New York Fashion Week is just days away, and with stellar Haute Couture and Men’s Fashion Week shows having recently wrapped, the excitement couldn’t be any greater. Better yet, this season more of the major fashion brands are opting to use the online Fashion GPS System, which allows labels to not only save money by sending out online invitations, but invited guests can simply RSVP by clicking “Yes” or “No”; a barcode can then immediately be printed out for a quick check-in before the show. Though checking in will be smoother than ever, as we experienced last season, that doesn’t necessarily mean shows will start any less than 30-40 minutes late, but that’s the fashion industry for you!
The upcoming Fall 2011 shows will mark the second season at Lincoln Center and there are a number of noteworthy newbies to the official Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week line-up. Among the newcomers are Allegri, Callula Lillibelle, Christian Cota, Elene Cassis, Frank Tell, G-Star RAW, GUiSHEM, Irina Shabayeva, Joy Cioci, LUBLU Kira Plastinina, Maisonette 1977, Porter Grey, Sachin + Babi, Son Jung Wan, Tess Giberson, and VACCA. Notably absent from the official schedule, at least as of now, is the Arise Magazine African Collective, Catherine Malandrino, Bill Blass, Verrier, Buckler, and Ports 1961 – most of whom will likely show off-site this season.
Those new to the off-site scene will be in good company, however, with Jason Wu, Marc Jacobs, Marchesa, Chado Ralph Rucci, Libertine, and Olivier Theyskens’ Theory line among those not showing at Lincoln Center. As for the season’s hottest events, they’ll surely include the launch of shoe designer Brian Atwood’s diffusion line B Brian Atwood, the opening of the Upper East Side Agent Provocateur flagship store, the 30th Anniversary Michael Kors fete, and Vladimir Restoin Roitfeld and Andy Valmorbida opening party for RETNA: The Hallelujah World Tour, which will be presented in collaboration with VistaJet and Bombardier Aerospace and mark the first New York solo exhibition of international graffiti artist RETNA.
What to do now? Cross our fingers that the record snowfall New York City has seen in January tapers off in time for the shows to go on without a hitch!
