New York Fashion Week was filled with lots of fashionable Chicagoans who reported the new setup worked out just fine for the second season of designer showings at Lincoln Center. There were 85 onsite shows featured during the course
of eight days with 16 new designers that showed for the first time as well as 16 associate members presenting in other locations. In other words, those stilettos were doing double duty on guests lucky enough to be there! Chicagoans in attendance included Heather Farley, Andrea Schwartz (at my favorite designer’s show, Pamella Roland), designers Paul Sisti and John Schultz (who also presented
their collections), photographer Christopher Free, Ingrid Feder, Dusty Stemer, Toni Canada, Rose Mae Turner, Tracey
Beliard, Whitney Lasky, Robin Berger and Lynne Bredfeldt. The shows had been at Bryant Park since 1993 but a prolonged dispute between the designers and the park management caused the event to be moved to Lincoln Center. Donna Karan was one of the first
designers to show in Bryant Park on Halloween of 1993. She said, “When you think Lincoln Center, you think of the arts, the music, the dance and the opera so I think being there will elevate and celebrate
fashion as an art.” Designer Anna Sui said, “I love the fact that Bryant Park was where they chose to do the shows because I love the garment center. Even up to the last shows in the tents, many designers were still wheeling their outfits on rolling racks to the shows themselves.” But with the garment district (from 34th to 40th between Broadway and Ninth) in a
deep decline, I think this new location might be better to keep everyone’s minds off of this sad fact and looking forward to a fresh start. Ever since the Joffrey Ballet’s “Couture & Cocktails” my favorite
designer has been Pamella Roland. She was our featured designer at the magnificent Palmer House two years ago and her show elevated this event and all who saw it to a new level of appreciation for fashion. Once I was lucky enough to get to know her and her family personally, that did it for
me. Not only were her designs chic, modern and unique but she, her children, her husband and her Marketing Director, Kenneth Marks, all stole your hearts too. So it was with great pleasure that we (Helen Melchior and I) were able to host a luncheon in her honor at Neiman Marcus recently with a group of admirers. The lucky
guest who won SECOND ROW SEATS to her show was none other than Macy’s Andrea Schwartz. She said it was an opportunity she will never forget. “The people watching was almost as good as the show!” Seen in the audience at The Studio at Lincoln Center were J Alexander, Nigel Barker and his gorgeous model/wife Cristen Chin,
the Real Housewives of NY, Brittany Snow, Anika Noni Rose, Celerie Kemble, Emma Snowdon-Jones, Alexandra Lebantha, Genevieve Jones, Jennifer Creel, Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, June Ambrose and Robert Verdi among a zillion other glam guests. Pamella’s collection was inspired by the Far East and included fur-trimmed
coats and capes, stretch wool tux jackets for day, intricately embroidered evening wear and exquisite and wearable cocktail dresses with the finale ensemble being a deep burgundy floor length cinched waist coat that
billowed out dramatically to reveal an underlay of floral designs. Oh, I wish I could’ve been there! Other celebrities spotted during the eight days of shows included Matthew McConaughey, Debra Messing, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas, Bette Midler, Alan Cumming, Emma Roberts,
Fergie, Kanye, Joan Rivers, Julia Stiles, Jerry Seinfeld, Kelly Osbourne, Samantha Ronson, Kim Kardashian, Iman, Sean Lennon, Mena Suvari, Kristin Chenoweth and Lauren Bush among many others. Click HERE to see ALL of the pics from Fashion Week and check out a video of Pamella’s show below!
Speaking of fashion, there was another super hot party in NY for Brian Atwood, the world’s sexiest designer and all-around nice guy! The Jones Group rented out “The Lion” for this launch party which is a very cool, hip restaurant of the fashionista crowd at 62 W. 9th St. According to Brian’s equally gorgeous mother, Dusty
Stemer, the place has beautiful food, people and art. “You know the type of spot, no name on the front of the place, etc.” Brian’s beautiful collection was shown upstairs for VIP buyers while downstairs, guests drank champagne and enjoyed appetizers while listening to the hot mixes from the celebrity DJ Alexandra
Richards (yes that Richards…Keith’s daughter). Guests for the launch party included model Molly Sims, Rachel Roy, Nate Berkus, Riley Viall, Giovanni Monte, Rose McGowan, Hilary Rhoda, Byrdie Bell, Hamish Bowles and Genevieve Jones plus a lot of famous stylists and models. Also included were Dusty and hubby Alex’s dear friends Dr.
Jim and Abby Lipton, Toni and Rick Canada, Dr. Juan and Maria Benitez and Jerry Mickelson. And of course, the whole Stemer crew was there to support big brother including sisters Jordan and Cameron, brother Zack and niece Andi Francesca Laidlaw. After the launch, it was off
to a private dinner at Il Cantinori, a top Italian restaurant, for 60 friends. Dusty said, “It was more like Brian’s Bar Mitzvah!!!” Seen on the scene were DJ Donna D’Cruz, actor Josh Lucas and Pippa Cohen among many others. Long may Brian reign with his Queen Mother Dusty beside him! (Check out ALL of the party pics on my Chicago Now page).
I hope you can join me and hundreds of Chicago’s most fashionables at Runway Exclusive 2011, a Fashion Show Benefit for Little City. The event will take place on Friday, March 4th, 2011, at 6 p.m. at 720 S. Michigan. With Michigan Avenue Magazine’s
Susanna Negovan leading the charge and ZZazz Productions participating, you know this will be an event not to be missed! The show will present the latest spring (sigh) and summer (sigh) fashions while raising awareness for children and adults with autism and other intellectual and developmental
disabilities served by Little City. This year, Neiman Marcus will unveil the latest trends for 2011 with a runway show featuring Ford Models and the designs of Diane Von Furstenberg, Kate Spade, Elie Tahari, Tory Burch, Nanette Lepore, St. John and Milly. For tickets ($175) and more info, please visit www.LittleCity.org.
Congratulations to Factor Models on their one year anniversary! Factor Women Model Management, one of the leading high fashion boutique modeling agencies in the industry, recently
celebrated their New Generation Division at the Hubbard Inn. The campaign for the occasion was shot by Russell Hd and featured 18 of the most sought after new faces. Two hundred of Chicago’s style makers were in attendance including models,
photographers, fans and friends. Seen in the beautiful crowd were Amanda Lyons, Brianna Peeples, Marta Traskevych, Emily Marinelli, Jami Hassl, Brian Whitely, Forrest Gregory, Cameron Croft, Philip Chang, Margeaux Raymond, Melissa Hubbard, Madeleine Rock, Alyssa Lochum, Nikolina Djogo and Borris Powell among others. Congrats Factor!!!! To see ALL pics, please click HERE.
And speaking of designer Borris Powell, he will be hosting a viewing of his fall/winter collection at the Sheraton Hotel on Friday, March 11th beginning with dinner at the hotel from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. The show begins around 8 p.m. and will feature some of the most talented designers around. Borris, as you know WON the Oscar Challenge for his beautiful gown entry so this show will be packed!!! Tickets are $20 and $50 and can be purchased at the venue. For more info, please visit www.borrispowell.com.
Forgive me while I brag a minute. My stepson, Charley Jordan, is a terrific actor! He’s been doing theater, voiceovers,
ads and has even had a highly-acclaimed one-man play AND NOW, he is co-starring in an upcoming Polarity Ensemble Theatre premiere of “Ephemera,” a sci-fi comedy directed by Laura Sturm. When a
talking monkey appears in the airlock of the space station, Ephemera, the crew learns they may be the last defense of planet Earth. Bryce
Wissel’s zany comedy features a tortured love triangle, a mariachi-singing robot, and the threat of interstellar combat with an unknowable enemy! March 22nd thru May 1st at 1500 N. Bell St. in Wicker Park. Gala Premiere Night is Friday, March 25th, which includes a post-show reception. Actors include Sarah Grant, Bob Wilson, Kim Boler, Jonas Grey, Kaelan Strouse, Hilary Holbrook and CHARLEY! Please mention his name when you order tickets! For more info and to order, please visit www.petheatre.com/tickets.html.
And finally, if you still have a lot to learn about the world of social media like I do, then I highly recommend this upcoming seminar conducted by online marketing specialist, Tracy Schmidt. Previously, Tracy was the editorial director of Chicago Now and reported for Time in Washington, D.C. She has also taught several graduate-level classes on social media at DePaul University. Click HERE for more info. (Mention the code “Tribune” and receive $50 off each seminar.)
Another full week in Chi-Town! Whew! Thanks for checking in and stay tuned for MORE next week!!!!!
Love,
Candace
[email protected]
P.S. Congrats to the Palmer House’s long time Director of PR, Ken Price, on his upcoming interactive luncheon and tour series! As a 28-year resident historian of the property, he will conduct a two-hour lunch and tour combo from Tuesday thru Saturday. For only $50, you can experience a 45-minute insider’s tour of this famed property with the man who knows its secrets. Please call 312-917-3404 for reservations.
In different expressions, those stilettos were doing twofold calling on visitors lucky enough to be there!
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