Is it really New York Fashion Week? Many designers were left out, and for a moment, the party schedule looked pretty bleak. Fortunately, the invitations started arriving at the end of last week. Here are some highlights from last night and the weekend.
Party at LaQuan Smith’s house
The Down Town Association, a former Edwardian clubhouse in the financial district, welcomed another of New York’s favorite sons on Monday: LaQuan Smith. The Queens-born fashion designer threw a huge party on the top floor of the club, after showing his collection downstairs. Instead of port and cigars, there were marijuana blunts, endless Don Julio, and a performance by Saucy Santana.
Chance: A raucous afterparty at 60 Pine Street for LaQuan Smith’s fall-winter 2022 collection, co-hosted by Nordstrom and sponsored by liquor brands.
Fourth: A maze of nightclubs, with DJs (including Mazurbate and Rich Medina), open bars, a taco buffet, Instagram-ready backdrops, pool tables, and colonial-era taxidermy to get the festivities flowing.
In attendance: Everyone was keeping an eye on Julia Fox, but she was gone after her walk down the catwalk. The fabulously dressed crowd included rapper Coi Leray, models Duckie Thot and Emira D’spain, actors Nicole Ari Parker and Charles Melton, and numerous influencers. Many looks were served: gender-fluid bodycon dresses, miles of vintage fur, leopard prints in all shapes and sizes, and more colors than a psychedelic trip.
Mood: It felt as close to a house party as a sponsored event could feel. “That’s what New York is all about,” said Smith, who wore a form-fitting black turtleneck and red sunglasses. “I love seeing the kids out. My entire existence is about representing New York to the fullest. It’s a time to celebrate right now, especially for black excellence and creativity and black people.”
It wouldn’t be New York Fashion Week if Christian Siriano didn’t throw some kind of party. This time he took charge of the Blond on Saturday night, strolling elegantly late with a bevy of models and semi-celebrities.
Chance: An after party to celebrate their Fall 2022 collection, shown earlier on the Empire State Building’s forecourt level.
Fourth: The Blond, the second-floor lounge at the 11 Howard Hotel, which held back-to-back parties for much of this fashion week.
in attendance: Coco Rocho (who walked the show before), Alicia Silverstone, MJ Rodriguez, Aquaria, Ava Max, Leigh Lazark and many mid-level fashion players.
The humor: Describe your collection in three words. “Victorian, Matrix, metaverse,” said Siriano, sitting in a corner booth, surrounded by well-wishers and liquor bottles. “Sometimes we feel like we’re in the Victorian era and sometimes we’re in the Matrix. Is it the real world or not? Is this digital or is it real? That’s what the collection is about.” Is this the reality now? “Kind of, but not really,” he added.
Also on Saturday, Document Journal, a fashion, arts and culture magazine known for its high-profile contributors (Virgil Abloh, Hedi Slimane, Grace Coddington), threw a boisterous party inside a 19th-century chapel, packed with models, executives of European fashion. and camera-shy celebrities.
Chance: The Winter 2022 issue of Document, featuring Kristen Stewart on the cover, photographed by Theo Wenner.
Fourth: The Chapel Bar, a members-only bar attached to Fotografiska, the Swedish photography museum on Park Avenue South.
in attendance: Nick Vogelson, editor of Document; and numerous models, including Lulu Tenney, Chloé Véro, Lara Mullen, and Naomi Chin Wing. Amy Schumer, Selena Gomez and Cara Delevingne were also seen but declined to be photographed.
The humor: “It’s too bright in here, I’m going to dim the lights,” Mr. Vogelson said around midnight, as the DJ known as Baltra turned up the tunes.
Source: www.nytimes.com