardRobert Comstock (men's outerwear)
Zoran (men's separates)
1983WinnieWilli SmithHall of Fame AwardNorma KamaliSpecial Award CitationsPerry Ellis (womenswear)Bill BlassAlexander JulianCarlos Falchi (handbags)Susan HortonSelma, John & Barbara Weiser of Charivari
Menswear AwardAlan FlusserMenswear Return AwardPerry Ellis
1984WinnieAdrienne VittadiniHall of Fame AwardDonna Karan & Louis Dell'Olio (of Anne Klein)
Special AwardsMilena CanoneroRobin Kahn (jewelry)Barry Kieselstein-Cord (jewelry)Michelle & Janis Savitt (jewelry)
MenswearAndrew FezzaHall of Fame Award (Menswear)Perry Ellis
Menswear Return AwardJhane Barnes 