WHAT: Crystal strikes a poise in a sultry, army bubbly beverage skirt from a tumble 2011 Z Spoke collection.
WHERE: New York City’s Meatpacking District during a opening of Zac Posen’s initial stand-alone store for his lower-priced line, Z Spoke by Zac Posen.
The name of Zac Posen’s secondary line and first stand-alone store, Z Spoke, is fitting considering that everything about the petite boutique, which opened last night in New York's Meatpacking District, is bespoke. An intimately curated collection of rare books adorned pedestal-like shelves and sleek Venetian shades trimmed in grosgrain ribbon divided the dressing area from the rest of the store. Sitting chairs were upholstered in multicolored lamé, “from the collection,” Posen proudly pointed out. “It’s lamé that we braided backwards.”
Posen looked dapper and beaming in a black suit, the lapel of which was adorned with a small French poodle brooch from Fred Leighton. “I’ve been here all summer; I haven’t left,” he said. “We’re preparing for our show, and we’re so excited about it.” Nearby, NAHM designer Ally Hilfiger and partner Nary Manivong discussed their own hurried final preparations for their upcoming New York Fashion Week presentation, while model Crystal Renn explained without bitterness that her planned end-of-summer trip to Nepal had to be cancelled so she could stay in New York for work. “My major trip is always in December, and I’m looking forward to that,” she said. “I’m going back and forth between Africa and India.” Canadian model Coco Rocha, wearing an A-line black Zac Posen dress, was thrilled to have finally received her green card. Where is she going? “I’m not sure, but now I get to leave! I’ve been stuck here for over a month not able to travel.”
Meanwhile on the West Coast, Band of Outsiders designer Scott Sternberg cohosted an outdoor summer movie screening at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery—a true Los Angeles tradition—with Mr. Porter and Net-a-Porter. And true to summer—and summer camp tradition—was his film choice, Meatballs, the 1979 comedy starring Bill Murray. “I just thought it would be funny to have a fashion event about meatballs,” said Sternberg at last night’s fete. Despite its carnivorous conceit (including a theme menu—meatball subs by local eatery Animal), the evening maintained a civilized air. Guests including Andrew Garfield, Samantha Traina, Nathalie Love, and Jenny Lewis sipped Dewar’s cocktails from Mason jars before settling screen-side onto gingham picnic blankets to take in the show. Meatballs the film was certainly a hit with the crowd. “This movie is from a different time and place,” said Sternberg. “It’s sort of nostalgic and sweet.”