Category Archives for Uncategorized
Boys’ Night Out
All work and no play makes Jack a dull menswear designer. Swaim (Hutson), Michael (Bastian), and Robert (Geller), too. They were among the hordes who descended on the IAC building last night to toast the six nominees for the GQ Best New Menswear Designer in America Award, despite the looming shows. “I’m going back to the studio after this,” Hutson swore to us; his first full collection for Generra hits the runways this evening. Bespoke tailor turned ready-to-wear designer Craig Robinson would soon be reapplying his nose to the grindstone, too; he let it slip that he’s working on suiting options for a certain Invictus Academy Award nominee.
With his presentation on Sunday, nominee Billy Reid could afford to be a bit more relaxed. Rocking on his heels in front of his section of the installation, the Alabama-based designer said, “It’s an honor just to be nominated.” Sure, but wouldn’t it be nice to win? A Southern gent to the last, he just smiled. Hanuk Kim, meanwhile, told us that the pictures for his Fashion Loves Hanuk exhibition tonight weren’t even on the walls yet. The truly important decisions, however, had been made. “Bond St. is preparing the drinks,” he said. “That’s what I really care about.”
—Matthew Schneier Continue reading
Snow Angels
The cocktail hour at amfAR’s annual benefit on Wednesday night went on longer than planned. Blame the obligatory late arrivals of the many boldfaced names—oh, and that little blizzard. Not that people were lacking for topics of conversation to pass the time: Rumor had it Lady Gaga was across the street at a hotel methodically preparing her most exciting outfit yet and trying to choreograph an entrance that didn’t involve paparazzi spoilers or snow damage. When she finally arrived with her recently announced MAC Viva Glam cohort, Cyndi Lauper, she didn’t disappoint: Her ensemble, for which Terence Koh claimed partial credit, looked like something out of Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation, but powdered white and complete with what Koh called “facial pearls,” which resembled a good case of the mumps.
Gaga’s F-word-laden piano number, which Lauper called “a performance art piece,” brought the crowd to its feet twice. Afterward, the platinum-blonde pop star accepted the Award of Courage on behalf of Elton John and his partner, David Furnish. (The singer was at a concert with Billy Joel on the West Coast, and, as Ingrid Sischy colorfully pointed out, Furnish was “in the commode” with a bad case of the stomach flu.) “I can’t describe how much [Elton and David] mean to me,” Gaga said. “It’s easy to feel like I’ve known them my whole life, ’cause I’ve watched them my whole life.”
The most poignant part of the evening was the tribute to Natasha Richardson, the amfAR spokeswoman who died last year after a tragic skiing accident. Vanessa Redgrave, Richardson’s mother, took the stage and read from a 1992 newspaper story describing her daughter’s first efforts for the AIDS charity after the passing of her father, Tony Richardson. Then Redgrave introduced Meryl Streep. “It takes guts to sing after Lady Gaga and Rufus Wainwright—the sacred and the profane,” the Oscar-nominated actress said, drink in hand, before launching into an a cappella version of a traditional Irish folk song that literally brought the crowd to tears. “This is for Tash, and for everyone that knew and loved her.”
—Derek Blasberg Continue reading
Good Times
It was a rather well-kept secret that deep in the belly of the Hudson Hotel there was once a YMCA, complete with a basketball court and a track. But as of Interview‘s 40th anniversary party last night, the story is out. Good Units, as the club is called, is now open for business, and with its subterranean allure, it will no doubt become one of New York fashion week’s hot spots. Despite Topper Mortimer likening it to the now defunct raver club the Tunnel, the reviews were good. “I can remember when this hotel opened, but I’ve never been down here,” said Naomi Campbell, who has some pretty extensive club research under her Alaïa belt. “I love it, though. I love the dancing—it reminds me of the eighties.” How’s this for a flashback? The unfinished basement space didn’t have cell phone reception. “Yeah,” joked Interview chairman Peter Brant, “so people will actually have to talk to each other.”
—Derek Blasberg Continue reading
Paradis Found
Let’s be honest: If you had two gorgeous kids at home and Johnny Depp for a live-in lover, it’d be hard to get you to schlep from your villa in France to a fête on New York’s Upper East Side for a lipstick, wouldn’t it? “I typically prefer to have dinner at home with my family,” Vanessa Paradis told us last night at a party Chanel threw at the restaurant in the recently refurbished Mark Hotel. The French chanteuse is the new face of the brand’s Rouge Coco Crème Lip Colour collection, and as such, was the guest of honor. “I always get anxious at these things and someone has to really coax me out,” she added. “But I’m very happy the Chanel girls did. I love the people at my table.”
Paradis’ lucky seatmates were Patti Smith, Heidi Mount, and Chanel CEO Maureen Chiquet, but this being a fashion party, there was plenty of table-hopping. Daphne Guinness asked Olivier Zahm about all the naked ladies on his Web site, and the downtown icon Sophia Lamar, who came as Leigh Lezark‘s date, told Terry Richardson that he was her idol. Kate Bosworth, her hair in a tight bun and her flouncy Chanel dress wafting around her, said, “I feel like a ballerina tonight. It’s starting to snow, and I have this sudden urge to go outside and do some pirouettes. If it’s really going tomorrow, I’m putting this dress back on and prancing around Central Park.” The city is blanketed in the white stuff, Miss Bosworth. We’re waiting.
—Derek Blasberg Continue reading
Supporting Acts
Since it opened last fall, the shenanigans at the club on the top floor of the Standard Hotel have become almost legendary. But last night, the goings-on were 100 percent guilt-free. That’s because the event in question was an after-party for the Donna Karan-hosted Hope, Help & Relief Haiti benefit. If the dinner at Urban Zen was a staid affair (despite auctioneer Whoopi Goldberg‘s best efforts to the contrary), the atmosphere was celebratory at the Boom Boom Room, where the highlight of the night was a rousing concert by Wyclef Jean. “What needs to happen,” he said, “is that we give people a good night now, so they can give a country that is in such a bad place what it needs.” Just how good did it get? No less a superstar than Mary J. Blige joined Jean on stage for a duet.
Taking it all in was Rachel Zoe, who is working on Naomi Campbell’s upcoming Haiti fundraiser. We asked the stylist how the two events would stack up. Diplomatically, she said, “It’s a fun night now, but get ready for Friday. We’re doing something very spectacular.”
—Derek Blasberg Continue reading