StyleBible.ph

Can I tell you…about one my favorite weeks of the year. New York Fashion Week. It’s that time of the year when I get to see my friend’s shows, attend a few parties and reunite with some people I haven’t seen since…well, last season. It’s a reunion of sorts. My schedule is packed but it’s absolutely fun for me. I’m in and out of the studio like a ping pong ball! It’s great people watching and networking as well. In the industry, fashion accessories are always sold earlier than ready to wear so my work is done for the most part so I get a chance to take a breather and watch the action. This season I collaborated with Amy Smilovic, the designer of Tibi on a limited edition collection of bags that complimented her clothing. Amy loves color, print and is not afraid to take risks. I haven’t collaborated with anyone for a few seaons now but when I met Amy over lunch, we just clicked. I loved seeing the bags I designed come down the runway. It was such a thrill. Unfortunately I can’t show photos of the bags just yet.I always look forward to seeing my best friend Peter Som’s show. He never disappoints and his show attendance from New York’s fashion elite is impressive.Pat McGrath and Guido Paulo, the dynamic duo behind make up and hair for a lot of major fashion shows worked their magic for Peter. Tennis superstar Maria Sharapova, gymnast Nastia Liukin, and Elizabeth Banks (playing Laura Bush in the new Oliver Stone movie called “W”) were also on the front row.This collection was sexy, feminine and romantic. Quelle surprise! Peter has always had a consistent point of view.This week also had some smaller and more intimate shows by menswear designers.
My friend John Bartlett showed in his West Village townhouse. The collection was edited, personal and very John. We go way back and its so inspiring to see him indefatigable after all these years.My other friend Michael Bastian solved the whole front row dilemma. He showed the same show in different time slots and staggered his guests attendance so that everybody could get to see the show up close and personal. I thought this was a very clever idea…but maybe not for the models. Although I must say these boys are pros, especially my buddy Cory Bond, who modeled for me when he was just starting out. It was great seeing him backstage at John and Michael’s shows.Robert Geller’s show was held in the same space as Michaels but had a very different vibe to it. The models were young and lithe, styled with a bohemian Eastern European edge to them. Robert has a huge following in Japan and his fans came en masse to the show. I felt like I was in Harajuku on a weekend.The Shipley Halmos show was also fun with a mix of mens and womens. The mens stuff looked like the kind of clothes Sam and Jeff (and I) would wear. The girls clothes looked like the stuff their girlfriends would wear. Mais oui bien sur!
These shows are also a great opportunity to see what the editors and stylistas are wearing since they are almost always ahead of the curve. They are their own fashion show.Scott Schuman of The Sartorialist has built a career on documenting these insiders’ sartorial statements.During this week of non-stop parties and events, a special shout out goes to the folks at Calvin Klein. CK’s 40th anniversary party at the Highline Park in West Chelsea was the most spectacular party of the week. I went with my girlfriend Mana Igarashi, senior fashion editor of Spur magazine in Japan. We had such a ball!Everybody was there! Bumped into my girlfriend and Bergdorf Goodman style arbiter Roopal Patel wearing a vintage Rafe clutch! It made my night to see it still working after all these years. Rumor has it that the event cost the company $3M for the evening and everything had to be dismantled the next day. Now thats what I call a healthy publicity and marketing budget! And yes, I’m jealous.

Before the week was over I had to fly to Milan to source leather for next Fall Winter 09. It never ends, this rat race! Til next season.