Fashion Archives

New York, August 20, 2009 – J.C. Penney just opened its first Manhattan location and already the retailer has perked up the dull summer party scene with a celebration of its “I Heart Ronson” line by Charlotte Ronson.  And indeed there was much Ronson love at the bash: mom Ann Dexter-Jones and half-siblings Annabelle and Alexander Dexter-Jones were all in the house, and the designer’s musical siblings took care of the evening’s entertainment – Samantha Ronson manned the turntables and Mark Ronson presented a performance by UK band The Rumble Strips, whose record he just produced.  The entire family put up a united front in avoiding all talk about Samantha’s on again/off again relationship with Lindsay Lohan, who never showed up at the party.

However, Mischa Barton caused a paparazzi stampede when she showed up unannounced with her Beautiful Life costar Ashley Madekwe.  And as she danced and socialized, we overheard many people comment on how healthy Mischa looks, despite her recent stint in rehab.  Mischa’s ex, Cisco Adler was there, as was Hilary Duff, Sophia Bush, Eva Amurri and rock n’ roll spawn Sean Lennon and Zoe Kravitz. 

Samantha Ronson photo: Caroline Torem Craig

New York, August 19, 2009 – Anna Wintour hosted the premiere of The September Issue, R.J. Cutler’s documentary about the making of the biggest issue of Vogue magazine in history.  (Of course, that was the September 2007 issue, and not the current one, when magazines are suffering double-digit advertising declines.) 

Sienna Miller, who has been a no-show at numerous recent events in NYC, was the cover girl, and finally made an appearance for the premiere.  Renee Zellweger, in town for her own premiere the previous day, attended.  Rapper/fashion designer/perfumer/actor Sean Combs has apparently not embraced recessionary frugality, arriving at MoMA in a flashy Lamborghini. 

Fashion designers including Carolina Herrera, Oscar de la Renta, Vera Wang, Marc Jacobs, Donna Karan, Zac Posen and Cynthia Rowley, several of whom also appear in the film, attended the premiere. 

Another screening will take place in the Hamptons on Saturday, and Ms. Wintour will appear on the David Letterman show on August 24 to promote the movie, which opens in theaters in New York on August 28. 

Additional photos by Joy E. Scheller

New York, June 15, 2009 – With the big opening party for the long-awaited High Line park falling the same night as the annual Council of Fashion Designers of America Awards, Monday was one big – and long – night in New York City.  While the fashion folks were handing out awards at Lincoln Center, Friends of the High Line supporters gathered downtown at Chelsea Piers for their summer benefit honoring actor Edward Norton and philanthropists Lisa Maria and Philip Falcone, who donated $10 million to the park. 

But that was just the start of the evening, as attendees from both events converged at the High Line, where Calvin Klein Collection sponsored the first party at the new park, located on an elevated railroad track running through West Chelsea and the meatpacking district in Manhattan.  CFDA Award winner Alexander Wang arrived at the High Line wearing a torn white T-shirt, and admitted it was simply what he wore under his dressier outfit earlier in the evening.  “I did a little switcheroo in the car,” Wang said laughing.  The designer did wear his short pants to the CFDA Awards ceremony, however.  “They’re Commes des Garcons, so I thought they’d be acceptable.” he explained.

Celebrity couple Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman got involved in the High Line through their friend, Edward Norton.  “This is my neighborhood; we live on 19th Street,” Perlman said.  “I’m so excited.  I can’t wait to get up there; I’m so glad it stopped raining,” she added. 

Many partygoers noted that this official “first party” on the High Line is actually the second – back in September, Calvin Klein, Inc. celebrated its 40th anniversary with a private party on the unfinished trestle – but they had to do their own landscaping for that extravaganza. 

New York, May 30, 2009 – Prince Harry’s first official visit to New York City culminated with the Veuve Clicquot Manhattan Polo Classic on Saturday. 

We spent an idyllic day sipping Champagne and watching the polo match in the sunshine on Governor's Island. Madonna, Kate Hudson, Chloe Sevigny, LL Cool J, Matt Lauer, Marc Jacobs and Donna Karan watched Harry’s Sentebale team triumph over Nacho Figueras’s Black Watch.

The match was a benefit for American Friends of Sentebale, a charity that Harry co-founded with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho to support at-risk children in that African nation.

More from the polo match at NYMag.com.

New York, May 28, 2009 – Despite rain and fog, partygoers packed the rooftop of the Palace Hotel in midtown Manhattan shortly after 9:00 P.M. to witness the official lighting of the electric Burberry sign across the street, atop the fashion house’s new U.S. headquarters.   The Burberry sign became a part of the New York City skyline since the building at 444 Madison Avenue is one of only a few in the city zoned for such.

And so the rock band One Night Only blasted music as guests like Orlando Bloom, Claire Danes and Hugh Dancy, Harry Connick Jr., Carla Gugino and Rose McGowan happily danced in the rain on the rooftop terrace.  Bloom laughed when we asked him a question.  “I can’t hear you,” he shouted.  “Honestly, I’m like, partially deaf.”   

Blake Lively, Penn Badgley and Justin Long arrived late, made a quick circle at the packed party and then decamped to the hotel’s restaurant for dinner. 

Burberry creative director Christopher Bailey had sole discretion over how the sign would look.  “Nobody’s allowed to have a choice,” CEO Angela Ahrendts said firmly.  “[Christopher] controls everything the consumer sees.  As far as the brand is concerned, he can have whatever he wants,” she said.