Behind the Scenes at Fashion Week

The industry pays its final respects to Bryant Park – and one of the greatest designers in the business, the late Alexander McQueen
By Dorothy Cascerceri

As the lights dimmed in a massive white tent in New York City’s Bryant Park, otherwise known as the Promenade on Feb. 14, the chatter of the star-studded crowd at the Fall 2010 Luca Luca show subsided.

In pitch black, Alicia Keys’ voice bellowed over the sound system a cappella, “New Yoooooooork,” and one almost expected the R & B artist to pop out with Jay-Z for a duet of their new popular song.

Instead, the lights turned as bright as sunshine, and all eyes became immediately glued on the first model marching down the runway with one leg in front of the other in a silver silk taffeta trench coat and black sky-high booties.

Her dark skin glistened and as she neared the end of the catwalk where the sea of photographers happily snapped her photo, she mechanically placed her black leather gloved hands on her hips before pivoting and heading back in the direction from which she came. Her lips were straight as an arrow and were stained a deep burgundy as if she downed a glass of Pinot Noir backstage.

Alison Brie from “Mad Men” and “Community,” sat front row beside New York City “It” girl Tinsley Mortimer, former “American Idol” star Constantine Maroulis and “Real Housewives of NY” star Kelly Bensimon. Brie’s gorgeous eyes followed an eggplant chiffon pin-tuck blouse and pixel print pleated balloon skirt down the runway.

It was day four of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week where Fall collections were paraded in front of the fashion world’s most elite editors, designers and people of importance. The only fashion enthusiasts that were allowed to enter the tent either had to have a credential or an invitation. Men in black with earpieces and walkie talkies who could give even the Secret Service a run for their money, stayed perched at the top of the steps, keeping wide-eyed on-lookers out and ushering V.I.P.s in.

The lucky few who get in the door experience everything from Maybelline make-up sessions to complimentary Chambord Black raspberry liqueur cocktails to hair touch-ups at the Tresemme booth in the lobby while they waited in line for the show they were there to attend.

Mercedes Benz Fashion Week started on Feb. 11, with a gaggle of A-listers, including Kristen Chenoworth in a red Daniel Swaroski and Felicity Huffman in a red Oscar de la Renta , starting the festivities on the right note with the Heart Truth’s Red Dress collection, a display of gowns designed by Fashion Week’s heavy hitters, to raise awareness for Heart Disease and its impact on women.

In the days that followed, well-known designers, such as Nicole Miller, Diane Von Furstenberg, Rebecca Taylor and Isaac Mizrahi, showcased their Fall lines at Bryant Park.

But this particular Fashion Week was different than those that came before it. For starters, it was the last time Bryant Park on Sixth Avenue and 42 Street will host the glamorous event. In September, it will move to Lincoln Center, which is further west and north of the current location. Many designers, including Anna Sui, lamented the change of plans, but Lincoln Center will provide more space and parking for the productions and the ever-growing crowd of people attending year after year.

What was most sad, unexpected and horrifying, however, about this particular Fashion Week was the tragic news of Alexander McQueen’s untimely death at age 40 on Feb. 11, day one of the week. Just nine days after his mother’s death, the British designer, whose celebrity clients include Lady Gaga and Michelle Obama, was found dead in his $1 million apartment.
The terrible news spread quickly through the Bryant Park tents as stunned industry insiders communicated over Blackberrys and iPhones. Anna Wintour, the Editor-in-Chief of Vogue, who was in attendance, released a statement, saying: “In such a short career, Alexander McQueen’s influence was astonishing – from street style, to music culture and the world’s museums. His passing marks an insurmountable loss.”

A moment of silence was offered at the Ports 1961 show later that afternoon.

Dorothy Cascerceri is a freelance writer in Bucks County.