The invitation for this morning’s Vena Cava show indicated that it was a “presentation.” But when guests arrived on the second floor of Milk Studios, bleachers were set up with marked sections around a runway. The show’s coordinators instructed arriving guests that there would be no seat assignments.”It’s a presentation,” they said.
At 12:10 p.m., the lights went down as they do before a runway show, a band began playing and models began walking. But since guests assumed they could show up whenever they’d like for the “presentation,” by the time important editors like W‘s Bridget Foley, Elle‘s Anne Slowey and Marie Claire‘s Nina Garcia arrived, the show had already begun and there were no seats. In fact, the front-row seats seemed to be occupied not by people of rank, but simply those that arrived before the scheduled time. And so the late editors huddled in the doorway and craned their necks over people’s shoulders. (Except for Ms. Foley, who pushed through with a few of her editors and leaned on a column.)
The show ultimately did turn into a presentation, as the Daily Transom understands the word, but the transition was confusing. After the models made their way down the runway, they did not return backstage, but instead posed on or near the ladders displayed in the middle of the room. The last model walked and the lights went down again and everyone clapped as they do at the end of runway shows. But then the band began playing again and nothing was happening. So after a few seconds of remaining still, everyone began to get up and leave. By the time the designers, Lisa Mayock and Sophie Buhai, walked out to receive their applause, everyone was out of her seat.
The models remained in their poses and Ms. Slowey, Ms. Foley and Ms. Garcia stuck around to enjoy the rest of the presentation and see the clothes up close.
