The invitations for the Spring shows are starting to trickle in. I say trickle as I only receive a handful. Front row Fluff graces very few front rows and a smattering of "priority standing" spots as well, but that doesn't slow me down. I find that I prefer to look at some of the shows from the comfort of my living room. The seating here is stylish, comfortable, free of spying cameras with only the best sight lines. Granted, the whole vibe of a collection is more than strictly the clothes. It helps to hear the music, experience the choreography and take in the mood that surrounds the presentation. But all of those details can sometimes overwhelm you when the audience hijacks the event with cameras more interested in the front row, people talking and texting throughout the proceedings and a general feeling of restless distractedness everywhere you tu
rn. Many shows have become little more than holding pens for the masses; a place to go when you have no place to be. That's not meant as a put down just an observation. This Twitter time we live in races so fast that folks would rather hang out in the lounge with a Frappucino and Blackberry than actually look at clothes. An invitation to a show is almost more important than going through the tedium of actually watching. People are more enthralled with the Twitter feeds streaming on the wall than having an experience. How else can you explain the spontaneous applause after every single show? It can't be for the clothes. It must be self congratulations for having put aside the precious 8 minutes and shown up. It must be mutual affirmation for having taken some much needed ME time. Think about it. How often does a foot soldier in the world of STYLE get real time for themselves? I know for myself that between my morning workout with Brad, then yoga with Paulo, a trim and comb out from Tony, con-fabbing with Jolain, scheduling with Eric, massages with Igor, chapter edits with Esmond and strategy meetings with God, there's just never any time left in the day for me. There must be an app that will make that happen. I guess that reason alone makes the shows a necessary evil. Fashion's Night Out is one unnecessary evil that I don't look forward to. Stores aren't broke any more so there's no reason to fix them. This is just a tarted up night camouflaged as Anna Wintour Day. Think Puerto Rican Day parade minus the Puerto Ricans and the fun. I'll sit this one out unless there's an 80% off sale at Hermes or Bottega Veneta. I can't wait to see the Bottega show and Ralph Rucci's collection. They are two of the most compelling presentations in any given season. One is effortless cool and the other is what you find when you
dig deep for buried treasure. Rucci's Chado is the quintessence of modernity. Rich, stirring conceptual beauty with the most bind bending technique all looking like something heaven sent. I'm curious to see what Marc Jacobs will create. His star is so high in the sky. Its important also because with his possible ascendancy to creative director of the good ship DIOR folks will be interested to see how high he can raise his game. If fitness is a prerequisite for the task he's up to the job. I'll miss Dior as things will never be what they were. With that said, I hope to be open minded when we all see what is to come. Besides laying out outfits to wear to the shows I'm brushing up on my knowledge of Qatar. I'm headed over in October to lecture and take the pulse of that desert nation. Perhaps there I'll have a chance to take a moment for just ME. I can't wait!
The invitations for the Spring shows are starting to trickle in. I say trickle as I only receive a handful. Front row Fluff graces very few front rows and a smattering of "priority standing" spots as well, but that doesn't slow me down. I find that I prefer to look at some of the shows from the comfort of my living room. The seating here is stylish, comfortable, free of spying cameras with only the best sight lines. Granted, the whole vibe of a collection is more than strictly the clothes. It helps to hear the music, experience the choreography and take in the mood that surrounds the presentation. But all of those details can sometimes overwhelm you when the audience hijacks the event with cameras more interested in the front row, people talking and texting throughout the proceedings and a general feeling of restless distractedness everywhere you tu
rn. Many shows have become little more than holding pens for the masses; a place to go when you have no place to be. That's not meant as a put down just an observation. This Twitter time we live in races so fast that folks would rather hang out in the lounge with a Frappucino and Blackberry than actually look at clothes. An invitation to a show is almost more important than going through the tedium of actually watching. People are more enthralled with the Twitter feeds streaming on the wall than having an experience. How else can you explain the spontaneous applause after every single show? It can't be for the clothes. It must be self congratulations for having put aside the precious 8 minutes and shown up. It must be mutual affirmation for having taken some much needed ME time. Think about it. How often does a foot soldier in the world of STYLE get real time for themselves? I know for myself that between my morning workout with Brad, then yoga with Paulo, a trim and comb out from Tony, con-fabbing with Jolain, scheduling with Eric, massages with Igor, chapter edits with Esmond and strategy meetings with God, there's just never any time left in the day for me. There must be an app that will make that happen. I guess that reason alone makes the shows a necessary evil. Fashion's Night Out is one unnecessary evil that I don't look forward to. Stores aren't broke any more so there's no reason to fix them. This is just a tarted up night camouflaged as Anna Wintour Day. Think Puerto Rican Day parade minus the Puerto Ricans and the fun. I'll sit this one out unless there's an 80% off sale at Hermes or Bottega Veneta. I can't wait to see the Bottega show and Ralph Rucci's collection. They are two of the most compelling presentations in any given season. One is effortless cool and the other is what you find when you
dig deep for buried treasure. Rucci's Chado is the quintessence of modernity. Rich, stirring conceptual beauty with the most bind bending technique all looking like something heaven sent. I'm curious to see what Marc Jacobs will create. His star is so high in the sky. Its important also because with his possible ascendancy to creative director of the good ship DIOR folks will be interested to see how high he can raise his game. If fitness is a prerequisite for the task he's up to the job. I'll miss Dior as things will never be what they were. With that said, I hope to be open minded when we all see what is to come. Besides laying out outfits to wear to the shows I'm brushing up on my knowledge of Qatar. I'm headed over in October to lecture and take the pulse of that desert nation. Perhaps there I'll have a chance to take a moment for just ME. I can't wait!
4 comments:
Quatar was very helful in the Libyan war and helped the rebel opposition in a major way, they will be investing in and helping Libya during a difficult transition and that is great. What is in Quatar beside getrillions of dollars ? It's extremely beautiful, in a biblical way, a' la Paul Bowles, very poor and very rich, very real...It will be an incredible journey and your lecture on style and fashion will be fantastic , no doubts, and you will make lots of new friends and contacts. Good for you. Very nice post on the fashion world in general.... Cannot wait to read your travel diaries....I wish I was going there with you instead of Paris, France. How boring....
Isn't that little gal going to be a Fashionista?
It does annoy me that people sitting next to me at the shows don't pay attention to the clothes, and then clap like mindless automatons at the end.
But I can also see why they are tired and bored and would prefer the press tent or café to the front row. If you actually have to go to the shows it's not "8 minutes", it's usually over an hour of travelling, standing, queuing, being manhandled by a security guard, and then waiting in your seat in an overheated room. And then you repeat that whole process maybe 10-12 times a day.
With the insane numbers of designers showing now too, you see very little that's original to keep you on your toes...
The shows were once political necessities, that and a fat pencil. I don't know whom they are for now and sometimes shudder when the occupants on the front row, which in my diabolical world would revert to editors and store presidents only, princesses on the side, are listed before a plethora (there used to be) of photos and a critique not a personal opinion.
To my iPhone, bah humbug.
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