February’s New York Fashion Week was a roller coaster of emotion with the usual highs of the amazing collections offset by the heavy presence of tragedy. Despite earthquakes and designer suicides the shows must go on, but the aftermath of these events echoed through the week.
Haut couture’s response to the earthquake disaster was “Fashion for Relief Haiti”-organised by Naomi Campbell. The catwalk models were celebrities ,like Kelly Osborne, designers, including Donna Karan, and even royalty – in the form of the Duchess of York. Their dresses (donated by D&G, Dior and Ralph Lauren, among others) will be auctioned to add to proceeds from ticket sales going to support Haiti’s health care system. Naomi, who is making a name for herself as a fashion fundraiser, went on to run a similar show at London Fashion week for the same cause.
Agyness Deyn joined the celebrities on the runway, but had to leave it barefoot after a couple of slip ups in her oh-so-high heels but all this was eclipsed by the finale of McQueen classics, as a poignant tribute.
Alexander’s suicide coloured the mood for the week, and was a sensitive topic for Brooke Shields, when I met her at the Jimmy Shoo party. Most recently known for her role in “Lipstick Jungle”, Brooke was even more beautiful face to face, and seemed a genuine and charming person.
Later in the week, I bumped in to Kelly Osborne again, who is looking really trim, and was stunning in a leather figure hugging long-sleeved mini-dress. And Kelly wasn’t the only British music star I met. Back stage I chatted to Estelle, dressed head to toe in Maxazria ( who’s collection we had just seen). She let slip that her new single “ Freak” has a video that will shock us all, but wouldn’t be drawn when I asked her whether the men in her life were the inspiration for its title.
“So what about the collections?” I hear you cry! But you will just have to be patient, and all will be revealed – the spring summer collections next month, and the fall/winter in time for autumn.
