Fashion Week highlights: Hilfiger, Burch, Mizrahi
Photo credit: AP File | Betsey Johnson is modeled during Fashion Week in New York City.
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Thumbing a preppy nose at the recession, Tommy Hilfiger will open a global flagship store on Fifth Avenue on Sept. 17 - a chic finale to Fashion Week, which begins in Bryant Park Thursday.
Other highlights will include the first-ever New York presentation from glam Manhattanite Tory Burch (Sept. 16), a return to the tents by Isaac Mizrahi (Sept. 17), who hasn't showed there in more than 10 years, and a multimedia event by Carmen Marc Valvo that can be watched by anyone who happens to be in Times Square from 6:30 to 9:30 Sunday night.
About 73 shows and presentations are slated for the semiannual Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, where designers will showcase clothing for next spring and summer. Add to that another two dozen shows and events at Milk Studios in the Meat Packing District, where one-time Bryant Park sponsor MAC Cosmetics has set up a mini-fashionland of its own. Designers with confirmed participation include Adam Lippes, Erin Fetherston and Proenza Schouler.
MAC's hook? No rent, saving designers from $26,000 to $50,000 charged for space alone in the park. Most were not previous IMG clients, but both MAC officials and IMG execs have gone to lengths, publicly, to say there was no kerfuffle over the move.
"We're not looking to create a parallel universe," said a statement from John Demsey, a honcho at Estee Lauder, which owns MAC. "We are looking to create an editorially relevant fashion venue."
IMG global marketing executive Zach Eichman said that IMG will offer shuttle service to Milk Studios, as long as there's no scheduling conflict with their own shows. Meanwhile, Maybelline steps into Bryant Park as makeup sponsor.
Among designers on hand in the park: Max Azria returns with three shows. Narciso Rodriguez, like Hilfiger, is back for seconds after returning to Bryant Park just last season. Lacoste, with a Saturday morning show, could have a front row full of tennis stars ousted earlier from the U.S. Open. Christian Siriano also shows on Saturday amid rumors he's getting his own TV series.
After showing for many seasons in Bryant Park, Zac Posen will offer his spring 2010 collection outside the tents, in the smaller Altman Building. A Posen spokesman wouldn't elaborate, but the evening space occupied by the designer for seven years at the tents has been taken by Hilfiger.
Fashion Week events get going Wednesday night with a party hosted by Cindy Crawford and JCPenney at SoHo House, and the unveiling of a new designer floor at Saks.
