By Gillian Weeks
I never expected to extract any insights from an event that involved so much hairspray. Maybe some free champagne, or a killer gift bag, but not the kind of lessons that usually come from yoga seminars or night-school classes. As it turned out, fashion week had plenty to teach. All a student needs is an open mind, impractical shoes, and a well-honed sense of entitlement. Let the learning begin.
Lesson 1: Why look good when you can look crazy?
Sometimes it’s hard to make a strong impression, especially among the dolled-up and tricked-out crowd you find around Bryant Park. The answer isn’t to rush off to Barney’s; instead, try the costume shop. If you can’t look a la mode then try looking out of your mind.
Lesson 2: Screw the shoes. Keep on truckin.
In most of the shows I attended, there was at least one runway misstep. At Esteban Cortazar, one of the models lost part of her shoe and ended up hobbling down the runway with a bum leg. Half way down, though, she paused, took off both stilettos, and did her walk au natural. This strategy might not be advisable on New York City sidewalks, so only lose the shoes if there’s a red carpet in between you and pavement. Just remember: if life hands you platforms, make sure you’ve got a pedicure.
Lesson 3: Keep it real.
It’s easy to get a big attitude if you spend enough time backstage at Fashion Week. The glare of the flashbulbs can make it hard to get a good look at reality. Thank god there were the port-a-potties to deflate some egos. For all the swankiness of the event, Bryant Park does not come equipped with permanent restrooms, leaving a fleet of fashionistas to hold their noses at the scent of disinfectant and uh…you get the picture. Granted, these were the fanciest porta potties I’ve ever come across, complete with a sink, mirror, and electric light. But the experience was a reality check for even the haughtiest of hautes.
I can think of better fonts of wisdom than Fashion Week – the teachings of Buddha, a pilgrimage to Mecca, your mother. But there’s something about finding depth beneath the superficial that makes this event ever more profound. The answers to life’s questions may be just behind the runway.
A note on Madrid’s Fashion Week
By Gillian Weeks
If you’re plugged into the world of fashion news (as we so clearly are here at BeautyNews – we’re a freakin’ hub), then you may have heard something about Spain’s ban on “too-thin” models at their recent Madrid Fashion Week. As a response to the outcry over the Skeletors featured at last year’s event, show officials have outlawed all models with a Body Mass Index (BMI) under 18.5. About 30% of the ladies were sent to the bench.
Model at NY Fashion Week and model Crystal Renn for Dolce & Gabbana, who is considered plus size in the industry.
When I read this last bit of information, my first thought was: only 30%? As a normal-sized woman, part of my defense against the demands of haut couture is to write off models as sick, starved, even masochistic. I tell myself that a body worth parading down the runway isn’t worth the effort to get it. And so it stuns me to think that 70% of these bony broads are what you might call healthy.
It’s clear that Spanish officials are trying to beef up body images, but I’m afraid that if this trend spreads to other fashion capitals, it might have the opposite effect. By ordaining slightly less malnourished women as healthy specimens, they are in effect removing the excuse to abstain from super-thinness (and ensuring that, at least for now, we’ll have no relief from Heidi Klum’s shrill voice yammering on about a size 6 girl being ‘fat’).
In other words, now that we know that a 5’10″ model is considered healthy at 129 pounds, what’s to stop us from going to great lengths to match her?
We’d like to know what you think: contact@beautynewsnyc.com
Spring 2007 Fashion Week Round-up with a little of our own Flow-Cabulary
By CS
Up went the tents in Bryant Park, where models strolled and viewers gawked;
For one whole week, we saw Spring trends, sipped champagne, caught up with friends.
The buzz began with Fashion Rocks!, with Beyonce and Jamie Foxx,
And then the shows began at nine, on Friday (in genuine Fashion time).
John Bartlett kicked off the week, with preppy clothes with plenty of cheek.
Nicole Miller came out bold, with Mayan braids and eyes of gold.
Jenni Kayne gave us pink lips, textured hair and makeup tips;
Alice Roi had pastel dresses, shiny skin and messy tresses.
Ponytails were Roland’s thing: sexy, classic, full of swing.
Betsey Johnson rocked the skies with clean matte faces and bright blue eyes.
With pageboy bobs, the girls were chic at Y&Kei’s luxurious clique.
Carlos Miehle had girls with clout: ponytails, and natural pout.
Hair trends spoke of messy chic, with bobs or braids and some mystique.
All faces look so nude and fresh, with berry lips and fine excess.
At Doo Ri there was quite a ball, with wispy updos, curls and all.
Her models’ faces, nude and fresh, said “less is more” not “less is less.”
So when workin’ your look for ’07 Spring, be sure to keep in mind these things:
Glossy, pouty lips are in – don that ponytail, and matte that skin!
Bobbi Brown designs the Tory Burch look for Spring 2007
FASHION WEEK SPRING 2007: “THE BACKSTAGE BUZZ” 
FASHION WEEK SPRING 2007: “THE BACKSTAGE BUZZ” 
FASHION WEEK SPRING 2007: “THE BACKSTAGE BUZZ” 
FASHION WEEK SPRING 2007: “THE BACKSTAGE BUZZ” 
FASHION WEEK SPRING 2007: “THE BACKSTAGE BUZZ” 
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