By Benjamin-Emile Le Hay 9/10/12 10:00pm

Fashion Week

The atmosphere of American Express Skybox. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for American Express)

Taking a Break Behind-the-Scenes Backstage with American Express

“We like that you feel a little chaotic and it’s all very well planned,” explained a representative from American Express. “This is an opportunity for us to give back to our premium card members who are passionate and we are giving them a very immersive experience, as you can see, with the models running around.”

Cardmembers are spoiled with backstage tours, coups de Champagne and a gourmet spread worthy of a sultan.

“They get rushed into a show right as it is about to begin and then the best part is that after the show they get to come back into the studio and the designer comes in for a Q&A,” we were informed by one of our hosts.

The Observer threw back a few a glasses in the sun-lit salon that had been tastefully decorated with cozy loungers and a private hair salon replete with stylists, before we were ushered to the front-row of Cushnie et Ochs’s runway presentation last Friday. Read More

By Drew Grant 9/04/12 7:19pm

Fashion Week

Shalom Harlow of the Model Alliance (Jason Seiler)

The Sorrow and the Pretty: Model Alliance Looks to Empower the Ridiculously Good-Looking

On a rainy Wednesday evening in the middle of June, Sunshine Cinemas was bright with flashing bulbs as photographers snapped pictures of a gaggle of impossibly tall, impossibly beautiful women. The angelic onslaught was not a coincidence: they were all there to see a special screening of Girl Model, a documentary by Ashley Sabin and David Redmon that was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. Girl Model follows a 13-year-old Siberian girl who wins a modeling competition and is whisked off to Tokyo, where a modeling agency has promised her fame and fortune.

The documentary paints a grim, Dickensian portrait of the unpleasant, exploitative working conditions endured by some the world’s most attractive people; the situation depicted is not at all uncommon, and the audience, made up of dozens of models—blondes, brunettes, the occasional redhead—was rapt.

After the credits, French model Rachel Blais addressed the room. Her struggles are featured in the film, and she has become a spokesperson for better treatment for fashion models, traveling to screenings and other speaking engagements. Because of her outspokenness, she noted, she is now treated like a pariah. Read More

2/16/12 9:08am

Fashion Week Observed

KCD's darling, Hallie Chrisman.

KCD’s Hallie Chrisman Runs a Tight Ship and Spots Crashers Like a Hawk

Navigating the realm of fashion publication relations can be a difficult job. For in-house publicists and leading New York PR firms, such as KCD, PR Consulting, Karla Otto, Starworks, Bismarck Phillips and HL Group—fashion week is a marathon: RSVP-management, developing press releases, endless email chains, photography and artistic direction, event and runway production, front-of-house organization, Read More

2/14/12 7:07pm

Fashion Week Observed

7 Photos

Even heavy-weights, Anna Wintour and Oscar de la Renta, curtsy and bow for DvF.

Lorenzo Martone Didn’t Want to Be Our Date for Diane von Fürstenberg’s Dinner at Indochine

Sunday afternoon at the Tents is always a scene. The climax is when legendary designer/aristocrat, Diane von Fürstenberg takes the stage. CFDA President-regnant; she is fashion royalty and attracts a fitting crowd:

Olivier Zahm from Purple magazine carried on with Terry Richardson…

“Could we get a word with you, Mr. Richardson?” we asked.

“No!” was Read More

2/10/12 6:50pm

Fashion Week Observed

6 Photos

We couldn't catch Bergdorf Goodman's Linda Fargo... but we saw her oggle a few pieces.

Peter Som Causes Orgasmic “WOW” Moments at MiLK Studios

If designers are artists then they must be inspired, nay? For Peter Som inspiration came by way of Katharine Hepburn and Marlene Dietrich: “Smoldering femininity and masculine garb.” Som worked tuxedo themes and sheer elements to give shirts and coats a strong architectural look. A variety of fall colors danced on silk tops and dress, and a set of patchwork furs were bursting with color. Read More

By Irina Aleksander 6/09/10 2:35pm

Some Spikes With My Pearls, Please, Mummy!

The trick to finding your favorite designer at the Council of Fashion Designers of America awards is to scan the room for their 6-foot-tall dates. On Monday, June 7, at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center, Gwyneth Paltrow’s sleek blond ponytail bobbed near Michael Kors; Devon Aoki’s dark mane meant Zac Posen was Read More

By Irina Aleksander 6/08/10 8:30pm

Hayden Christensen Brought His Grandmother to the CFDAs

Last night, at the CFDA awards, the Daily Transom found itself seated next to designer Richard Chai and his guest, actor Hayden Christensen. “This is quite a night out for me,” Mr. Christensen told Mr. Chai when they first sat down and the awards hadn’t started yet. 

The duo arrived with an elderly woman who Read More

By Irina Aleksander 3/18/10 1:04pm

CFDA Announces Nominees, Re-Elects D.V.F.

Last night, Diane von Furstenberg announced the Council of Fashion Designers of America’s 2010 award nominees, and the names among the top categories are, well, somewhat predictable. Marc Jacobs (also nominated last year), Donna Karan, and Alexander Wang are competing for Womenswear Designer of the Year. Mr. Jacobs and Mr. Wang are also nominated in Read More