New York Fashion Week is packed. It makes holiday shopping look like a breeze or Disney World at holiday time look like a walk in Central Park. Think I am kidding? Here’s Nancy’s take on Nanette Lepore and what it took to get her INTO the show!
While I was taking shots of celebrities, I was also watching the line for Nanette Lepore carefully. Her P.R. people were slightly intimidating and they were making a big deal out of separating guests into seated, standing VIP, and standing only, which led me to believe there was going to be another lockout.
However, there were two older, normal-looking women seated at the table checking invitations, and I overheard someone introduce one of them as Nanette’s mother. I bided my time and waited for the perfect moment, which was when most of the crowd was already inside but the doors were still open, and the pr people walked away to attend to something inside the tent. I marched up to Nanette’s mom, gave her my sweetest smile, and was completely truthful. “I’m not on your list but I am from the press and I love Nanette. Would you have room for just one more?” She looked at me for a long moment and then smiled, saying, “Why not? But it will have to be standing.” I thanked her profusely and then ran in just before the doors were about to close.
Nanette Lepore Look #14 First View for New York Magazine
Nanette Lepore’s silhouette was longer and slouchy, with orange and fuchsia as the stand-out colors. Apparently her inspiration was Picasso, and I got a real south-of-France in the Jazz Age feel from it. Her clothes were carefree but glamorous, looking like they would be worn by an artist/intellectual with a bit of a past who had to be comfortable because she had so much going on.
Nanette Lepore look #17 First View for New York Magazine
Lepore accessorized with matching do-rags that looked thrown on at the last minute to cover up bad hair days. If that sounds like disapproval, it’s not–it looked amazingly chic and made me finally understand the power of extreme contrast.
Nanette Lepore look #35 First View for New York Magazine
In previous seasons I would have called her work girlish, but this time it appeared to be for a slightly older woman with a serious life. It was by far the highlight of my fashion season, and I’m not just saying that because Nanette Lepore’s mother is my new personal hero!
Nanette Lepore taking bows with her daughter, First View for New York Magazine
The finale and highlight of the show was when Nanette took her bows with her young daughter in hand, a wonderful insight into what’s important to her. The next time I’m torn between the needs of my kids and career I will take a deep breath and remind myself, “Nanette Lepore is a working mom too!”
Nancy Lichtenstein
