Thursday, September 6, 2012

Doings Aplenty in NYC the day before Fashion Week

Anna Wintour, Diane Von Fürstenberg, Oscar de la Renta and Sarah Jessica Parker at a very special luncheon. Photo by Nick Hunt/Patrick McMullan.

ONE day before the official start of the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week New York Spring-Summer shows and presentations, Fashion was partying like it was 1999. There were happenings up the yazoo!

The grandest of them all was the luncheon celebrating the presentation of the 2012 Couture Council Award for Artistry of Fashion to Oscar de la Renta. The award is bestowed annually on a truly extraordinary designer by the Couture Council of The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology (MFIT).

It is star-studded. Just about everybody who is anybody who is in town and who has money to burn is here. Some (former first lady Barbara Bush, for one) journeyed to New York for the occasion.

The setting of the Couture Council (http://www.bit.ly/OvLwAU) luncheon is the massive and impressive David Koch Theater at Lincoln Center. The atmosphere is understandably festive. The It phrases of the moment are, “I’m wearing an Oscar” and “I have an Oscar.” Fetching outfits are omnipresent. ODLR is receiving the massive outpouring of praise with dignified appreciation.

Oscar Mayor: Oscar de la Renta, Michael Bloomberg and a certain award for Oscar. Photo by Nick Hunt, Patrick McMullan.

Seated directly to ODLR’s right during the Couture Council luncheon is the dame who runs the world’s most prestigious fashion magazine and who runs the fashion world, too. The former princess, Diane Von Fürstenberg, is seated next to the dame. At the next table over, sits hizzoner, Michael Bloomberg. And Barbara Walters as well as perhaps 20 or so score of ODLR’s boldface friends and clients come to support him on this occasion are seated, standing and gadabouting. It’s quite a room.

Another hot ticket of the day was the 9th Annual Style Awards, just west of the Koch theater at the Stage tent. It is a tad less high-wattage than the ODLR soiree but star-studded nevertheless.

Brian Stanziale and Katya Moorman make it their business to be style conscious. Photo by Yours Truly.

As Yours Truly is rushing out to see the wares of the Australians and New Zealanders showing under the rubric of Fashion Palette, Iman is walking across the promenade leading to the tents with that Queen of Sheba bearing of hers. She will later be presenting the “Model of the Year” award to Joan Smalls.

“Designer of the Year” recipient Carolina Herrera has not yet arrived at the Style Awards, however, inside holding court on a sofa in a cozy corner of the reception area outside the Stage tent is Melody Clemens. This steel magnolia and Texas rose is the winner of Style Network’s Style Invades New York Fashion Week Sweepstakes.

One benefit of the win is an all-expenses paid trip (with a plus-1 in the congenial package of girlhood friend, Dena Sorsky) to New York City to attend the Style Awards. “I’ve been to 38 states but this is my first time in New York,” says MC, who is understandably excited and much like the town where she resides. That is, Humble (Texas).

This Houston suburb is also the home of MC’s Dragonfly Boutique. If the black dress nicely covering her real-woman curves and the necklace made from precious stones hanging around her neck are any indication, Dragonfly should be the main destination for any shopper who finds herself in the general vicinity of Humble. (http://www.dragonflygb.net/)

In the reception area, too, decked out in a jacket-shirt combo bearing rhinetones and gold lapel points is designer Brian Stanziale. With him is wingwoman and creative director/photographer Katya Moorman (http://www.styledefinednyc.com). KM will stick around for the awards ceremony and has gone off to refresh her drink. BS, whose designs are carried by Barneys and who is a partner in Alex Kramer (http://www.alexkramer.com), is putting in an appearance before he sets out for home and "work."

A look from the Akira Isogowa Spring 2013 collection. Photos by Cheryl Gorski/Fashion Maniac.com

Speaking of work, it is past time to leave the Style awards reception for Fashion Palette, but not before saying hello/kiss-kiss to Derek Warburton with whom I go back to the time when he was not an uber stylist and international celebrity walking the red carpet in an absotively smashing black sequin jacket. (http://www.derekwarburton.com/)

So, here I am at Fashion Palette. What of the folks down under and over yonder? At Canal Studios, they show a bit of this, that and the other for big names on the front row et al such as Kristin Chenoweth. Who knew she was so small! That is, not a size –0000, but 3 feet tall!

A look from the Bowie Spring 2013 collection. Photos by Cheryl Gorski/Fashion Maniac.com

Alas, alas, missed most of Fashion Palette and tried to get feel by putting out feelers. He says I didn't miss anything. She says all were blase, except the last designer. They say it was a terrific show. One who knows a thing or two about such things spoke favorably of Akira Isogowa and Bowie.

Now, I must get to the DL 1961 Premium Denim runway show at Pier 57, and here I am and into a fourth-row seat that I shimmy into. The show opens with dancers, moving in a whirling dervish kind of way. Truth be told, this is the highlight. A close second is me accidentally going through the backdoor, which deposited me backstage before flinging me into the room where the runway show will commence after the dancing concludes. Oops! (See video above.)

Miike Snow lead singer Andrew Wyatt singing a little night music to the crowd at The Shops at Target. Photo by Yours Truly.

After the display of denim, I say my goodbyes and am walking due east while managing not to get hit by eager motorists who seem oblivious to the brightly lit white man on the walk sign beckoning me toward Target’s The Shops at Target pop-up at Highline Stages. The four pop-ups, less the Coffee Shop (http://www.bit.ly/QdupZb), are the Curiosity Shoppe (knickknacks bric a brac), Kirna Zabête (women’s), Odin (men’s)and PATCH NYC (home accessories). The shops open to the general public at Target stores and online (http://www.target.com) on 9 Sept. and close on 20 Oct. (See video below.)

One multi-colored dress ($34f) from Kirna Zabête purchased by a colleague is so fetching that a closer look is in order. It can be worn year-round and for a longtime if the fabric is reasonably decent. And oh, Miike Snow is rockin’ the house, making shopping a little difficult for those totally vibing with its electronic pop, including Hailee Steinfeld and Andy Roddick’s spouse, Brooklyn Decker. ...

After Target, the plan was to take one’s self off to a couple of after parties. Had there been enough time in the day, a visit to Angelo Galasso would have been lovely. A few people who had enough time in the day loved what they saw, especially the shirt (men's and women's) they walked away with!

There was more yesterday: Harlem's Fashion Row Awards and Project Runway wrap party. And a few other SS13 shows: Fratelli Rossetti, Tia Cibani, Saunder, Joseph Abboud, ERIN by Erin Fetherston and Sheena Trivedi

What a day and Fashion Week hasn't even started!

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