As Fashion Week kicked off this week, a pair of designers ditched the familiar fashion show setup—models on a catwalk and guests seated on risers—in favor of less formal, more intimate showings of their collections. On Tuesday evening, Bradley Scott used mannequins as models at Midtown’s Audi Forum, and on Wednesday night, Zang Toi's charity show (benefiting the Lance Armstrong Foundation) filled BoConcept's Madison Avenue store with an auction, activities, and a runway marked simply by a stretch of black carpet.
The Bradley Scott event used an art-gallery-like approach that invited guests to arrive when they pleased, touch garments, and chat with the designer about the line. Dubbed “Summer Fridays,” the display will be open to the public throughout Fashion Week, a simple way to ensure larger attendance numbers. Toi's tightly packed presentation felt like a private cocktail party, albeit with a live performance from Patti LaBelle and activities including a silent auction (with items such as dinner at Anthos and original sketches from Toi) and a mini photo studio.
