Want to know all the gossip on NYFW? MyDaily's girl-about-town Carlene Thomas-Bailey on the opening parties and what's in store over the next seven days
New York Fashion Week might really get going today, but the kick-off parties were in full swing last night. Cool kids were either out at Prabal Gurung's fete meets floral party on Hudson River Park's Pier 57, or cutting shapes on the dance floor at a vintage fashion party hosted by It model Andrej Pejic.
Then there was the complete celebrity fest over at the annual amfAR (The Foundation for Aids research) New York Gala where Sarah Jessica Parker rubbed shoulders with designer Kenneth Cole, John Legend and Cee-Lo Green who closed the event. We caught up with Andrej who was wearing a vintage rock and roll leather jacket and skirt from the What Goes Around Comes Around stop, where the party was held.
We discussed his NYFW plans - he's not walking this season - and his favourite NY designers ("I love Zac Posen, Wang and Marc Jacobs"). He also chatted about his collaboration with Galore magazine to create t-shirts featuring prints of himself posing as a Marilyn Monroe-style sex bomb.
Over on Pier 57, Prabal Gurung had stars like Carey Mulligan and Elizabeth Olsen (who was wearing the coral Calypso dress from the collection) at his launch party celebrating his new Target range, which officially launches on Feb 10. He also had a 'surprise' musical performance by romantic crooner Ne-Yo, perfect since the theme of the night (and month) was love. This is the latest affordable designer collection Target has launched. With 80+ pieces in the collection, Prabal's bold print dresses and skirts are a must-buy. Though it will be elbows at the ready once it goes on sale. Last year's Missoni Target collaboration sold out immediately and crashed the website - talk about fashion power.
As for the week ahead there's big talk about who is showing this year (hello Smurfette - the blue cartoon character debuts a show this season) and who is not (hello Katie Holmes). Then there's the rise of the virtual shows, this season designer Peter Som will only be showing his collection on a digital runway aired on digitalfashionshows.com, while Band of Outsiders have done away with the catwalk show altogether and launched a scavenger hunt instead. With all that happening, plus the A-list parties, new designer debuts and celebrity filled front rows, it's going to be a great season here at NYFW!
Here's the street style from day one in New York: