Project Runway at Macy*s

We got to Macy*s early, since the recorded message Kate heard when she reserved tickets said that a $5 I.N.C. purchase was required to get into the reception, or some such, and we wanted to fufill that requirement in advance. Once there, we found that the amount was $75! But hey, a girl always needs clothes, and Kate and I both found a couple of nice pieces to fit the bill and went downstairs to check out the show.

The place was set up with a roped-off island of ugly mannequins clad in various Runway fashions, and a runway and chairs were being arranged to accomodate an actual fashion show.

The winning design from each weekly challenge was represented, except for Vincent's Real Woman design, plus the last piece to go down the runway at Fashion Week for each of the final four. As you can see from the photo, Angela's winning INC design was not worthy of a mannequin. Neither were Keith's Wall-to-Wall bedsheet dress (that looked exactly like a bedsheet on a hanger) and Jeffrey's jet-setter outfit (which looked like old ratty pajamas on a hanger).

I had a hard time getting photos of all the dresses, because the lighting at Macy's was foiling my camera and its flash, but there are a couple more photos here, here, and here.

We soon noticed that people were filing into the seats for the fashion show, and when Kate and I tried to join the bunch, we were told we needed to have an ID badge, and if we registered, there should be one waiting for us. So we went back upstairs to the second floor, to the INC department, to get our badges. This event wasn't really well organized, as nobody seemed to be able to give us the full rundown of what to do, there was limited information on signage, and the store was too dang big to be running around up and down and all over the place.

Back downstairs with the badges, the show started with an introduction of Nina Garcia by Mehmet Tangoren, VP of sportswear at Macy's. Nina answered a few questions about PR, then we watched a bunch of painfully skinny models sashay, flounce, stomp, and gallop down the runway, wearing a selection of INC fashions and ridiculous shoes. Then...it was time to go back upstairs yet again for the reception.

We waited in a decently-long line to meet Ninagarcia. There didn't seem to be any requirement to spend money in order to meet Nina, or to plod up and down the elevator innumerable times. People in front of us didn't even have fancy-schmancy VIP badges, as we did. Hmpfh.

Minions hovered and caterers brought around glasses of water with lime and white wine, and plates of miniature mushroom tarts, summer rolls, and desserty-type things to appease the crowds as they waited for their audience with Elle magazine's fashion editor. A menacing minion counting the people in line made an announcement dangerously close to us about having to cut off the line because they were already running overtime, blah blah blah. Kate made a nicely affecting speech about driving from Wilmington to Baltimore and then to Philly to get there and she wasn't leaving without meeting Nina. It did the trick, as the line stopped two people behind us (both of whom gave their own speeches with themes of "fashion is my life" - tall African-American fashionista type - and "I love Ms Garcia" - a 14-year-old boy).

Nina was extremely gracious and seemed even a bit shy in person. Kate congratulated her on her pregnancy and was thanked profusely. As she was signing the copy of Elle magazine awarded to everyone in line, I asked Nina if she ever thought she would be doing such a thing. The answer was a gently murmured, "no, no, no!" When asked to pose for a photo, she put her arm around me and leaned in close. So nice! We thanked her and made room for the Fashionista behind us.

We then went over to claim our reward for the $75 we forked over for our clothing - a striped bag containing another copy of Elle magazine (the one with Uli's winning design) and a PR T-shirt with a rendering of Angela's winning INC design. And they didn't even look at the amount on the receipt. So really, we didn't have to buy a thing. The bag is nice though, and I have a copy of the magazine to read while I save the one with Nina's signature.

And...a fun time was had by all!

tags: project runway