FGI's spring 2008 fashion preview at the Corcoran
Photo: BizBash
Nordstrom East Coast fashion coordinator Edward Allen presented spring 2008 fashion trends to an audience of 200 fashion professionals, students, and members of the public at the Corcoran Gallery of Art yesterday evening, giving an overview of what was new on the runway with photographs from designers including Balenciaga, Olivier Theyskens, Ralph Lauren, and many others. The program was the latest installment of the museum’s partnership with Fashion Group International, the nonprofit organization for fashion industry professionals; FGI hosts twice yearly fashion lectures at the museum, which markets itself as the preeminent institution for fashion in D.C.
“There are not a lot of fashion events in D.C. at this caliber. We’ve been able to carve a niche for ourselves,” said Sarah Durkee, director of public programs at the Corcoran. “It’s an interesting venue, to have a program like this in a museum, but fashion is art.”FGI Washington regional director Lynda Campbell added, “In many regions FGI has relationships with museums, chambers of commerce, retail organizations, and so forth that we partner with for events because it's a synergistic relationship. In the Corcoran’s case, they are the fashion museum in Washington—most major fashion events that go on in the city go to the Corcoran—so it's always been an easy decision for us to partner with them. And we find that New York fashion types are very willing to come to the Corcoran.”
The 90-minute presentation was held in the Corcoran auditorium, and a large screen hung from the ceiling to show images. Allen came equipped with his laser pointer to highlight the finer details of the clothing, and focused on the artistic side of fashion, joking, “This isn’t the Dress for Success seminar at the motel.”
The presentation also included a screening of an FGI-produced DVD about what’s now in American and European fashion, with live shots from hundreds of runways. Although FGI’s presentations often include receptions, this lecture did not, as the space was booked for a private event. But industry professionals stuck around after the DVD to network and to talk trends with Allen.
“There are not a lot of fashion events in D.C. at this caliber. We’ve been able to carve a niche for ourselves,” said Sarah Durkee, director of public programs at the Corcoran. “It’s an interesting venue, to have a program like this in a museum, but fashion is art.”FGI Washington regional director Lynda Campbell added, “In many regions FGI has relationships with museums, chambers of commerce, retail organizations, and so forth that we partner with for events because it's a synergistic relationship. In the Corcoran’s case, they are the fashion museum in Washington—most major fashion events that go on in the city go to the Corcoran—so it's always been an easy decision for us to partner with them. And we find that New York fashion types are very willing to come to the Corcoran.”
The 90-minute presentation was held in the Corcoran auditorium, and a large screen hung from the ceiling to show images. Allen came equipped with his laser pointer to highlight the finer details of the clothing, and focused on the artistic side of fashion, joking, “This isn’t the Dress for Success seminar at the motel.”
The presentation also included a screening of an FGI-produced DVD about what’s now in American and European fashion, with live shots from hundreds of runways. Although FGI’s presentations often include receptions, this lecture did not, as the space was booked for a private event. But industry professionals stuck around after the DVD to network and to talk trends with Allen.
