Another New York Fashion Week has come and gone. The exotic draping and unbelievable sets have been taken down and dismantled and Lincoln Center has been returned to its simple white walls and marble steps. Gone are Isaac Mizrahi and his color coordinated poodles and male models toting cake, Marc Jacobs and his show that cost roughly $1,750 per second to produce, Karlie Kloss' meteoric gaze, Christian Siriano's plum and moss inspired fete, the idea that fur may or may not be the new black and the power struggle over who's sitting front row.
And now I have some time.. like Coco Rocha, I'm sitting out London Fashion Week to look back on the week that was Fall 2011 state-side. So what did you think? Were you a fan, a foe or an independent who understood that Marchesa's classic flair for the fantastic was yet another example of beautiful for beauty's sake. As election day quickly approaches in Chicago and across the country for midterm debates, we begin to raise our voices and make our choices. As Americans we pride ourselves on our right to choose and as bloggers we pride ourselves on our right to judge behind the veil of an internet candy coated sense of security.
As each designer sent their masterpieces (hits and misses alike) down the runway, the front row, second row and those interns for PR Newswire all the way in the back uploaded their pics and videos to twitter, facebook and their very own blogs. They were quick mentions on my newsfeed, flashes of fancy across my computer screen and printouts that I plan to someday use as inspiration behind my yet to be requested feather and lace inspired gala ball. In my office I watched Marc Jacobs send his Marc by Marc collection down his metallic runway in real time. I was able to be a part of the action without booking a ticket or emptying my accounts.
In my first blog post I wrote about Tom Ford; the undisputed heavyweight of the late 90's and early part of this century when it comes to desireable style. His latest collection caused such a stir that those invited to the intimate event truly understood they were witness to one of the most awaited comebacks since Britney Spears agreed to grow her hair out and hit the gym. Ford, one of the biggest proponents of keeping fashion away from the internet, ensuring complete control over who sees it and when they are so allowed, up to him, he creates a dark curtain between fashion and those who often crave it the most. I'm not sure I realized until the season hit again how much I longed to be under those "tents" and how confused I was by Ford's decision to go old school. Mass media for the good or bad of it tears down the wall between the haves and the haves just a bit less.
So whether you sat front row, swag bag in tow and credit cards maxed to their full cardio ability or sat behind your roommates computer screen with a glass of three buck chuck, knowing you'd likely never wear anything you saw but still believing in the power of fashion for the sheer beauty of expression, you had the opportunity to be a part of the community. The power resided in you. While I can appreciate Ford's desire to make fashion a more discreet interaction between the designer and his selected audience, I think his direction is a bit misguided and lacks the understanding of his audience.
Fashion should inspire and empower. Communities have developed around people who share a common spirit regarding fashion and their ability to communicate by expressing themselves through what they wear and what they see. I think when designers begin to see themselves above those who support them, the threads begin to unravel around them. Art is subjective and fashion is no different. It's hard to put yourself out there and I can't really imagine the amount of confidence it takes to spend a year or so on a line that will march down the runway in 5 minutes or less, draped over the skinniest girl you will ever see, and then be open to judgement by everyone and anyone. But so goes the world and indivduality makes the world go round so buck up and put it out there if you dare or get off the moving ship.
If fashion is seasonal and trends change faster than the time it takes you to package up your holiday lights, then so to do the posts, the tweets and the opinions regarding a new line or launch. Believe in your work and do your best. Heidi Klum may say, "in fashion, one day you're in and the next you're out" but so be it. Share your gifts and become a part of the community. If streaming video is the new front row, maybe virtual access is the new black.
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