A wave of PC nausea threatens to do me in at the Marc Bouwer show.
If going fur-free, wool-free and leather-free could be this beautiful more people would do it. However, I face a dilemma after watching Marc’s show where every dress deserved an Oscar or at least deserved to be worn to the Oscars. The problem: How to go backstage to congratulate Marc in my screaming red fur jacket.
Before the show, a nice PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) representative trotted across the runway to chat with me. He handed me literature and a CD with Pamela Anderson on the cover. When the nice PETA guy turned his back I promptly threw the CD under chair because I’m not sure that Pam has anything to say that I’m interested in.
Turned full attention to runway and line sheet. Every designer has a sheet of paper or a little printed guide describing what you are seeing on the runway - fabrics, colors, shapes and sometimes the name of the model wearing the outfit are all included.
Saw Marc backstage. Gave a hug. Everything was fine. May have thought my screaming red jacket was fake or may have chosen to avoid confrontation. Not sure. Leave feeling relieved.
DAY 4
Up early to do some yoga poses since I cannot make it to the gym. Downaward Facing Dog. Ouch.
Throw on a cozy black jacket with a hood and head to the Tracy Reese show.
Color and excitement for fall. Love it. Peach, orange, blue and lime in pretty dresses, interesting coats. Everything with tights. NY is freezing. Twenty-two degrees. But who’s that woman in dark glasses with the Vidal Sassoon haircut chatting backstage with Tracy after the show?
It’s Alicia Keyes almost unrecognizable with her bone straight hair.
Several shows later and a coffee break, I wander into the largest tent at the shows to await the start of the Diane Von Furstenberg presentation.
Huge. There must be no less than 1,500 people in here. One of them is busy no-nonsense business writer Teri Agins. Taking her seat next to me in the front row, Teri gives a cheery “Hi, who are you,” to the woman sitting on the other side if her.
I break out laughing as Destiny’s Child’s Kelly Rowand looks at Teri a little dumbfounded. She can’t tell if Teri’s serious or not.
“Oh, are you one of those uhm, oh Destiny’s Child, right?”
“Yes,” says Kelly.
“Oh hi, Michelle, right?”
At this point I had to jump in.
What a great reality check for Kelly, who was attending her first Tracy Reese and DVF shows. She still has some mountains to climb to be recognition when she comes out with her second solo album later this year.
Once Teri settled into her seat I got a chance to chat with Kelly some more. She topped of her black Gucci shoes, black pants and black and white DVF top with a sable jacket.
B and Mama gave it to me a couple years ago, (for Christmas)” she explained, referring to Beyonce and Tina Knowles.
Oooh. Very generous.
I hustle backstage after the show to congratulate DVF on a highly evolved collection. I almost bump into Susan Sarandon and Ellen Barkin . Ellen looking so much richer than the last time I saw her. Maybe it’s the chic leopard-print jacket.
BTW, I am missing two leopard-print jackets and I wonder if the one she’s wearing is mine. It looks very similar. I stifle the urge to go up to her and whisper “Seeeeeee of Luv.”
It’s late. The day has rushed by. 9:45. I’m patient. Very Zen, but un-amused when handlers and security would not let me by to talk to Bono on the balcony. His wife Ali Hewson and Rogan Gregory were introducing the fall 2007 line for Edun , the environmentally conscious line of clothing they design.
The show is downtown far from the tents at The Box , a cool new club space decorated in a romantic, evocative style with fading mismatched wallpaper, velvet curtains, chandeliers and said balcony.
The clothes were shown on a funky, theatrical group called The Citizens Band performed a kind of political burlesque, variety show.
Bono wouldn’t budge, but I convinced the public relations handlers to send out Ali.
Mission accomplished I stepped out of the club at 10:45 and shivered on the sidewalk. Briefly compared notes with WWD and Glamour editors taking a smoke outside. Then goodbye. They were off to Katy Rodriguez show; I was off to drop in on DVF’s invitation-only dinner at IndoChine. I thought I might catch desert.
TIME WITH RACHEL ZOE
Find myself seated next to Hollywood stylist (Lindsay, Nicole) Rachel Zoe at the richly colored and decorated Matthew Williamson show. We’ve met a few times, but never had time to chat.
Rachel’s in a white vintage Dior fur coat over black and white YSL vintage dress. Accessories: Black tights and shiny patent heels.
She’s a Virgo and her husband’s a Libra. I’m a Libra and my husband’s a Virgo. I don’t really understand the match up on paper. So we go to it.
“Virgo’s are really obsessed with detail. They want everything to be perfect. They’re insane. They’re perfectionists,” she says ( I guess describing herself).
“Libras are just like “Ok, that’s cool. They’re laid back. Whatever. They never get mad. But when they do. Oh, they really get it.” (I guess describing her husband).
But it’s genius. The woman’s a genius and not just with clothes. Makes sense to me. I have my marriage figured out after years of wondering about my Type A husband and I.
Speaking of Type A.
“I flew in on red eye last night,” Rachel offers.
Her book comes out later this year. The party is during NY show week in September.
None of her “girls” are coming to NY this week. They’re all busy working, she tells Jim Shi of “The Daily” whose sitting next to us.
Not sure who her “girls” are - Lindsay? Nicole? Teri? Paris? No idea. Haven’t read my “US” lately but I listen intently.
Actually, I want Rachel to dress me. I mean I look good. I can pull it together when I have to. But she has like a little extra oomph. A little glamour thing going but still kinda cool. Could be the vintage factor or the humongous cocktail rings. Will study more and steal the look if I can’t hire her.
DAY 5
Let’s start at the end.
Marc Jacobs’s superb collection. Class and status, retro grand living, American style paraded down Marc’s runway. But he subverted proper Americana with unexpected touches like, jumpsuits and origami bows on dresses.
Edgy mixes of Alpaca and sequins, mismatched suits and brightly colored coats poked holes in the notion that elegance must be bland and boring.
Marc himself looked fit. He’s cut his hair and slimmed down.
“I’m going to the gym, Yoga, eating fresh fruit. I feel great,” he said after the show.
Though he’s a little guy, his muscles are busting through the sleeves of his blue Commes des garcons shirt.
Even his thick-rimmed glasses and pasty complexion are gone. He looks tan and healthy.
He seems to have re-imagined himself.
Speaking of re-imagining oneself…
Lil Kim , one of Marc’s favorite people and within one hair of looking like Michael Jackson’s secret fantasy, visited backstage. “I’ll see you at the party later,” she coos to Marc as she and long-time manager Hillary Wesson , greet the designer.
FOOTNOTE
Women are going to love next fall. An explosion of unexpected color. Marc, for instance, mixed navy with hot pink. He used cranberry and pale blush pink. Elegant coats were in khaki and navy, but also cerise pink. High heel Mary Janes and high heel oxfords were equally colorful. And there were plenty of tights in every hue.
