Michael Kors received the CFDA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010. More precisely, the Council of Fashion Designers of America presented him with the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award at its 2010 awards ceremony.
The honor recognized a career that had already reshaped American sportswear. Kors launched his namesake women's label in 1981 and became known for polished, relaxed clothing with a distinctly American sense of glamour. He later expanded into menswear, accessories, fragrances and watches.
The award is named for designer Geoffrey Beene, whose influence on American fashion led the CFDA to attach his name to the lifetime honor. Kors's 2010 recognition is sometimes confused with his earlier CFDA wins: he won Womenswear Designer of the Year in 1999 and Menswear Designer of the Year in 2003. He was also notably the youngest recipient of the lifetime award at the time.