Bad things always seem to happen when fashion and finance collide.
We wonder if American Express is rethinking its latest PR move – giving 600 cardholders access to an exclusive runway show by New York designer Phillip Lim. Phillip Lim already showcased his Spring 2010 collection for the hoards of fashionistas and media-types, but this performance was all about reaching the consumer, per the designer’s comments in this American Express press release:
“With consumers becoming increasingly savvy about the world of fashion, I am always challenging myself to create new and authentic ways for customers to experience my collections,” said Phillip Lim. “By partnering with American Express, I am able to provide Cardmembers insight beyond the traditional runway show and offer them a one-of-a-kind experience into my design process.”
However, the event didn’t go entirely to plan.
Not only did one of Lim’s models horribly and continuously fall down — the first to do so this New York fashion week — AmEx holders also became a little, err, licentious when it came to the free booze on offer. From Charlotte Cowles, of New York Mag’s The Cut:
Just when we thought we’d survived a stiletto-packed Fashion Week without a major runway tumble, one poor model wobbled in her red platforms and floundered on the home stretch. She picked herself up and scrambled backstage, only to fall again during the finale – several times. In fact, she couldn’t get up. The audience fell silent; finally, another model picked her up and half-carried her the rest of the way. (These were IMG models, and they didn’t walk at Lim’s first show.) Everyone applauded heartily; even André smiled encouragingly from the front row.
When we first sat down (in the front row, directly across from André and Linda Fargo), a woman took her spot next to us and began blathering about free cocktails and her internship. “I’m so drunk right now. I’ve been drinking since, like, seven,” she said, and then asked us to move over so that her friend could share her seat. A security guard rebuked her, and her friend was forced to stand – which turned out to be fortunate. Just as the show began, the intern vomited into her hands. Rather than rush out, she whispered her profuse apologies, and watched the entire show covered in … well, you get the point. We escaped puke-free, but convinced of one thing: It was high time Fashion Week ended.
London Fashion Week has, of course, picked up where New York left off.
No mention of any finance-related events, just yet however.
Related links:
Phillip Lim’s personal pitch to American Express consumers – WSJ Heard on the runway
Womenswear at New York fashion week – FT