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The first time I went to a fashion show in New York, I actually took a bus in from Boston (where I was in my junior year at Massachusetts College of Art). My friend and I had met Nicole Miller when she was making a personal appearance at the Henri Bendel in Chestnut Hill (a tony suburb of Boston) and she kindly invited us to her show. It was at the very gilded and marbled Celeste Bartos Forum at the New York Public Library. Liz Tilberis, the much-loved Editor in Chief of Harper’s Bazaar, was there with her trademark white pixie haircut. Backstage, I met Naomi Campbell (who was with her equally gorgeous mother), Christy Turlington and Elaine Irwin (before she was married to John Cougar Mellencamp). I thought I had died and gone to heaven!
I’ve attended many fashion shows since then (now I take cabs instead of the bus, thankfully) and I still get as excited as I did that first time. That excitement continued last month at the recent men’s shows for Spring 2009 in New York. Keep reading for my personal highlights from the week – on top of hanging out with Julianne Moore at the Generra presentation (she actually likes to be called “Julie”!).
I watched the parade of “poetic tailoring” at Z Zegna sandwiched between my good buddy Sam Broekema from Vanity Fair and some hot Italian guy (unfortunately, I didn’t get his name). What struck me most about the collection was the sublime color palette of barely-there shades of grey, salmon and khaki. Colors that the program notes said created a “sophisticated serenity”. I also loved the outerwear pieces – especially the hooded cotton thermo-taped jacket (below left) and the rubberized leather parka (you’ll have to trust me on that one!). You probably already know that I’m a big fan of Z Zegna – that was one of their vests on Ronnie Kroell (from Make Me a Supermodel) on Instinct’s September cover.
If I could live the rest of my life in only Michael Bastian’s clothes, I would do so without a second thought. For me, they are the epitome of “cool” – preppy, sexy and always wearable. This season’s inspiration came from The Lifeguard (the 1976 film starring Sam Elliot and Parker Stevenson) and to drive that point home, the show’s set even included a working shower under which the first model bathed in a pair of navy trunks (before slipping on a zip-front football sweater). The show of 25 precisely-edited looks actually repeated five times in an hour and a half – of course, I had to stay to watch it for at least three of those five (I like to be thorough in my research!). Plus, I just couldn’t get enough of Cory Bond (below right), one of my new favorite guys from Major Model Management (watch for more of him in an upcoming issue of Instinct!).
I’m not sure how they always get the models to smile at the Lacoste show – especially with its 10am on a Saturday timeslot. The set, the music, and, of course, the clothes are all wonderful – and certainly reason enough to smile – but I know how hard it is to get models to actually do so! For spring, the collection was broken into three different themes - my favorite look (below left) came from the third group which Christophe Lemaire, Lacoste’s Creative Director, said was inspired by “The Prisoner” (the 1967 British sci-fi television series) and “aimed at a younger, fashion-alert customer”. I can totally picture Justin Timberlake sporting this outfit at his Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas this month!
What’s not to love about being able to get up close and personal with a line-up of 18 different hot guys? That’s how Simon Spurr chose to show his new collection (titled “Raw Elegance”) for Spurr – at an all-white gallery space in Nolita with the guys right at eye level. Inspired by the city of London, the clothes were a commentary on the British Social classes – combining “the best of sartorial tailoring with the unrefined dress codes of street culture”. That meant a guy in a perfect 3-piece suit next to a guy in a rigid denim jean with a u-neck sweater, albeit a turquoise cashmere one (below right). Depending on your mood or the occasion, Spurr is offering something for all of our multiple personalities come spring.
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with your sexiest snapshot and "N2N Giveaway" in the subject line. The first 15 entries (that make us twitter) with a valid e-mail, home address and phone number will receive a surprise from Instinct thanks to N2N Bodywear. Please make sure to specify your size preference – small, medium or large—as well. Only one winner per household, please guys (don’t be greedy)!
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at Instinct!
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