Dear Los Angeles,
You know I love you. I do. I miss living in your sunny confines sometimes, though my heart has always resided firmly in New York.
But, seriously, you’ve got to stop trying to make Fashion Week happen. It’s not going to happen. We’ve questioned your motives on this front before and we won’t stop until you wise up.
To be honest, I thought we were done with this mess when IMG and the Factor brothers finally dissolved that poorly attended (and mouthful to say) Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios. I was wrong, and here’s the schedule. I know, it’s simply blowing your mind, right?
Here’s the thing: I know that Los Angeles has something to contribute to fashion. But this isn’t the way to do it. The big names designing from the west coast aren’t even involved and I haven’t heard of a single editor making the trip. If people are cutting down on the number of senior staffers they send to Europe, do you really think they’re making extra room in the budget for this? And any good celebrity publicist in town has long since told his/her clients to stay away from the event due to the reputation it has earned. I mean, would you want your A or even B-list actress plopped down next to Jenna Jameson in the front row? I think not.
Granted, things are new this year, from the venues to the organizers, but I will never think this is a good idea. You tried. For Years. Stop.
I say, stick to having a fabulous market week, where as a in-house publicist for an LA designer, I did have lots of market editors from NYC into the showroom. And your buyers all come in that week too. Heck, if you have the funds throw a chic dinner party at the Chateau or Il Sole while they’re all in town. Invite your celeb and stylist friends and garner some good press.
Because all this money being spent on an event that actually lowers your cred just doesn’t make any sense to me. And I truly say this with love.
That is all for now.
posted by Fashion Minute
Oct 07, 2009 12:02PM
Agreed. And other 'emerging' fashion weeks can take a lesson from it too. Quick - stop this epidemic before places likes New Jersey insist on having their own Fashion Week too!