PARTY ON
NEW YORK — After a hectic resort season, a few designers needed to blow off some steam. So they decided to throw themselves parties — some to show off their designs, others to just unwind.
Jill Stuart was sugary from start-to-finish. Raspberry lemonade in hand, she played hostess on her refurbished roofdeck, while models strolled by in pretty peasant tops, puff-sleeved blouses paired with trousers and jersey dresses with lace sleeves. “The collection is playful and dainty. It has a certain sweetness with little touches of young and feminine detail,” the designer said.
The folks at Rena Lange hosted a cocktail fete on the showroom’s expansive roof terrace — the perfect setting for the company’s sporty collection of cashmere tennis sweaters, cotton pants with contrast piping, simple trenchcoats and short, pleated cocktail dresses for evening.
As guests milled around Abaya, a bar in the East Village, Alice Roi presented a small collection of strapless tops with panels, bib dresses with trim and lots of minis. “I was inspired by an imaginary postwar era,” says Roi. “Rather than the more direct, stiff military clothes which we’ve been seeing, I’m doing raw edges, soft voiles and fluid georgette shapes. The colors were inspired by a washed-out antique French flag.”
Even though she didn’t show any clothes, Catherine Malandrino still managed to draw a big, star-studded crowd to the Market Cafe. Guests were treated to R&B, jazz and rock ‘n’ roll performed live by the Lonnie Youngblood band. Mary J. Blige popped in, and there’s even talk of Malandrino outfitting the singer for her next tour.