It was almost a baptism.

New York's fashion elite is not happy moving to Lincoln Center -- either for the twice-yearly fashion shows, or the annual Council of Fashion Designers of America awards, which christened the venue last night with its first appearance. So when storm clouds dumped on the red carpet like a Cathy Horyn review, many saw it as a grim omen.

In fact, it was a blessing. After a swift wash from the heavens ("cleaning the New York away," was how one veteran fashionista described it), the storm moved on and the Alice Tully Hall sparkled in the unexpected sunshine. Models wearing the clothes of nominated designers stood on a pyramid of stairs in the crisp air as guests filed in for champagne, making the lobby look like the world's best-dressed gay pride event (except with real women).

After a ceremony with Blake Lively and Justin Timberlake (in the flesh) and Tom Cruise and Michelle Obama (via video) amping up the star power, a visibly happy CFDA executive director Steven Kolb flitted around the buffet dinner glad-handing designers and celebrities. ("Success" was his one-word Facebook status update when he got home later that night.)

Some fashionistas sniped that Calvin Klein was having a rival event the same evening -- to mark the opening of the High Line park -- which, in the opinion of a few, was in poor taste given that the company's menswear designer Italo Zucchelli was nominated for (and won) an award. However the people who were complaining might have been the very same ones who weren't invited.

And finally, I was able to solve a minor fashion mystery which has been bugging me for years: Whether CFDA president Diane Von Furstenberg pronounces her first name in the traditional American way, or the more European "Dee-ahn." Some very fancy people who should know (including several on stage last night) pronounce it Dee-ahn, and yet I have been standing next to her when she has introduced herself, and heard her call herself "Die-ann" from her own mouth. So, which is it?

"Only her close friends are allowed to call her 'Dee-ahn,'" a pal of hers told me. "If you don't know her well it's 'Die-ann.' And if you call her 'Dee-ahn' and you don't know her well enough, she will correct you and say 'it's Die-ann.'"

As if fashion cliques weren't confusing enough already. Oh well, at least now we know!