| EVENT REPORT 09.22.09 1:01 PM |
PRINT | SEND TO A FRIEND |
|
| Shiny and New |
| Tommy Hilfiger staged the opening party for his global flagship—his first Fifth Avenue storefront—just hours before his runway show in Bryant Park. |
|
The largest party to cap off Fashion Week was Tommy Hilfiger's splashy unveiling of his sprawling global flagship store on Fifth Avenue and 53rd Street. Held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday evening, the event drew a who's who—of those left in town anyway—including Alicia Keys, Russel Simmons, Anna Wintour, January Jones, Naomi Watts, Mary-Louise Parker, and Emily Blunt.
Produced by Tommy Hilfiger’s vice president of special events, PJ Reynolds, in conjunction with OBO’s Campbell Bromberg, the event was relatively bare-bones in terms of decor, relying instead on lighting to highlight the four-story 22,000-square-foot space. “We wanted to embrace the store as designed so that guests could enjoy the atmosphere and get a feel for the store itself,” said Reynolds. |
|
CONTINUED > |
|
|
PHOTO GALLERY |
 | The red carpet and step-and-repeat took up half a city block, adjacent to the store's uplit facade.
Photo: Kevin Tachman for BizBash |
|
|
 | More than 500 guests attended the party before the runway show.
Photo: Kevin Tachman for BizBash |
|
|
 | The store's central spiral staircase became a runway in its own right as guests teetered over the railing on each floor to catch a glimpse of new arrivals.
Photo: Kevin Tachman for BizBash |
|
|
 | Each of the store's five floors had at least one bar to serve champagne, wine, and cocktails.
Photo: Kevin Tachman for BizBash |
|
|
 | Several of the floors offered beer and sparkling water out of bright pink carts.
Photo: Kevin Tachman for BizBash |
|
|
 | Olivier Cheng provided the passed hors d'oeuvres, including blinis with American sturgeon caviar and chive crème fraiche.
Photo: Kevin Tachman for BizBash |
|
|
 | The Tommy Hilfiger team outfitted and groomed Olivier Cheng's 70 waiters.
Photo: Kevin Tachman for BizBash |
|
|
 | The staircase to the mezzanine was illuminated in a rainbow of hues.
Photo: Kevin Tachman for BizBash |
|
|
 | Tommy Hilfiger attended the event with his wife Dee.
Photo: Kevin Tachman for BizBash |
|
|
|
|
Olivier Cheng provided the evening’s menu of passed hors d’oeuvres—tiny truffled shrimp tacos, open-faced lobster B.L.T.s—as well as the 70 servers who were identically styled and groomed by the Tommy team.
Originally set for 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., the party was scaled back for several reasons—among them that the pristine store was more likely to stay shiny and new during a two-hour cocktail party. Added Reynolds, “We wanted to celebrate the opening before our fashion show so that guests could relax and enjoy the store before heading to the tents. We also didn’t want to keep everyone up late after a long Fashion Week.”
Following two hours of music by DJ Cassidy and cocktails served from at least one bar on each of the five floors, the 500-plus guests began spilling out onto the street, where they hopped into chauffeured cars or hailed cabs and headed south to Bryant Park for the designer's 8 p.m. show.
—Courtney Thompson
RELATED TOPICS
Tommy Hilfiger, Fashion Week
MORE EVENT REPORT STORIES
Gap, Banana Republic, American Eagle Open Stores With Musical Performances
Chicago Chefs Prepare Apple-Cider Bubbles, Whipped Salt Cod for Food & Wine Entertaining Showcase
MoMA Gets Suitably Whimsical and Macabre for Tim Burton Tribute
Nintendo Launches New Mario Game With Look Back at Franchise History
New Moon Premiere Beckons 10,000 People and 2 Live Wolves
MORE STORIES ABOUT TOMMY HILFIGER
In the News: Hollywood Wants Junkets Back, Economy Doesn't Slow Product Launches
Former Set Designer Adds Drama to Events
Meet One of Fashion Week's Most Creative Designers (of Sets)
MORE STORIES ABOUT FASHION WEEK
Fashion Week Pics: Rodarte and G-Star Use Dramatic Lighting Effects, Mulberry Builds Carousel at Soho House
Event Security: The Twitter Effect
| More Suppliers/Venues to Consider |
ADVERTISEMENT |
|
|
|
Beacon Theatre
The Beacon Theatre is a historic New York City theater in Manhattan. Designated as a New York landmark, the Beacon has become a venerable rock room for generations of New Yorkers and an intimate setting for unforgettable concerts and special events. More >>
EMAIL THIS RESOURCE |
|
Jhada of New York
Jhada of New York is a full-service event planning and production company for all types of events, including large-scale premieres for the entertainment industry, theater openings, and corporate gatherings. Drawing from the theatrical experience of owners Pat and Bert Michaels in such Broadway shows as Cabaret, The Music Man, Man of La Mancha, and the movies West Side Story, Gypsy, and Saturday Night Fever, Jhada is able to produce and implement creative, customized, unforgettable affairs. More >>
EMAIL THIS RESOURCE |
|
LMS Entertainment
LMS Entertainment is a leading industry disc jockey entertainment company providing a comprehensive list of music, talent, and audiovisual services. Established in 1986, LMS Entertainment has been identified as one of the most creative event entertainment companies by providing talented individuals and successful and innovative designs for its clients' events. More >>
EMAIL THIS RESOURCE |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
