Fashion Week is still weeks away, but the press got an early start to the season with the preview of a spring/summer collection, albeit from a newcomer to the U.S. market, young Russian designer Kira Plastinina. On Wednesday and Thursday last week, fashion editors and other journalists gathered at Hudson Studios to preview the 15-year-old's line of clothing. Plastinina, who established the label in 2006 with her father, Sergei Plastinin, and held her first runway show in Moscow last March, has 38 stores (in Russia, the Ukraine, and Kazahkstan) and is expanding into the U.S. this year with stores in New York and Los Angeles.
Ryan Jordan, the newly installed creative director at Harrison & Shriftman, headed up the production team, working with Angela Giannopoulos of SC3 Group to design an apartment setting—complete with a bedroom, lounge, and dining room—and to re-create some of the furnishings used in the Kira Plastinina stores. Like some of the shows from September's Fashion Week (including Rock & Republic and Alice & Olivia), this event eschewed a runway presentation for a relaxed format where models mingled and posed in vignettes. Spread out over two days, the event staggered arrivals, with guests invited to stop by between 4 and 7 p.m.Dressed in pink and white furniture (a mix of baroque and more modern pieces) with bowls of Jelly Belly beans everywhere, the scene at the studio was a fitting backdrop for the young designer's age and as an introduction to her line, which is aimed at teenage girls. Even the music reflected the youngster's tastes, with an iPod and speaker blasting tunes like Mika's "Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)."
In keeping with Plastinina's personal tastes and background, Entertaining Ideas Catering served up pink lemonade (there was a martini version for the adults) as well as a selection of Russian-inspired passed hors d'oeuvres including warm beet borscht served in vodka shooters, wild mushroom pierogies, and assorted caviars and tobiko with crème fraîche atop edible Parmesan spoons. For those with a sweeter tooth, tiered trays on the dining room table held mini vanilla cupcakes, white chocolate truffles, and heart-shaped pink and white marshmallows dusted with pink sanding sugar.
Correction: The original version of this article included an incorrect spelling of Angela Giannopoulos's name.
Ryan Jordan, the newly installed creative director at Harrison & Shriftman, headed up the production team, working with Angela Giannopoulos of SC3 Group to design an apartment setting—complete with a bedroom, lounge, and dining room—and to re-create some of the furnishings used in the Kira Plastinina stores. Like some of the shows from September's Fashion Week (including Rock & Republic and Alice & Olivia), this event eschewed a runway presentation for a relaxed format where models mingled and posed in vignettes. Spread out over two days, the event staggered arrivals, with guests invited to stop by between 4 and 7 p.m.Dressed in pink and white furniture (a mix of baroque and more modern pieces) with bowls of Jelly Belly beans everywhere, the scene at the studio was a fitting backdrop for the young designer's age and as an introduction to her line, which is aimed at teenage girls. Even the music reflected the youngster's tastes, with an iPod and speaker blasting tunes like Mika's "Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)."
In keeping with Plastinina's personal tastes and background, Entertaining Ideas Catering served up pink lemonade (there was a martini version for the adults) as well as a selection of Russian-inspired passed hors d'oeuvres including warm beet borscht served in vodka shooters, wild mushroom pierogies, and assorted caviars and tobiko with crème fraîche atop edible Parmesan spoons. For those with a sweeter tooth, tiered trays on the dining room table held mini vanilla cupcakes, white chocolate truffles, and heart-shaped pink and white marshmallows dusted with pink sanding sugar.
Correction: The original version of this article included an incorrect spelling of Angela Giannopoulos's name.
Projections of pink hearts called attention to the event.
Photo: Jennifer Graylock
To draw attention to the event and brand the building, the production team washed the facade with pink hearts and the collection's logo.
Photo: Jennifer Graylock
In the bedroom area, wide vertical pink and white stripes decorated the walls.
Photo: Alison Whittington for BizBash
The event projected a video of Plastinina's favorite movie, Mean Girls, on a loop.
Photo: Alison Whittington for BizBash
Pink and white furniture decorated the lounge and dining areas.
Photo: Alison Whittington for BizBash
Even the entrance was girly, with pink carpeting and chandeliers strung with glass spheres.
Photo: Alison Whittington for BizBash
On a tray piped with pink hearts, Entertaining Ideas Catering served smoked salmon and dill on buckwheat blinis.
Photo: Alison Whittington for BizBash
Mini cupcakes, chocolates, and marshmallow bites sat on tiered trays in the dining room.
Photo: Alison Whittington for BizBash
The event also displayed the press kits, which were styled after jewelry boxes.
Photo: Alison Whittington for BizBash
