The inaugural New York Fashion Week: Men's took place at Skylight Clarkson Square in SoHo July 13 to 16. John Varvatos moved his men's show from Milan to New York to close the week and celebrated the occasion with a show that put the emphasis on the pinstripe. Produced by Jay Arcos for Moda Tech in Platform 1 at Skylight Clarkson Square, guests were met by 350 umbrellas hung upside down and a custom-made runway with striped fabric covering a one-inch MDF floor.
With a threat of thunderstorms that never materialized, the Theory presentation on July 15 proceeded as planned—on the rooftop of the brand’s striking meatpacking district headquarters. Menswear head Ben Stubbington staged his models on an array of scaffolding against the striking backdrop of lower Manhattan, showcasing men's and women's looks in a decidedly androgynous show.
Event sponsor DreamWorks Animation unveiled a limited-edition "Character Clash" collection showcasing five classic characters in designs by menswear designers ranging from Billy Reid to Ovadia & Sons to Todd Snyder. The product was displayed in a graffiti-esque space that was devoid of any corporate branding.
Alessandra Facchinetti, the creative director of Tod's, and Jessica Seinfeld hosted a charity luncheon at the Seinfeld residence in Amagansett, New York, on July 24, to benefit the charitable organization Baby Buggy. Facchinetti also used the luncheon as a pop-up shop for Tod's, using baskets of fruit and vegetables on a custom farm stand to showcase the Italian shoe brand's brightly colored Gommino loafers.
