The big white tents are already in place at Bryant Park, but before the fashion editors and buyers start cramming in for the official shows, Fashion Week kicks off tonight with a handful of presentations and parties.
In just a few hours Rachel Roy will be one of the first fashion shows to use the IAC Building, utilizing the lobby (and its 120-foot-long video wall) of the Frank Gehry-designed site in west Chelsea. Up in Hell's Kitchen, Trovata has some tricks up its sleeve that it's not revealing yet, but remember that this is a label that surprised guests last September with a peformance by Perry Farrell. And Elie Tahari will showcase designs at its first formal show, bringing models into the Pool Room of the Four Seasons. Perhaps the most offbeat of this evening's presentations will be from Yummie Tummie. We have confirmed that, as rumored, the underwear company will have pole dancers as part of its presentation at the Laurie Beechman Theatre.
Now for the parties. In addition to the official Mercedes-Benz event at Saks, which launches the Wizard of Oz Ruby Slipper shoe collection, and the pre-party for Fashion Rocks at Mansion, tonight will see Interview magazine's relaunch at the Standard New York. Celebrating the September issue, the magazine is hosting the first event at the High Line-straddling, André Balazs-owned hotel, which is still under construction. Another big one tonight is the Mini Rooftop's first event—featuring popular band MGMT—at Skyline Studios, the newest space from the owner of Skylight.
The next four days only get busier, with design houses like Nicole Miller, Abaeté, Diane von Furstenberg, DKNY, and Hervé Léger by Max Azria in the tents and a smattering of designers showing at off-site venues. William Rast will present at the Roseland Ballroom with a performance by Justin Timberlake. Isaac Mizrahi heads to the Hammerstein Ballroom on Monday. Marc Jacobs is back at the 69th Regiment Armory; and Carlos Campos will show at the Altman Building. According to The New York Observer, Campos is reportedly using only black models for the presentation of his first women's collection.
