Cocktail hour went on longer than usual at tonight's CFDA Fashion Awards. Rihanna, this year's Fashion Icon, was a late arrival. Hey, it takes time to slip into 230,000 Swarovski crystals. Other than those rhinestones, there wasn't much to her Adam Selman dress; it afforded a nearly naked view of one of the world's most famous behinds as she took the stage. (For the record, BadGirl Riri was barer than Lady Gaga was when she accepted her own Fashion Icon Award in a G-string three years ago.)

But Rihanna's famous posterior wasn't the only attraction at this year's Awards. The CFDA scored John Waters as host, a coup that President Diane von Furstenberg acknowledged in her speech: "I'm so glad we hired you," she said. Waters opened with a bit about hitchhiking to Lincoln Center in white tie and tails, and alternately celebrated the fashion industry he was playing to and took the piss. The name of his hypothetical clothing line? Caught Dead In, "as in I wouldn't be." And his fashion rallying cry: "Let's stamp out nudity for style and profit."

Beyond laughs and Swarovski crystals, two things this Awards ceremony had more of than any we can remember: standing ovations and tears. Ruth Finley, the octogenarian founder of the Fashion Calendar and the Board of Directors' Tribute Award winner, received the evening's first ovation. Bethann Hardison, the diversity advocate and Founder's Award winner, got the last. "I'm not here to put anyone down," Hardison said, "I'm here to lift everyone up." In between, Lifetime Achievement honoree Tom Ford brought the crowd to its feet. "Please have me back in another 25 years," he asked. "I promise I'll wear a toupee and use a cane."

Raf Simons, who accepted the International Award for his two years of work at Dior from Marion Cotillard, broke down when he thanked his right-hand man, Pieter Mulier. "My biggest thank-you goes to the man that has been standing by my side for more than 15 years designing together with me. Thank you for your endless support, your vision, your energy, and the friendship." And there wasn't a dry eye in Alice Tully Hall when Paul Cavaco remembered his late wife, Kezia Keeble, in his speech for the Media Award. "If she were here, she would be accepting this award with me."

Joseph Altuzarra, The Row, and Public School took home the night's top prizes for womenswear, accessories, and menswear, respectively. (See a complete list of the winners here.) "Well, that's about it," Waters said in closing. "As all the CFDA winners know, fashion is power. Change your clothes three times a day and you can take over the world!"

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If you've been wondering how Nacho Figueras' pelvis is doing, rest assured. "It's back in business," he told Style.com on Saturday. Fashion's favorite polo player had to sit out last year's Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic because of a broken tailbone, but this time around he returned to Liberty State Park with every intention of winning, even if he was playing it cool wardrobe-wise. Figueras skipped his signature haberdashery (he's been the face of Ralph Lauren Black Label since 2005) and instead opted for a blazer, jeans, and Rolling Stones tee. Why so casual?

"Well, I woke up like this, I felt like the Rolling Stones." Everyone else, on the other hand, seemed to take dressing up rather seriously. "Fashion loves a polo match," said Steven Kolb. "It's all about showing off your linen, your khaki, your sunglasses." Not to mention a sensible pair of shoes. At halftime, guests took to the pitch for the obligatory round of divot stomping. Actress Dakota Johnson was wearing Tabitha Simmons flats. "I'm excited because it's a saying I use in real life—one should always fix one's divots," she said. "That's why I wore these!"

"I enjoy dressing up. But I do also enjoy dressing down," Lupita Nyong'o remarked as she took in the match alongside friend Olivia Munn and their mutual stylist, Micaela Erlanger. Carly Cushnie of Cushnie et Ochs went as far as to wonder if the crowd, which also included Julianne Moore and Busy Philipps, was actually paying attention. "It's about dressing up, the colors, the champagne, watching beautiful men on beautiful horses. Is anyone really watching the sport?" If they were, they would have noticed that Figueras led his Black Watch team to a 12-10 victory over the Veuve Clicquot opposition.

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It takes a lot to get a fashion crowd together on a Sunday evening in June, the night before the CFDA Awards no less, but the second annual Fashion Centered dinner supporting The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center did the trick. Not that cocktails alfresco in the garden of the Center's West 13th Street headquarters was twisting anybody's arm. Sofia Sanchez Barrenechea and Joseph Altuzarra took the opportunity to compare plans for their upcoming nuptials. Altuzarra's mother, Karen, was also in attendance, as were Alexander Wang; Ryan Korban; Kering's Laurent Claquin; and Narciso Rodriguez and his husband, Thomas Tolan.

Over dinner, Isaac Mizrahi surprised guests with an impromptu song performance, but it was Barneys' Mark Lee who stole the show, sharing a touching personal anecdote about growing up gay in 1970s San Francisco—"I marched in our Pride parade against Anita Bryant!"—and personally donating $20,000 to support The Center's programming.

In the end, the evening raised more than $150,000. So naturally, the Center's executive director, Glennda Testone, hopes to keep nurturing the relationship between fashion and her organization. "There's such a natural marriage between fashion and the LGBT community," she told Style.com. "The fashion industry celebrates people expressing themselves and being who they are. A lot of LGBT kids find solace in fashion, and a lot of fashion folks look to our community and our icons for inspiration."

Earlier, some of the same faces were in the mix at Marquee, where Naomi Campbell and Iman were throwing a 1970s-style Sunday tea dance party for Bethann Hardison, who'll pick up the Founder's Award at the CFDA Awards tonight for her diversity advocacy. Introducing the woman of the hour, Tyson Beckford said, "Tonight is about my manager, my heart, Mama B, Bethann Hardison. Bethann has led us in this fight to make sure that each and every one of you young colored people can have a life like Tyson Beckford, like Naomi Campbell, like Iman…You the stylists, the photographers, the bookers, you can control this. The models will show up. Fuck racism. Up with diversity."

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