The CFDA Awards gala is often called the “Oscars of the Fashion World”. This year I was nominated for “Accessory Designer of the Year” along with Marc Jacbs and Jack McCollough & Lazaro Hernandez for Proenza Schouler. Of course, it was a huge honor just to be nominated alongside such great designers, but it became an unbelievable honor when I won.

The category encompasses ALL accessories- shoes, bags, etc. Few jewelry designers, who only do jewelry, have won in this category in the past. I’m incredibly humbled and honored to be among them- Tom Binns, Elsa Peretti for Tiffany & Co., Chrome Hearts, Paloma Picasso and Robert Lee Morris.

Here are some photos from Monday night. A little behind the scenes action for you.

My date- The amazing Iris Apfel.

My proud Dad.

Sam, my PR Director, looking very fabulous.

Iris and I handling the press.

A few words with John Bartlett.

The lovely Vera Wang.

My Dad, Tom, Iris and her darling husband.

The President of the CFDA, Diane von Furstenberg.

Anna Wintour giving a tribute to Michael Kors.

Iman getting her award from Isabella Rossellini.

Dakota Fanning presenting the award.

Betsey Johnson giving me a hug.

Holding the trophy!

I went to Coney Island for the day and found that Coney Island as I know it, is coming to an end. I wanted to take a few quick shots of it before they completely rebuild and gentrify it along with the wave of gentrification of NYC.

I’m a real baby when it comes to roller coasters. I hate the combo of heights and lack of control. The Cyclone is one of the oldest roller coasters and it looks it too! This is what they’re hoping will freak you out:

The structure of The Cyclone.

Crying on The Cyclone.

Some Muslim girls on a ride.

Little girls in the neighborhood dressed up for their first communion.

A horrible but AMAZING airbrush painting of Beyonce. A unique feature of Coney Island is it is really a hip hop amusement park and plays all R&B.

This is a crazy display of a man who is vomiting in a toilet and having diarrhea at the same time. It sits outside of the haunted house.

One of the best things about Coney Island is the diversity of the people. It is really a snapshot of Brooklyn. You have the Russian Jews from Brighton Beach, the hip hop fans, the Arabs, the 3rd generation Brooklyn Boys (like me), the recent Chinese immigrants, etc. Here is a Hasidic family, the Father orchestrating the kids.

This is a feature on every Sunday in the Summer. They set up a free dance party which plays all classic house and disco. It’s some of the best music you will hear in the city. It runs from 4-8pm.