Is Fashion Week in NYC Worth the Price of Admission?
New York Fashion Week eludes most people. Unless, of course, you work in the industry, such as fashion designers, the press agents, the fashion bloggers, the new "image architects" or you buy haute couture.
The majority of the population, myself included, only get close through fashion magazines. Others subscribe to fashion television channels or one can stream live fashion shows as they occur in New York, London, Milan or Paris.
Generally with New York, you are not getting in off the street. How do I know? I tried, desperately. One year when Mercedes Benz, the major sponsor, built a pavilion exclusively for NYFW on the upper west side of Manhattan, I spent a whole day trying. I invented stories, sulked around, batted my eyelashes, feigned involvement, offered to volunteer, pretended I lost my ticket, tried to coerce officials - all to no avail.
Security was very tight. There was a multitude of police officers and security personnel, all connected through Walkie-talkies. Speciality printed name tags and invitations were closely monitored. Rooms were cordoned off. There was no peaking in anywhere.
The only rival security detail would be the White House.
The more I was denied access, the more I wanted in. What was a girl to do to check off that elusive item on her bucket list?
Fast forward to NYFW 2017, my only option was to buy my way in with a very expensive VIP online concierge type service. A company operating out of California made the necessary arrangements. Money certainly does talk.
The fashion event available was the Badgley & Mischka Show. Excitedly, I arranged the flight to the Big Apple, wore my best clothes and headed to a converted warehouse on lower west side with invitation in hand.
Finally inside, the most noticeable difference from my previous attempt was security personal now wore Bluetooth head sets. Looking around, there seemed a multitude of officious types scurrying in all directions, all wearing black, most hugging clipboards or papers - a veritable ant type colony of human activity. I was taking it all in.
Precisely at ten o'clock, the 'colony' jumped to attention. At the final barrier scanners scrutinized our entrance documents, then we were corralled into the largest pavilion.
There was arranged seating, for a short time however, you could mill about the brightly lit center stage. Introduction of the new Badgley & Mischka Home Line meant a large canopy bed with monogrammed satiny sheets and pillows dominated the display. It was adorned with a dozen young models lounging transfixed on settees wearing stocking hats with frilly pompoms, flat shoes with flower shaped embellished jewels, velvet track suits, wide lapel coats with fur stoles and lots of dangly earrings. Casual sportswear has come a long way.
Cameras were constantly clicking as professional photographers worked intently, while a multitude of unprofessionals captured their next installment for Facebook or Instagram.
"Take your seats, please, take your seats," was heard over the crowd. A new wide swath of black cloth was laid quickly along the full length of the cat walk without a crease or a crumb. The spot lights were cued. The music commenced. The auditory level of modern classical music grabbed your full attention immediately.
From the rear, the mature models entered one by one displaying couture gowns. Each woman strides around the perimeter of the stage. I was immediately struck by the perfect tempo, the impeccably coiffed hair and the attention to detail with all the accessories.
You could not divert your attention for a second.
It was easy to picture any of these women walking off the stage, out the back door, into an awaiting limo on her way to a gala, which they was momentarily interrupted for a good fashion cause.
This particular Badgley & Mischka collection had hints of old world elegance with touches of modern accents. They held true to their theme, "Between Two World Wars" with voluminous skirts and shapely waistlines, longer flowing Ingrid Bergman type hair-dos and lots of ribbons.
Normally these two designers are known for their jewel appliqués and patterned lace. They enthralled me with their impeccable attention to detail. The balance in every arrangement carefully considered.
She flowed like a river.
The dress materials exuded richness. One dress left me breathless. As the model rounded the corner, the entire dress was a plethora of long shimmering black blue strands swaying in unison with her graceful movements, light glistening off her like water. The dress resembled a flowing river. It was art in motion.
Several outfits had long ribbons dangling from sleeves or ribbons integrated into the main body contributing to a 3D effect, a challenge to capture with any camera.
In one case the back of the dress was considerably more interesting than the front, essentially missed by a static live video stream.
Following the couture line, the same models reappeared in seamless succession now wearing slightly less expensive evening gowns or cocktail dresses with similar styling, again with the same unwavering attention to detail.
The mark of a good referee in sports is one whose presence is 'less' noticed - modeling is similar. The live models were there, but not there. I understand it is about the clothes, how it hangs, how it moves, however, I could not help realizing that modeling is a fine line between being noticed yet melding into the carefully crafted background. Clearly the mature models had honed their cat walk skills over years of continual practice.
As the music reached its crescendo, the evening dress wear models reappeared as a group, walking in together, for all of us to have one last luminous look. The young models from the casual line awoke from their transfixed state and fell in behind the leaders, all marching off like good soldiers.
After the applause, my breathing returned to normal.
Following the show we herded like sheep backstage where I was able to meet the designers personally. I rambled badly about being Canadian and this being my first live fashion show. James Mischka hoped I had not been disappointed. Really? I was a school girl in love. Mark Badgley was equally as kind. What gracious gentlemen.
The warehouse hosting the event also provided memorable moments with various sponsors vying for the attention of the rich and famous. Papyrus Paper, for instance, gave away stylized greeting cards with fashion themes while they hyped patrons with coffee and chocolate.
Tresemme offered dry up-dos, consisting mostly of head circling braids, if their schedule permitted.
Outside a dozen or so Lexus SUV's 'wrapped' in vinyl with various elaborate patterns coasted to the entrance of the red carpet. At an average cost of $2000 to $4500 per automobile, these were very expensive overcoats. Even cars dress up for fashion week.
A block away, Amope Company handed out Gel Activ inserts for the high heel shoe set; undoubtedly a popular item with the six inch stiletto wearers.
The most striking feature of NYFW 2017 was the warehouse itself. The Andy Warhol Foundation provided some 80 original drawings, etchings and Polaroid's with a possible fashion connection which transformed what would otherwise have been a bland warehouse venue.
Fitting with Warhol's observation about our obsession with the celebrity, we could play along with an old fashioned stylized photo booth complete with modern printing capability. A vanity shot was captured. One copy was given to you as a keepsake and one for a wall which displayed a modern version of Warhol's 'Use of Polaroid's'. Then you got it - 15 minutes of fame.
Later when the Warhol's were auctioned for his charity, the Visual Arts, I acquired an original drawing of Diana Vreeland, former editor of Vogue magazine. I could not help but appreciate one of Ms. Vreeland's famous quotes, as I reflected on whether my time, effort and money had been well spent for a twenty minute live catwalk fashion show experience?
"There's only one good life and that's the life you know you want and you make it yourself."
For me the dress that moved like a river justified it all.
Linda Goodyear, Broad #1
Freelance Writer & Adventure Specialist
lgoodyear@nf.aibn.com