The New York Times - 12.09.2019

THE NEW YORK TIMES, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2019 N D9

THE WHISKERS OF Hurricane Dorian
brushed against New York Fashion Week
last Friday night, sending wind and rain to
greet hundreds of coifed partygoers who
turned out for the Harper’s Bazaar Icons
party at the Plaza Hotel.
Now in its sixth year, the black-tie affair
aspires to be for fashion week what the Van-
ity Fair party is to the Oscars. “The inspira-
tion is to make a beautiful party with beauti-
ful girls and everybody is fun,” said Carine
Roitfeld, the fashion editor who puts the an-
nual event together.
But it often feels more like a never-ending
red carpet. In fact, so many guests were
waiting to be photographed that a two-track
system was instituted: V.I.P.s like Janelle
Monáe, Zendaya, Christy Turlington, Vanessa
Hudgens, Troye Sivanand Charlie Puthwere
whisked in front of photographers, while
lesser models and influencers had to wait
their turn.
Just before 9:30 p.m., a gust of wind sent
the 60-foot-long step-and-repeat toppling
onto the glut of internet celebrities, who
shrieked like extras in a disaster movie.
Fortunately, no influencers were harmed in
the making of this Instagram Story.
Inside the packed Grand Ballroom, it was
shoulder-to-shoulder tuxedo jackets. The
celebrity wattage seemed down from last
year, when Cardi B threw a shoe at Nicki
Minaj.
Alicia Keysperformed at 11:30, as her hus-
band, Swizz Beatz; Shailene Woodley; Nicho-
las Braun(who plays Cousin Greg on HBO’s
“Succession”); and Jameela Jamildanced in
the crowd.
Vape fumes filled the air and discarded
champagne coupes rolled underfoot as Do-
rian continued to bang on the windows like
a thwarted crasher.

Prince of Parties

Alexander Wangmay have stopped showing

at fashion week, but he has not given up his

customary Saturday-night bacchanal.

To celebrate a handbag collaboration

with Bulgari, Mr. Wang took over the de-

funct Henri Bendel space at 712 Fifth Ave-

nue and transformed it into fantasy depart-

ment store called A. W. Bulgari’s, with big-

hair mannequins and pink gin cocktails.

The party was so hot and crowded, the

Fire Department parked an engine outside,

bathing a crowd of hopefuls mobbing the

velvet rope in red and blue light. Following a

head count by fire marshals, the police shut

the door sometime after 10 p.m.

Already inside were stars like Tiffany Had-

dish, Hailey Bieber, Dylan McDermottand

Dua Lipa. Among those left outside were the

evening’s entertainment: Normani, Rick

Rossand Wale.

Mr. Wang, who arrived earlier, was in his

element as the prince of parties, talking up

his capsule collection in between air-kissing

models and artists including Offset, Soo Joo

Park, Sofia Richie, Nicole Scherzingerand

Coco Rocha.

“Bulgari is a lifestyle brand; they’re in

fine jewelry, they’re in hotels, they’re in fra-

grance and beauty,” Mr. Wang said. “I love

that they gave me complete creative control

to reimagine their Serpenti collection.”

By midnight, the Fire Department re-

lented and Mr. Wang introduced Normani,

who performed two songs from the mezza-

nine, including “Motivation.” By then, the

pink gin had worked its magic, and some-

one threw a wig at Mr. Wang like a bouquet.

“Yaas,” he said. “One wig snatched.”

Afterward, a diverse V.I.P. crowd that in-

cluded G-Eazy, Kehlani and Migos sauntered

down to Le Chalet, the faux après-ski lodge

at nearby Saks Fifth Avenue, where the

after-party continued into the wee hours,

safely out of sight of New York’s Bravest.

’90s Flashback

Donna Karanleft as chief designer of her

namesake company in 2015, but that didn’t

stop her from showing up at St. Ann’s Ware-

house on the Brooklyn waterfront on Mon-

day night.

A projection on the Brooklyn Bridge an-

nounced the occasion: the 30th anniversary

of DKNY, the casual clothing line she

founded that was synonymous with ’90s

New York fashion.

“I’m surprised it’s only 30 years,” Ms.

Karan said, wearing a billowing black halter

top, one brass earring and four chunky

wood bangles. “I thought it was much long-

er than that, like 40 or 50.”

Well, the brand is certainly older than

many of night’s guests. Nina Agdal, a 27-

year-old model, said she discovered DKNY

in Denmark when she was 12. “For me, it

represented New York,” she said.

The Martinez Brothers, the party’s D.J.s,

recalled growing up in the Bronx with

DKNY T-shirts and jeans. “When I was 13, I

had an all-white T-shirt with the DKNY

logo,” Chris Martinez, 27, said. “I used to

wear that everywhere.”

Kendall Jenner, 23, entered with an entou-

rage and mostly hung out backstage. Per-

haps she wanted to avoid Sophia Hutchins,

also 23, who has been spending a lot of time

with Caitlyn Jenner.

Just after 11 p.m., Cara Delevingneintro-

duced Halsey. “Five years ago, all you” —

expletives — “would have been too cool to

talk to me,” Halsey said between songs.

The party wrapped just before midnight,

with waiters circulating tequila shots in red

plastic cups. Outside, Ms. Karan took pic-

tures with fans against a DKNY-branded

vegan ice cream truck, as the Brooklyn

Bridge glowed with a testament to her

legacy.

NO REGRETS BEN WIDDICOMBE

The Best Blowouts of Fashion Week

Harper’s Bazaar, DKNY and

Alexander Wang hosted some

memorable parties.

At the DKNY celebration, below

right, Donna Karan. Bottom

row from left: Charlie Puth with

Winnie Harlow; Kendall

Jenner; and Sydney Sweeney.

At the Wang-Bulgari

party, clockwise from top

left: Coco Rocha amid

the mannequins; Dua

Lipa with Alexander Wang;

Tiffany Haddish; Hailey

Bieber, second from left,

and Justine Skye, on the

right; Normani performing

on the mezzanine; and

Quavo (in glasses), Offset

and Hennessy Carolina.

At the Harper’s Bazaar bash,

clockwise from far left: Alicia

Keys, who performed; Janelle

Monáe; and RJ King, Cameron

Dallas and Race Imboden.

THIS YEAR,

ONLY A WIG,

NOT A SHOE,

WAS THROWN.

CALLA KESSLER/THE NEW YORK TIMES (HARPER’S BAZAAR) NINA WESTERVELT FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES (BULGARI)

KRISTA SCHLUETER FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES (DKNY)