Celebrity Central
The Age
Friday February 8, 2008
Who's who in the front row often matters more than what's what on the catwalk, writes fashion editor Janice Breen Burns.
THEY pepper the front rows and trigger traffic and queue-jams with their knots of bodyguards and adoring fans. They spout predictably "Fa-abulous!" verdicts after every show and keep mum about free clothes, favours and appearance fees.When they arrive late, a show is delayed; if they arrive early, with twice the expected entourage in tow, organisers flap about, grateful for the windfall of extra celebrity time, and accommodate them without a murmur, rudely scootching lesser mortals on the front row closer together, or busting them ("Terribly sorry, but, you understand ??") back to Row C.Celebrities. Can't live with them - and, increasingly in high-stakes fashion - can't live without them. New York's fashion week is a five-star example of the kind of hype over substance that fashion branding demands, and the crucial role celebrities play for those labels with a global profile either in the balance or their future sights.In New York this week, fame and fashion fed off each other in a heightened frenzy as celebrities - the "right" name for the "right" brand - were ferried and feted like royals from show to show. In the hierarchy of brand and celebrity names, it is obvious how carefully the matches of famous name to fashion brand are made.Fergie, for instance, the rocky, ice-cool "It" girl of Black Eyed Peas fame, was squired around a packed schedule of shows, from Diane Von Furstenberg and Max Azria to Marc by Marc Jacobs. For Furstenberg, Fergie lent an aura of funk-but-not-too-funky and youth-but-not-too-young that will counter any notions among the brand's broad market that such a veteran could possibly be staid. With the tiny star's entourage of reporters and television lights clogging entry queues and the gap between catwalk and front row at their shows, enlightened brands such as Azria and Jacobs also basked in Fergie's synergy with her broad-aged global fan base.Other brands such as Betsey Johnson, Proenza Schouler and Monique L'Huillier invited lower wattage but up-and-coming young actors, musicians and celebrities onto their front row with high-wattage names such as Brittany Murphy, and mediumwattage starlets such as Rihanna, Joss Stone and Katy Perry. The mixtures conveyed brands' intimacy with awe-inspiring names, as well as fashion's newest and razor-edge trends. If you had to ask who front-rowers Katy Perry, Sophia Bush, Jaime King or Kim Raver were however, you were probably not on the brands' radars for future markets.Even more carefully tailored matings of fame to fashion were apparent on the front rows of uber-classy glamour brand Halston (no less than Liza Minelli and mega-watt actor Christian Slater with elegant girlfriend Tamara Mellon), moody minimalist men's wear collection John Varvatos (legendary rockers Cheap Trick and Joan Jett), modernised classic brand Dennis Basso (Brooke Shields) and G-Star Raw super-cool metro high fashions (funky veteran Dennis Hopper, not strictly front row, but up on the catwalk where he could do the most good.) (Australians Jayson Brunsdon and former Melbourne designer Kit Willow Podgornik will show in New York tonight and tomorrow night respectively.) LINKS style.com www.wgsn.com wwd.com/fashionweek/ fall2008 vogue.com.au Australia's most global girls Sarah-Jane Clarke and Heidi Middleton of SASS & BIDE returned to New York runways together for the first time since Middleton's battle with breast cancer last year. "Rainbows for Kate" was a signature collection of short-drop satin frocks either dapple patterned, acid washed or with stalactites of vivid colour sequins, bolstered shoulders, long-leg acid-wash trousers and long coats flapping out behind the models. Among those sprinkled along the front row (pictured), model Niki Taylor, actress Katrina Bowden, heiress and "It" girl Nicky Hilton, were joined by Kat DeLuna, and fellow Aussies Jayson Brunsdon (due to show tomorrow night) and Kit Willow Podgornik (showing tonight).G-STAR RAW, better known as a denim brand, showed a moody collection of razor-edge city wear, introduced by veteran actor, art collector, philosopher and all-round bon vivant Dennis Hopper. Like John Varvatos, who invited legendary rock group Cheap Trick and Joan Jett to his collection show of architectural men's wear, G-Star Raw was clawing for a more sophisticated, intellectual customer than the usual megawatt and middle-range LA celebrities could lure. Among the collection's futuristically twisted classics were wide-flagged trousers wrapped in the manner of peasant pants and with volumes similar to a gathered ankle-grazing skirt.Fergie (pictured) flit from show to show at New York fashion week, carrying the celebrity banner for a dwindling generation of "It" girls whose credibility as fashion icons dwindles with every drunk driving charge, drug bust or pregnancy.At MARC BY MARC JACOBS Fergie saw the sweater dress revamped in acid yellow fleecy, as well as tight striped or zipped pencil skirts and funky checked tweeds fashioned into cowl-collared or bib-front mini rara frocks, double-breasted pea jackets and mod-boy trousers.At MICHAEL KORS, a brand that pushes the purest definitions of feminine glamour and figure flattery, the front row was peppered with high-wattage stars including Sigourney Weaver and Eva Longoria, and middle range celebrities including (from left) Chris Avery, husband of Grey's Anatomy star Ellen Pompeo, and Rebecca Gayheart, wife of Eric Dane (far right).ANNA SUI is an industry veteran with a penchant for regularly freshening her front row with the faces du jour. Pictured among this year's celebrity collection, Riley Keough, granddaughter of Elvis Presley. Sui cleverly updated her young market's favourite dolly frocks and separates with more volume and the season's newest aesthetic, requiring clashing mixed patterns, extravagant ruffles, collars and a persistent tent silhouette or empire "waistline".
© 2008 The Age
