Avenue
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is all about being seen. And the only thing better than securing a coveted front-row seat at the hottest show is to be welcomed into the top parties.
Soho’s GoldBar is hosting soirées for designers Matthew Williamson, Yigal Azrouël and denim gurus Marcus Wainwright and David Neville of Rag & Bone. “We’re a parlor designed for an intimate audience,” says co-owner Jayma Cardosa. “When a designer invites you to their party here, you know that you’re part of their extended family.” And when designers like Rebecca Taylor and Richie Rich want a larger venue for raucous parties, Cardosa has them covered with Cain Luxe Lounge.
FROM LEFT: Matthew Williamson; Rihanna
Noah Tepperberg’s newly opened Avenue has tapped DJ Paul Sevigny to man the turntables for the week. “Paul’s going to bring his closest friends here to celebrate,” says Tepperberg of his Chelsea space, which regularly welcomes Marc Jacobs, Madonna and Rihanna.
FROM LEFT: Justin Timberlake; Marc Jacobs
Another newcomer is Abe & Arthur’s and Simyone—a restaurant and separate boîte that are the latest from club scions Eugene Remm, Mark Birnbaum and Michael Hirtenstein. Having launched Tenjune in 2006 right before Fashion Week (with parties for BCBG and Rock & Republic), Remm knows firsthand that those in the fashion community love being first. “And since we have two new venues, we’ve got designers clamoring to have their shows and parties here,” he adds.
But some of the stiletto-sporting set won’t have to go far to let loose. The entrance to The Bryant Park Hotel’s Cellar Bar is directly across from the VIP entrance to the tents. “Our slogan is, ‘fashion is our address,’” says managing director Phil Columbo. Having previously hosted Charlotte Ronson and Phillip Lim, Columbo wants “to continue supporting fresh talent, so we’ll be hosting two runway shows for designers that may not be able to show in the tents this season, given the current economic climate.”
