Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Takes Its Last Dance at Bryant Park

• 

Details

Parent Category: Other Festivals

Category: Theater

Published on Wednesday, 10 February 2010 19:21

Written by T. Terry Maloney

From February 11-18, during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2010 (MBFW), thousands of fashion industry professionals will come together in Bryant Park's iconic Tents for one last time before MBFW relocates to Damrosch Park in Lincoln Center next September.
 
Retailers, reporters, editors, fashionistas, celebrities from the A to D lists and the occasional interloper will pack the lobby to see Collections from the world’s established and up-and-coming designers, and how the fashion community sets the tones and trends for what (they hope) the rich and famous will wear in Fall/Winter 2010 (or just to grab a free vodka tonic, frappuccino or the latest copy of WWD.)
 
"As we close a chapter in the history of our event, IMG is excited to be working with Lincoln Center, the CFDA and the City to create a new home for the fashion industry at Lincoln Center,” said Peter Levy, Senior VP and Managing Director of IMG Fashion Worldwide. “We are looking forward, with our partners, to rolling out our plans in the coming months."
 
"All of us at IMG Fashion are excited about the outstanding and stellar lineup which has come together from around the world to share in this historic Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week," said Fern Mallis, Senior VP of IMG Fashion. “This will be a significant season, as we reflect on 17 years, 31 seasons and close to 2,500 fashion shows in Bryant Park that have launched many careers....from Designers to Editors, Models, Producers, Celebrities, TV Commentators and Reality Shows. We all also look forward to the change - and September's move to Damrosch Park in Lincoln Center."
 
The two highlights of every recent February Fashion Week are non-traditional runway shows: the Heart Truth Red Dress Collection 2010, featuring A-list celebrities modeling red dresses created by top designers; and The Project Runway final runway show, featuring designs from the four finalists of the 2009-10 season. Needless to say these two shows are very hot tickets, although I did get invited to last year's Red Dress show and hope to be there again on February 11. (Alas, a Project Runway invitation is a very long shot.)
 
A runway show by the legendary Tommy Hilfiger will close Fashion Week at Bryant Park forever — or least the forseeable future — when his models start the final walk down the runway of The Tent at 8 p.m. on Thursday, February 18.
 
The Bryant Park Tents’ three venues include:
the Salon (the smallest)
the Promenade (the one with two runways)
the Tent (the biggie)


Over the course of eight days, the runway venues, lobby and backstage sponsor-lounges will be bustling from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., when approximately 100,000 people come to attend shows, meet and greet the media, retailers and fashion professionals.
 
Title sponsor Mercedes-Benz is joined by DHL, American Express, Maybelline New York, W Hotels Worldwide, TRESemmé, The Heart Truth Campaign, Starbucks Frappuccino Coffee Drink, Peroni, Chambord, Martini Gold Mixers and O.N.E. (One Natural Experience) as well as the media outlets The New York Times, Vevant, Women's Wear Daily and Getty Images.

Other shows on the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week's schedule are:
BCBGMAXAZRIA
Richard Chai
Duckie Brown
Toni Maticevski
Ports 1961
Anne Bowen
 La Perla
 Farah Angsana
 Cynthia Steffe
 Yigal Azrouёl
 Michael Angel
 Christian Siriano
 Nicole Miller
 Charlotte Ronson
 Venexiana
 Lacoste
 Georges Chakra
 Andy & Debb
 Adam
 Academy of Art University
 Prabal Gurung
 ARISE Magazine African Collective - III
 Lela Rose
 Luca Luca
 Malandrino
 DKNY
 Rebecca Taylor
 Calvin Klein Men’s Collection
 Hervé Léger by Max Azria
 Diane Von Furstenberg
 TonyCohen
 Y-3
 Tuleh
 Custo Barcelona
 Vassilios Kostetsos
 Carolina Herrera
 Carlos Miele
 Jill Stuart
 Donna Karan Collection
 Tracy Reese
 Monique Lhuillier
 Yeohlee
 Tadashi Shoji
 Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation
 Perry Ellis
 Elie Tahari
 Badgley Mischka
 Vera Wang
 Pamella Roland
 Max Azria
 Dennis Basso
 Diesel Black Gold
 Thuy
 Tibi
 Narciso Rodriguez
 Toni Francesc
 Tory Burch
 Michael Kors
 Nanette Lepore
 3.1 Phillip Lim
 Milly by Michelle Smith
 Alexandre Herchcovitch
 Anna Sui
 Brian Reyes
 Ralph Lauren
 Isaac Mizrahi
 Trias
 Calvin Klein Women’s Collection
 Naeem Khan and J. Mendel

For more information: http://www.mbfashionweek.com/newyork

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2010
February 11-18
Bryant Park
(between 6th Av and 5th at 42nd St)