Let NY fashion madness begin
- Elisa Dahan and Eran Elfassy, the Montreal duo behind the "Mackage" brand. (QMI Agency files)
For this year's event, dozens of fashion shows will be streamed live on the Internet, a trend led by Marc Jacobs. Now, anyone can get a front-row seat to the show, at their own desks.
Three Quebec designers will be included in the official program this year and will showcase their collections at the Lincoln Centre. Claude Morais, the designer behind the "Ruffian" line, will kick things off on Friday morning. The former stylist and model from Montreal started his fashion line in 2004 with his American partner, Brian Wolk.
Elisa Dahan and Eran Elfassy, the Montreal duo behind the "Mackage" brand, will show off their ready-to-wear collection on Tuesday. The duo has also recently opened its first permanent boutique store on Mercer Street in SoHo.
Montreal stylist Rad Hourani will also be showcasing his work on Tuesday, outside of the official venue, at the Milk Studios on Chelsea. The looks being worn on the runway will be available to buyers in real time on his website. Hourani tried this for the first time in September, and every piece was sold before the end of the show.
New York's Fashion Week is where celebrities, planted in the front rows, go to be seen. Until Feb. 17, the city's roads become open-air runways where photographers chase around the "fashionistas". Manhattan restaurants are full each night and new night clubs open their doors. The Darby, the Mulberry Project, the Baron, KenMare, Boom Boom Room and Don Hills will likely be the most popular hot spots.
Since September, the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is no longer being held at Bryant Park, moving instead to the Lincoln Centre on the Upper West Side. The area is much larger and features four show rooms.
Thousands of pros from the fashion world will take in the fashion shows of some 85 designers, including everyone from household names like Calvin Klein and Donna Karan to newcomers like Prabal Gurum (who has dressed Michelle Obama), Suno and Alexander Wang.
Approximately 230,000 people come to New York during the two fashion weeks in September and February, a flurry of high heels and air kisses who will spend nearly US$466 million, generating $1.6 billion for the city.
It should come as no surprise that New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is getting in on the action. He recently put into place a new $200,000 program called the "Fashion Draft", which aims to bring 25 fashion students from all over the world for interviews in New York, all expenses paid.
Several events will also be organized this summer to allow students to meet veterans from the fashion world.
So while Bloomberg has famously been wearing the same pair of shoes for the last decade to go with his usual khaki Bermudas, he is doing what he can to help the city maintain its title of fashion capital of the world.
The New York fashion industry employs nearly 165,000 people and generates nearly two billion American dollars per year.
Stream the fashion shows live from home:
Fashionatlincolncenter.com
Milkmade.com
Firstcomesfashion.com
Schedule of events:
Thursday, Feb. 10:
10 a.m.: BCBG Max Azria on Bcbcmaxazriagroup.com
12 p.m.: Isaac Mizrahi on Isaacmizrahi.com
Saturday, Feb. 12:
2 p.m.: Prabal Gurung on the designer's Facebook page.
5 p.m.: Alexander Wang on Livestream.com
Monday, Feb. 14:
2 p.m.: Donna Karan New York on the label's Facebook page.
6 p.m.: Betsey Johnson on Betseyjohnson.com
Monday, Feb. 14:
8 p.m.: Marc Jacobs on Marcjacobs.com
Tuesday, Feb. 15:
10:30 a.m.: Montrealer Rad Hourani on Radhourani.com
4 p.m.: Marc by Marc Jacobs on MarcJacobs.com
Wednesday, Feb. 16:
10 a.m.: Michael Kors on Mbfashionweek.com
1 p.m.: Oscar de la Renta on the label's Facebook page
6 p.m.: Anna Sui at Annasui.com
8 p.m.: Proenza Schouler on Proenzaschouler.com
Thursday, Feb. 17
2 p.m.: Calvin Klein on Calvinklein.tv
Blogs to keep up with:
Jak and Jill, which focuses on details and accessories.
The Face Hunter: photographer Yvan Rodic attends fashion weeks around the world, with a focus on faces and more unique styles. He also has his own blog on the backstage happenings of his fashion experiences.
Mistermort, an alternative to some of the more predictable blogs.
Swagger New York, for NYC hipsters in their natural habitat.
The Sartorialist, always a classic street style blog.
Street Peeper.
Twitter accounts to follow:
@FashionWeekNYC will be tweeting all week long.
Anna Dello Russo (@annadellorusso): the eccentric editor of Vogue Japan, she surprises every day with with stuff that would make Lady Gaga jealous.
Brad Goreski (@mrbradgoreski), former right-hand man of stylist Rachel Zoe.
Kelly Cutrone (@peoplesrev), one of the most feared publicists in New York.
Diane von Furstenberg (@DVF), the designer tweets her own tweets.
Lorenzo Martone (@lorenzomartone), former partner of Marc Jacobs shares many photos and his friends will all of the models.
@cutblog, the official fashion blog of New York magazine.
June Ambrose (@juneambrose), stylist for Jay-Z, and others.
Me! @mariejoelle. I will be covering Fashion Week under the tents and in the streets of New York. My blog, www.canoe.ca/mjparent , will be filled with photos and videos, so follow along!
