Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2010 [Was] Upon Us

...and it's travel-themed! I have to admit that my heart fluttered a bit at this fact; are they appealing directly to my sensibilities? Thank you IMG Fashion for this theme; my eyes will be drinking it in all week.


[Update: Fashion Week is over; the full list of my attendance is below. But won't you read alll the lovely stories and liveblogs over at Racked under Fashion Week Spring 2010.

Speaking of this week, I'm going to use this post to keep tabs on my show attendance. Won't you follow along? I'm covering Fashion Week for Racked.com, as I've done for the past several seasons as well, considering as how I've been writing for Racked for almost two years, a length of time surprising in the blogosphere. If you'd like to see the stories, liveblogs, and tweets that accompany these shows, you can find them there and @racked and @jetsetcd on Twitter.
Now the list of what I've attended and covered:
- Jenni Kayne (presentation)
- Target/Anna Sui Pop-Up (Party)
- Ports 1961 (Runway, Liveblog, Gallery)
- Yigal Azrouel (Runway, Liveblog, Gallery)
- Cynthia Rowley (Runway, Gallery)
- Nicole Miller (Runway, Gallery)
- Cynthia Rowley After-Party
- Charlotte Ronson After-Party
- Rag & Bone After-Party
- Christian Siriano (Runway, Liveblog, Gallery)
- Band of Outsiders (presentation)
- Y-3 (Runway, Liveblog, Gallery)
- Custo Barcelona (Runway, Gallery)
- Carlos Miele (Runway, Liveblog, Gallery)
- Jill Stuart (Runway, Gallery)
- Thakoon (Runway, Liveblog, Gallery)
- Badgley Mischka (Runway, Liveblog, Gallery)
- Willow (Runway, Gallery)
- Alexandre Hercovitch (Runway, Liveblog, Gallery)
- Anna Sui (Runway, Gallery)
- Norma Kamali (Runway, Gallery)
- threeASFOUR/Yoko Ono (Runway, Gallery)

And other shows I've been involved with covering:
- BCBGMaxAzria
- Charlotte Ronson
- Brian Reyes
- Max Azria
- Nanette Lepore
- 3.1 Phillip Lim

And the list of observations:
- You might be in the middle of Manhattan, but nowhere seems to have any good 3G or even cell reception. As a result, I have said "fuck" far too much and too loudly today.
- Apparently if you want an endless stream of catcalls, just wear heels.
- Model's thighs do touch; I watched it happen when the screens showed the Rosa Cha show
- Older men who get to enter the Fashion Week tent because they are sponsors or something, are most likely there to prey on the Asian trendspotters who speak little English. It's gross to watch.
- Free stuff is a burden. Actually I learned that last season.
- Fashion parties are not too different from regular private lounge parties, except that the guests are usually wearing a higher percentage of black clothing with more zippers and leather.
- The tents are often more full of aspiring stylists and hangers-on than they are with actual clients, press, and established fashion people.
- One of the reasons I always look forward to the Y-3 show is because it's a breath of fresh air. The characters of the tents aren't there, the venue always has plenty of space and organization, and they use a really wide selection of models, of all ethnicities.
- There are people that work in fashion who do not know how to pronounce designer names like "Max Azria," "Herve Leger," and "Anna Sui."
- I think I might be the only person (aside from the rest of Team Racked and already established fashion folk) are aren't trying to foist a portfolio or business card into the hands of people who look influential.
- I'm definitely one of the "I'd rather be heard and not seen"-type of bloggers. That does not mean I'm ugly. This could be a whole other post entirely.

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Steak Dinners And 'Famous' Rooms: NYC Of The 1950s

Update: I did the series, and as promised had fun with it. I don't think the Jaunted half went near as well as the HotelChatter half, since I've continued on with HC posts on the topic even after the week of stories. You can check out the series here:

VINTAGE NYC HOTELS --HotelChatter
NYC IN THE 1950s -- Jaunted

Just a sneaky peek inside of this amazing NY Tourist brochure from 1953 which my uncle sent to me for my birthday just passed. (Click the picture to see in detail). It makes me thirst for Canada Dry ginger ale more than I normally do.

With this brochure, and its very chic little ads inside for everything from lobster and steak dinners to dancing in the Rainbow Room, I'm working on a series of stories on Retro NY tourism for Jaunted and HotelChatter. It'll be great, it'll be be visually interesting, and it'll hopefully be inspiring, Mad Men-fever and all. Stay tuned for a huge reveal of this booklet of vintage fun...