Nadja Swarovski

Whether you're going to a movie, the theater, a fashion show, or even Vienna's Life Ball, chances are Swarovski is there, twinkling on some embellishment on a curtain, a chandelier, a costume, an evening dress, or, in the case of the Life Ball, a very blingy, very large AIDS ribbon. All those little crystals do a lot to support the arts--especially fashion. At Monday's CFDA Awards, Swarovski sponsors awards for womenswear, menswear, and accessories. The woman at the helm of all that glittering support is Nadja Swarovski, whose great, great, grandfather, Daniel Swarovski, founded the company and worked with all the major couture houses in Paris at the start of the 19th century. We grabbed a few minutes with the extremely busy Swarovski in advance of Monday's awards to pick her brain about everything from how Swarovski scouts and supports designers to her background working with famed fashion publicist Eleanor Lambert.

Just moments ago, we stopped by our neighbors' (our office building is around the corner from the CFDA) to hear Diane von Furstenberg and Nadja Swarovski announce this year's nominees for the coveted CFDA Awards. Read on to find out who they are!

Last night's CFDA Awards were a decidedly star-studded affair, what with Lady Gaga, Kanye West, Sofia Coppola, Jessica Alba, Gerard Butler, Naomi Watts, and host Anderson Cooper spending time on the stage. Cooper had to leave early because of "that Weiner thing," or so Diane von Furstenberg said, but otherwise the audience received plenty of face time with their star of choice--there were even a couple of moments when one could forget this was, you know, a fashion industry event. But only a couple.

In this behind-the-scenes video, we see how Swarovski crystals play a part not only in the costumes designed by Rodarte (note costume designer Amy W

Prabal Gurung is a fashion darling, but he's also got the chops to back up his buzz. Yesterday's show at Lincoln center was proof. Not only did he build on his reputation for expertly draped and tailored evening dresses--he also gave us something different: distinctive day wear. I was afforded the opportunity to sit in Row 1, Section A with Gurung-supporter/sponsor Nadja Swarovski. I'll be shadowing Swarovski for a bunch of sponsored shows at London Fashion Week, as well as a show in Paris. (I'm traveling with the company as a blogging ambassador of sorts.) It was undoubtedly the best seat I've ever had, and I was truly appreciative. Not only did I get a great view of the clothes, but also the INSANELY AMAZING shoes designed by Nicholas Kirkwood. If you thought sky-high heels were on their way out, you're wrong: Kirkwood's collection for Prabal was strappy and nearly-dominatrix in its styling, save for the soft nude, gold and neons used on the straps, leather and platforms. Nicholas sat across from us, paying close attention to how the girls walked. But back to the clothes: