The Coty American Fashion Critics' Awards (awarded 1943–1984) were created in 1942 by the cosmetics and perfume company Coty to promote and celebrate American fashion, and encourage design during the Second World War.
The fashion publicist Eleanor Lambert was employed to promote and produce the awards.
The popularity of this award began to decline in the late 1970s due to perceived commercial interests by the parent company.
[3] In 1979, designers Calvin Klein and Halston announced they would no longer accept the Winnie award.
[3][5] In June 1985, Donald Flannery, the senior vice-president of Pfizer, Inc., Coty's parent company, announced that since the awards had successfully brought America into the worldwide fashion scene, it was decided to discontinue them.