Hit the Road, Jack

While the music boomed inside the tents on Thursday afternoon, the creative folks at Jack Spade chose a more natural setting for their collection. On the north side of Bryant Park, a clothes rack, a portable boom box, and a PR coordinator made for an unconventional, semiprofessional fashion show.

Like the brand's lighthearted cookie stunt in February, the presentation bent the rules with a no-frills, budget-friendly production, inviting non-models to participate in a live fashion show. Using a random mix of artists, businessmen on their lunch breaks, and passersby, the show was intended to create a street performance and, in a way, rebel against the exclusive gatherings at the tents.

"It is an acknowledgment of the invitation-only crowd that gathers at the tents," said Mordechai Rubinstein, a rep for Jack Spade, while handing out accessories to the models. "We wanted to change the scene a bit, open up the show to anyone who wanders by or happens to be sitting near us. We hope people have a bit of fun with a less serious production."

With the park's concrete pathway as a runway, the unconventional showcase presented a mix of hats, bags, ties, and suits. Some parkgoers occasionally—and accidentally—barely avoided a collision on the unmarked catwalk. While models took to the public spotlight, smiling at times, the quirky vibe of the brand generated positive picnic-table buzz.