I feel like I deserted my pregnant wife for a model and came back because the bitch took all my money. The model being my itty bitty line (see previous post) which is, in fact, taking all my money and most of my time. Having finally gotten my wares into 2 boutiques (yay) and well into the second half of finishing my second collection, I think it's time to unleash some overdue rants.
First up, Fashion's Night Out. Where do I begin? Well before I really get into it, part of the blame should be put on myself. I am a quasi-active user of Twitter which initially started because of the aforementioned line. Unfortunately, this means that people who are nosy (*waves*) can't stop reading their feed. For the past 2 weeks, I haven't been able to avoid the godforsaken FNO hashtags. I know Santa Anna only meant for the second annual event to be bigger and better than the first (which I did not partake in) for the sake of the economy and "democratizing fashion".
Let's say that last sentence was sincere. C'mon, remember PRETEND? It's fun! I also like to pretend that something other than Opening Ceremony's event inspired by Le Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen sounds REMOTELY more substantial than "Free drink with purchase and/or endurance of stankface". But that's a toughy. I recently purchased the entire Daria DVD collection. Does that show?
And then, there's NYFW. When I was younger, it was very hush-hush. Only the Gods got to go. Editors, buyers, and a handful of celebrities. My first show was Marc by Marc Jacobs FW '05 at the New York Armory during sophomore year. I had a standing room invite I snatched from the Dean's office the same day and decided to bail on the second half of construction class to go. Coincidentally, I wore a vintage stewardess-esque knit shift with bright orange detailing and red suede Marc by Marc flats (that killed my feet) to class that day. It was exhilarating... for about 25 mins.
Flash forward to 2010. It seems like EVERYONE is either showing or going to the shows. I call it the Sartorialist Syndrome. As in OMG Scott, Garance, Yvan, Tommy or Phil MIGHT see me wearing this BOMB outfit and photograph me and then I might be the next Susie/Rumi/Tavi/Bryan and get invited to the Alex Wang afterparty. *DIES*
I feel like the "spectacle" of what's going on outside the shows has almost overshadowed the spectacle that's supposed to be going on inside, on the runway. Remember the runway? Don't get me wrong, I LOVE LOVE LOVE any documentation of awesome style. I just think it's craptastic (for lack of a more fitting adjective) to lose sight of what's on the agenda. It used to be about the people running around frantically backstage and their ideas instead of the hungry (camera and otherwise) masses and their often clone-ish ensembles outside. The "democratizing of fashion" almost feels like the whole experience is getting devalued in a way. Not unlike people who are too busy snapping away at concerts instead of just watching and listening to the performer. And not unlike those who go to parties just to check for proof of their drunken antics the next day on Cobrasnake.
Maybe I'm a purist. Maybe I'm a snob. Maybe a huge snob. But the runway is the only place we get to experience a collection for the first time, unsullied, as intended by the designer. Let's not forget that it's the the designer and his/her team that are the ones sweating, scurrying, squatting and sometimes crying that make those lucky few on the other side of the curtain feel like a really really lucky sophomore.
- Jessica
P.S. If you're in New York, peep the collection! Now carried at EVA and We the People. You love shameless self-promo, no? Ouais, moi aussi.
