Scene and suites at the Tents…and beyond

Amazon.com Widgets

By Yuan-Kwan Chan

Models backstage before the Gottex show.
photo by Kwai Chan

Aside from the star sightings at New York Fashion Week, there is also the scene itself and the VIP suites. Between all the fighting, the diva behavior and other occurrences that, outside of Fashion Week, would get most human beings arrested in other settings, there were some great finds during the week…as well as a little bit of rain:

Sponsorship, schmonsorship: This was Meniscus’ sixth season covering the insanity at the Tents, and likely the best yet in terms of sponsors. From M&Ms to Boots to Havaianas to the always-present open bar featuring Chambord and Rioja, there was more space to relax between shows with lounges at T-Mobile/Blackberry, MAC and – the best one of all – OfficeMax, which served Champagne, cookies designed to look like miniature notebooks, office supplies, and three computers to access the ‘Net and print out those invites that we may have mistakenly left at home.

Victoria’s in-house Secret: The Victoria’s Secret VIP lounge at the Bryant Park Hotel showcased the current fall collection, as well as looked ahead to the holidays. A number of new items – lingerie, Heidi Klum’s latest make-up collection, perfumes – will be available in time for the holiday season. The most intriguing line is At Home by Victoria’s Secret, which launches in October. This is the company’s first venture into home fragrance products, the best of which is the triple-milled soap trio ($28) with delicious mandarin woods, vanilla orchid and cashmere fig scents.

It’s the environment, stupid: Here’s a great, wallet-friendly offering that make-up and environment lovers can take advantage of: the EcoTools accessory line that launched earlier this year. For January 2009, the company – which hosted a lounge at the Bryant Park Hotel – is launching five great new products. The bamboo five-piece travel brush set ($9.99) comes in a great lightweight case; they’re small but the bristles are full-sized unlike most travel brushes on the market. The retractable kabuki brush ($7.99) comes in a case made of recycled aluminum. The cleaning sponges ($2.99 a pack) are constructed with soybean oil and 100 percent cotton. A set of versatile six mini brushes ($3.99) can be used for eyeshadow, lipstick and face make-up, and the powder puff twin set ($2.99) not only has handles for easy application, but is machine washable. One percent of sales go to 1% for the Planet. For more about the line, go to www.eco-tools.com.

Please don’t stop the music: We’re starting to like this live music concept at fashion shows, with Jon McLaughlin at Be EcoChic, the Cowboy Junkies at Ports 1961 and Seu Jorge at Carlos Miele.

But it rained on my parade, anyway: Hurricane remnants swept through New York throughout the week, and like last season, the roof began to leak. This time, though, it poured through the ceiling at the doors separating the Tents from the bathrooms. Attendees had to hold the doors open and jump through the downpour. Where’s an on-site salon when you need one?

Photo Gallery


Backstage at the Gottex show. Above, left: Pictures of the models wearing the swimsuits featured in the show. Above, right: Shoes worn in the show. photos by Kwai Chan

Notebook cookies at the OfficeMax lounge. photo by Yuan-Kwan Chan	Some of the new Victoria's Secret products scheduled to hit stores this fall. photo by Yuan-Kwan Chan

Brazilian designer Carlos Miele and countryman/singer/actor Seu Jorge after Miele's runway show at Bryant Park. photo by Kwai Chan

Share this article:

Share on Facebook

Add to Del.icio.us