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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)