Moscow fashion week
October 26, 2008 Moscow showed uncharacteristic reserve at its 20th fashion week with models strutting in diaphanous gowns and soft colors as the financial gloom of the credit crunch nipped at its stiletto heels.
The sushi-nibbling Moscow elite descended on Gostiny Dvor this week, a revamped 19th century exhibit hall near the Kremlin to see home-grown designs and catch a glimpse of Hollywood star and ex-Bond girl Denise Richards.
“I am extremely proud to open the 20th jubilee of our city’s fashion week, Moscow is a true European capital,” Moscow mayor of 15 years Yuri Luzhkov said sitting two seats down from Richards at the show of celebrated designer Valentin Yudashkin.
Luzkhov later presented a huge bouquet of colorful flowers to the raven-haired designer, who has boutiques in Europe and was commissioned to dress the Russian military.
Muted, neutral colors featured heavily in his spring and summer collection for next year, reminiscent of Milan shows last month where designers stuck to simple clothes in what fashion experts said was an attempt to keep cautious buyers keen with clothes that can work through several seasons.
The token Hollywood star for the event — birthdays of billionaires and gallery openings in Moscow usually have one — was Richards, who did her best to overcome the language barrier with an ear-to-ear smile.
“I love it, it’s wonderful,” she said of the Russian capital. “The show was amazing, it was fantastic,” she added, teetering on gold high heels and wrapped in a short shiny dress.
Jennifer Lopez and Donatella Versace
Prince didn’t say a word - nor did he sing - at Fashion Group International’s annual Night of Stars on Thursday, Oct. 23, but he did function as arm candy for Jennifer Lopez on stage as she introduced the evening’s big honoree, Donatella Versace, who took home the “Superstar” award.
Lopez may have done all the talking, but when Versace came out to accept her award (a few seconds too early - the Prince song that was supposed to play as she made her entrance started late), she made sure to thank Prince for “being a superstar.”
But Versace’s timing gaffe wasn’t an isolated incident - after a lengthy back and forth between friends Philippe Starck and Christian Louboutin, who both picked up awards (Starck for architecture and Louboutin as a “Star Honoree”) - the announcer accidentally introduced presenter Ashley Olsen (there to salute Francisco Costa) in the midst of Louboutin’s acceptance speech. Call it “Night of False Starts.”
Hosted by Barneys New York’s Simon Doonan, he opened the night by humorously urging honorees and presenters to keep the speeches short, “Donatella has to get to Katz’s deli in the Lower East Side by 11, she’s judging a pickle-eating competition,” he quipped.
Karl Lagerfeld eschewed the unofficial time limit rule with his introduction of Harold Koda, the curator of the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and recipient of the “Fashion Oracle” award, with a speech that elaborated on fashion’s relevance to the history books. “He is the future of fashion,” said Lagerfeld about Koda. “He will decide what will be remembered from today,” to which Koda responded, “I feel I should be handing Karl the award.”
Night of Stars also honored fashion designers Francisco Costa of Calvin Klein and Christopher Bailey of Burberry, Italian Vogue’s Franca Sozzani and her sister Carla Sozzani, Net-a-Porter’s Natalie Massenet and Harvey Weinstein. John Paul Dejoria of Paul Mitchell was given the “Sustainability” award and Bill McComb of the Liz Clairborne Foundation received the “Humanitarian” honors.
