Sherry Lehmann Wine.  Arizona Iced Tea. Fiber One. No, these aren’t the contents of your grandmother’s kitchen cabinet. These are three of the big-name sponsors for New York’s Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, the biggest and least important of the four major Fashion Weeks. But is New York’s continued dwindling in importance a direct result of the less than fabulous coterie of sponsors, or is it the other way around? And who’s to blame?

The Hardy Gays are on the case!

The main culprit is Milk Studios, whose latest incarnation as MilkMade has stolen much of the luster from Lincoln Center. But whereas they compete for sponsors, MilkMade usually draws smaller shows…however, the Marc Jacobses and the Ralph Laurens don’t show at the Tents either. Rather, they show offsite, effectively spitting in the faces of IMG Models and CFDA president Diane von Furstenberg, who dutifully shows at Lincoln Center each season.

Why not show a concerted effort to make NYFW a juggernaut of influence and taste rather than a discombobulated hydra sprawling all over Manhattan with each head unaware of what the other is doing?

The Tents at Bryant Park were home to New York Fashion Week for seventeen years and the move to Lincoln Center was a controversial one that left many fashion followers scratching their thinning scalps. Aside from being convenient, Bryant Park’s proximity to the Garment District earned it the distinction as the fashion industry’s backyard. But as Fashion Week grew bigger and more and more sponsors came on board — from Dunkin Donuts to McDonald’s — designers became more and more disenfranchised. And Bryant Park became more and more annoyed. Now, the Tents at Lincoln Center resemble a circus rather than a legitimate gathering of professionals and creatives.

Which brings us to Fern Mallis, the lady behind those seventeen halcyon years. She helped organize the move of NYFW from warehouses and studios all over the city to one central location, but with the Tents’ dissolution everything is scattered once again. Just last year Mallis evacuated her role as Senior Vice President of IMG to reportedly start her own consulting business. Interesting timing…

Perhaps she felt disillusioned over what she hath wrought. Perhaps she struck a deal with Bryant Park to kick fashion week out of its lush lawn. Perhaps she poisoned  major designers against her former lover, one Diane von Furstenberg to gain revenge for breaking her heart when she married Barry Diller, effectively ruining Fashion Week and leaving Fiber One as one of the few legitimate sponsors who would touch MBFW with a ten-foot pole!

Cue lightning flash and dramatic music.

Perhaps this is just speculation and hearsay. Perhaps we don’t really care because as far as Mac and I — and the bottle of vodka we’ve already opened to celebrate — Absence of Mallis: The Case of the Lackluster Tents is closed.

Milk is now represented by Creative Artists Agency and has brought on Lexus and American Express as sponsors in addition to original partner MAC Cosmetics.  This partnership has also gone through some changes and beginning this Fashion Week MAC & Milk shows will be under the name of Made.

Lincoln Center on the other hand has IMG, Mercedes-Benz and Maybelline, as well as AmEx with MAC also providing make-up for many a MBFW show.

While Made focuses on emerging designers and does not charge to rent their space — MAC is the exclusive make-up provider leaving models and music on the bill — Lincoln Center caters to more high-profile designers, who in addition to paying for the venue also have to dig deep for models, hair, music and makeup. And these are just a few of the differences:

Number of Shows:

Made – 35

MBFW – 98 (81 on-site, 17 off)

Sponsors:

Made – MAC, American Express and Lexus

MBFW - DHL, Maybelline New York, American Express, TRESemmé, W Hotels Worldwide, Fiber One Bars, ideeli, Fiji Water, AriZona Beverages

Designers:

Made - Sophie Theallet, Cushnie Et Ochs, Peter Som, Erin by Erin Fetherston, Billy Reid, Simon Spurr, Ohne Titel, Jeremy Scott, Nahm

MBFW - BCBG Max Azria, Tommy Hilfiger, Nicole Miller, Cynthia Rowley, Derek Lam, Tracy Reese, L.A.M.B., Diane von Furstenberg, Betsey Johnson, Tory Burch, Badgley Mischka, Vera Wang, Diesel, Michael Kors, Nanette Lepore, J.Mendel, Milly by Michelle Smith, Anna Sui, Elie Tahari

With Fashion Week just around the corner and all those sponsorship dollars, designer reputations and AmEx black cards floating around, the stage is set for a good ole-fashioned walk-off between Milk Studios and Lincoln Center. [WWD]

Photo: Fashionista

The pop-up will open at 6 p.m. at 1095 Sixth Ave near Bryant Park, where Angela Missoni and Margherita Maccapani Missoni will be on hand to take “family portraits” with the first 20 guests to spend over $100.

With some 400 items — the largest in Target’s collaborative history — including apparel for men, women, girls and baby as well as luggage, home furnishings and beauty products all from $2.99 to $599, you’ll rack up a C-note before you can squeal “Diana Vreeland!” [WWD]

The Tents Trailer from Marcus K Jones on Vimeo.

Let us remember a time when 7th was on 6th, when Betsey Johnson could roll her rolling racks down the block, skipping and singing to her show. When fashion made a spectacle for commoners to notice in the middle of a “public park”, when there was more than the 1 2 3 to get you there. When NYFW got classy, got prestige, got monetized, then outgrown.

A small recap of the film by James Belzer, formerly of Harper’s Bazaar, before you see it this Fashion Week at its true premiere:

Want a scene to bronze in?

You can find it on the roof of these fancy shmancy clubs and hotels:

The Soho House – If you can find a dear friend (or at least a one night stand) in someone with a membership to this über exclusive British import, you can access their famed rooftop pool. Rub elbows with celebrities, or at the very least, their publicists.

Le Bain – On the roof of The Standard lies a bed of high tech synthetic grass, on which you’ll find giant plushy waterbed poofs and beautiful people.

Le Parker Meredien – For $50 a day you can use this just-south-of-the-park rooftop pool and all of the hotel’s amenities. A touch pricey, yes, but free of screaming children and pisswater.

The Gansevoort & The Gansevoort Park – Uptown or down, get free entrance and steep drinks. Lovely views, but beware – the BnT crowd has discovered (and invaded) this gem. ***UPDATE*** They don’t let the questionable crowd in on Sundays. Only beautiful people with slippery morals.

More of a free spirit?

Park your beach bum at any of these NYC Parks, Piers and other Public Places:

Central Park – Duh. But check out these key layout spots: Sheep Meadow or The Great Lawn. Or find a giant slab of rock face and bunker down, they make surprisingly comfortable beds.

Clinton Cove - This stretch of park at Pier 95 at 55th st on the West side. Tan with a water’s view and real grass beneath you.

Christopher Street Pier – River view tanning in the West Village, but the pier is made of wood, so perhaps bring a beach chair for prime comfort.

Bryant Park - Midtown crash tan in the middle of work. Grab lunch at Hale and Hearty or Le Pain Quotidien and bake in the sun.

Battery Park - Find the sun in the Financial District and a view of Lady Liberty.

High Line – This train track turned eco-walkway has parts lined with lounge chairs and stunning water views.

Master Moocher?

Call every single one of your Manhattanite friends and inquire about the state of their rooftops. What? You can only access it by climbing out a window and up a ladder on the fire escape? Sounds great! If you’re lucky, you’ll find a friend at 300 Mercer – UHmazing rooftop.

Or you could call on us at FashionIndie. We do have a nice slice of Manhattan rooftop….

AND… If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it.

- The first fashion show was probably staged in New York City specialty store, Ehrich Brothers in 1903 as a means to lure middle-class women.

- By 1910, many big-name department stores were holding shows, though mostly of French or French-inspired clothing.

- 1914, Fashion Fete, an event to benefit the war-relief effort is organized by former Vogue editor (1914-1952), Edna Woolman Chase.

- By 1920s, fashion shows were common and had Parisian, Persian, Chinese, Russian, and Mexican themes, among others.

- Shows grew so popular merchants had to obtain licenses when using live models; in New York, police even threatened to put an end them altogether.

- When the Germans occupied France in 1940, buyers, editors, and designers were unable to travel to Paris to see the few remaining shows.

- Enter fashion publicist, Eleanor Lambert. She established the first Fashion Week, dubbed “Press Week,”  in 1943 to publicize American fashion and gain control of the market.

- Lambert hoped to give editors a chance to see and write about the work of American designers; they would stay on-site, usually at the Pierre or Plaza Hotels while buyers were forced to visit the designers’ showrooms.

- Soon Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, who had previously featured exclusively French designs, began embracing American fashions and crediting the names behind them.

- 1970s and 80s, designers began holding shows in lofts, restaurants and clubs; after a series of mishaps in small, unsafe locations in the early 90s, Fern Mallis, then president of the CFDA, spearheaded a movement to have all the shows in one place.

- Striking a deal with Bryant Park to house the shows in tents, the Spring 1994 collection was the first Fashion Week to be held there.

- The event at the tents was officially branded Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in 2009 to reflect corporate sponsorship.

- After numerous disputes between the Park’s management and the show’s producers, IMG, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week was moved to Lincoln Center for the Spring 2011 collections, though many designers still opt to have their shows away from the tents.

- Each year, about 232,000 people attend New York’s Fall and Spring Fashion Weeks. This accounts for approximately $466 million in direct visitor spending and about $1.6 billion in tax revenue to the city’s fashion industry.

- $40 million – restaurants; $30 million – taxis, Town Cars, and public transportation; $56 million – hotels.

So there’s a method to the madness after all. And that method is spelled with about 8 zeros. See you in the Fall!

Link Love: Slate, Boston.com

LINK LOVE: StyleElite

Style.com reports: “We hear Erin Wasson is trading in the Tents for Fall ’10 in favor of an ethnic-rug catwalk at ABC Home. Still planning live band though.”

LINK LOVE: The Cut, Styledotcom, Twitter

The shows are over and Sessilee is ready for Lincoln.

LINK LOVE: http://twitter.com/sessileelopez/statuses/4058425204

We drove by Bryant Park yesterday, and were surprised to see that the tents have already been built. We found out today that this is because Patrick Demarchelier will be shooting 100 models wearing Fashion’s Night Out tees on the steps of the Bryant Park tents on September 9. So excited for fashion week!

Get ready to travel all the way to the west side for fashion week, Milk Studios will be the new Bryant Park this season. Not to say that many will still show at the tents, but designers such as Alexander Wang, Proenza Schouler, Band of Outsiders, Vena Cava, and many more will be showcaseing Spring 2010 at 450 W 15th St.

As we’ve learned over the years, Lela Rose has never been one to shy away from rich, enticing colors; a point she proved yet again with the launch of her Fall 2009 collection at Bryant Park this morning. 

“I almost never wear black,” Rose says in a pre-show interview, “this is as close as it gets!” she smiles referring to her black and white checked dressed that is belted at the waistline and paired with sumptuous looking ankle booties in a rich indigo. Her ensemble, including her footware (a result of collaborative efforts between the designer herself and Payless Shoesource), are reflective of the style showcased throughout her collection. Deep, rich, jewel-tones took center stage alongside structured pattern-mixes as Rose demonstrated easy contradictions between dreamy feminine dresses and structured, practical separates.

Her inspiration for the collection? The rainforest conceptualized as “the jewel of nature.” This concept was translated to hair and makeup by Tina Turnbow for Stila and Ted Gibson for the Ted Gibson Salon. Skin was dewey and fresh with a focus on shimmery cheekbones and iridescent eyes. The emerald and jade green shades used on the models were reminiscent of a beetle’s exoskeleton. This beetle structure was translated to the hair in the form of tousled locks that were teased at the crown and slicked back into ladylike ponytails.

All in all Rose’s show was a delightful portrayal of her aptitude for balancing both the playful and the restrained.

Look familiar? I featured some gear and collections from my favorite Australian brand Love Thy Neighbour in the past, and with Valentines Day right around the corner who’s more deserving of a little love than your neighbour? I was lucky enough to get my hands on both these and another awesome pair of Love Thy kicks, and they are awesome! I’m a bit scared to wear them out in this shitty weather, but I want to make everyone on the streets jealous. Keep an eye out for me skipping around the Bryant Park tents next week in these bad boys.

PS. I’m going to get some new pics up as soon as my friend can get over here and snap some photos of me being awesome in my shoes (I’m pretty awesome without my shoes too, but I have to admit they help).

Want to be just like me and get a pair or ten for yourself or your significant other for Valentine’s Day? Check out the Love Thy Neighbour online store.

After holding runway shows under a big tent in Bryant Park for 15 years, organizers of New York’s Fashion Week are expected to announce on Tuesday that they will move the event to Lincoln Center, beginning in 2010.

Keep reading: NY Times

It’s awful to see so many dreams deferred, but at least the college campus will be teeming with gorgeous, skinny models! How’s that for a reason to attend your early classes!

For more, check out NY Mag!

On the flip side, the idea of a runway show can be viewed as 2009′s It-bag, only the rich and glamorous can afford it and bystanders look on in amazement. Who knows, maybe this recession is simply the fashion industry’s version of spring cleaning, making runway shows only for the invested, focused, and prepared designers. Oscar de la Renta’s double runway delight is a prime example of this notion. 

Either the runways become “so last year,” sending hundreds of bean-pole models home packing or they get put on a pedestal, an honor to have your collection even grace one. Oh runways, you are a scary toss up.

Check out ICP for more information! 

Thanks Nylon for the heads up! 

Link: NY Mag

Design by Kenley

Design by Kenley

Design by Korto

Design by Korto

Design by Leanne

Design by Leanne

The time has come! All of the snappy arguments and challenges have finally led our contestants to their runway shows! Beginning with Part II of the finale, Kenley, Korto, and Leanne made small talk with Tim whilst toiling long hours to perfect those finishing touches of their collections. Of course, the usual checklist ran its course; Kenley had her inevitable disagreement with Tim, Korto was told her clothes were overworked and the judges were concerned about Leanne’s lack of ability to produce range. What was different? Kenely actually took Tim’s advice this time!

As the catwalk opened to the three designers, each emerged with an explanation of preceding inspiration and, of course, the result! Kenley opened the forum with bold, bright colored chic dresses (not surprising). Everyone seemed very impressed with the ode to ropes. Next was Korto, tracing back to her strong culture and roots Korto’s design elements within her collection were widely applauded. One of the judges goes so far to say that Korto withholds a true gift; she can dress women of all sizes. Even though Leanne was ragged on by a fellow contestant for her lack of color use, the judges didn’t seem to mind. Taking front and center catwalk, Leanne stimulates an image of waves, essentially what her collection is inspired by. None of the gals were widely discredited for any of their pieces. Overall, these were very positive results!

And finally…the winner is Leanne!

Kate Lamphear, fashion editor for Elle magazine, was looking pretty fabulous around Bryant Park during New York Fashion Week. I absolutely love the masculinity she throws in to counter her delicate, feminine aesthetic. The fitted blazers and the basic colors have got Ms. Lamphear looking like Karl Lagerfeld’s twin! And if you ask me, Kate Lamphear rocks the bleached, edgy cut better than Agyness Deyn! If only Nina Garcia had this much style…and better hair…

Thanks London. Paris. Milan. New York!

Now that Fashion Week has begun I thought I would put together a list of the things you see once you get inside the tents. Whether you’ll be at the tents or not, here’s all the things they don’t tell you about Fashion Week.

1. Patrick McDonald

Who is he? I’m not quite sure, but you’re bound to see him at every fashion show and party during Fashion Week. From what I can gather he professional attends fashion shows. Nice job if you can get it!

2. Sponsered Products

Need an energy drink? Maybe some Evian? How about the new T Magazine before it comes out? Done, done, and done. There would be no fashion week without sponsorship (hello Mercedes Benz?). Now that fashion and Fashion Week has become entertainment, companies flock to the tents to pimp out their products on the fashion masses.

3. People who photograph other people wearing clothing

If you are wearing something moderately cool around the Bryant Park area you will be stopped and photographed. You have the Sartorialist, Altamiranyc, and any kid with a blog and SLR camera documenting every human being that goes in and out of the tents. So put on those heel that put you into debt, that awesome hat you found at the flea market, or your mom’s old belt and get out there and claim your 5 minutes of internet fame!

4. Lines

Once you make it into the big white tent you’ll soon see the huge circular line that wraps around the inside of the tent. Sure people like Anna Wintour and all those Desperate Housewives of New York don’t have to wait in those lines, but if your a poor little blogger like us-expect to wait…for a long time.