High Fashion Powered by Star Wattage
By Robert Kahn, NEWSDAY STAFF WRITER
Few relationships are as symbiotic as the ones between fashion's elite designers and the celebrities who cling to them the way a Donna Karan evening dress hugs Gwyneth's midriff.
Scoring a Julia in your front row can mean valuable media exposure for dozens of promising and established designers alike.
"Twenty years ago, Fashion Week was a very rarefied event," says Sally Singer, the fashion news/features director of Vogue. "Then, 10 years ago, during the era of the supermodels, fashion really became a part of the mainstream. People like Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista and Christy Turlington were that bridge. These days, the public is far more fascinated by the pretty women they see on TV and in films."
Marc Jacobs always has an "amazing" front row at his shows, says one fashion industry insider: "There are all these women who are fanatical about his clothes, and they're his friends and role models." Look for the likes of Sophia Coppola, Marianne Faithful, Hilary Swank and Gretchen Mol.
Michael Kors' lineup of boldface names tends to feature "very elegant" celebs, women who aren't fashion plates but who look great in his classic sportswear cuts. Think Joan Allen or Rene Russo.
Calvin Klein's roster of female celebs usually includes some who have been the designer's muse at some point in his lengthy career. Keep an eye out for Julia Roberts, Talisa Soto and Turlington.
But only one party separates the fashion elite from the wannabes - Stella McCartney's bash on Friday night to celebrate the opening of her new store in the Meatpacking District.
"New York is a big city, but it operates like a small town," says Vogue's Singer. "When someone comes from abroad and decides to invest in retail, the city really opens its arms. It's as if people are saying 'Ah, the visitors have arrived from London.'"
McCartney counts Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Moss and Madonna as good friends. Paltrow and Moss could very well attend McCartney's show, but a spokeswoman for Madonna says the actress will not be in Manhattan during Fashion Week. Nor will McCartney's famous father, Paul, according to the designer's rep.
Some big names weren't planning any events at all after their shows. Karan won't be having a party this year, a rep confirmed.
"We're all exhausted," she sighed.