Prada forewent its usual Fashion Week all-out bash for a more intimate, industry affair on Friday, when it kicked off its new Iconoclasts series, whereby noted stylists were invited to re-interpret its flagship stores in the four fashion capitals: New York, London, Milan, and Paris. Remixing Prada stores - which are monuments to cutting-edge architecture and design in and of themselves--is no small feat, but for those gathered, including Zac Posen, Sasha Pivovarova, Zoe Saldana, Dick Page, Stephen Jones, and seemingly every power publicist in New York, the results impressed even the most jaded crowd. "I heard it's quiet downstairs," mused Alberta Ferretti, seeking a quieter refuge. "I go there."
Celebrating the official start of New York Fashion Week wasn't the only thing on partygoers' minds. With Jason Wu, Thakoon Panichgul, and Maria Cornejo all gathered under one roof, it was all Obama, all night long as inquisitive guests picked the brains of fashion's most notable talents. "My studio's two blocks away, so I thought I'd come out for some fresh air," joked Panichgul. The triumverate was made all the more powerful when Jenna Lyons, J.Crew's senior vice president of women's design (and the woman behind Sasha and Malia Obama's well-photographed inaugural outfits), arrived. Fielding congratulations from both friends and strangers, Lyons humbly deflected any publicity. "The real thing to gain was people rediscovering J.Crew," she said. And while Wu admitted that he's yet to hear from the First Lady post-inauguration night, Lyons, who also had not heard from the White House since, took it all in stride. "The girls have not sent notes yet," she said. "But it's probably not high on their priority list given everything else going on in the world."
Jim Shi was born in Brussels, Belgium and grew up in Paris before moving to New York City. For the past four and a half years, Shi was fashion news editor of IMG's fashion and media industry publication The Daily and editor of its sister web site, Fashion Week Daily. He has covered Fashion Weeks in New York, Milan, and Paris.
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