We still can't get our head around why there was a line outside Intermix and Osklen all night (ok, booze we get in the case of the latter and as for the former, I suppose we shouldn't undermine the power of celebs). All the while Thread favorite Rag and Bone's pub-like ambience remained relatively relaxed which, incidentally, was far more conducive to actually shopping...
Starting at J Crew on Prince St, J Crew jewelry designer, Lisa Finkelstein, debuted the Fall jewelry collection and was on hand to answer any nagging jewelry layering questions. The whole affair took on a rather civil tone. We were, after all, shopping for navy blazers and pearl necklaces. The Soho setting was fitting, being that the Prince St. shop was recently re-worked: the space previously occupied by Crew Cuts was turned it into an accessories-only room.
Down the street at 3.1 Phillip Lim we were psyched to discover that the limited edition and re-released pieces developed in honor of FNO were still being offered with a pretty varied size run come 8:00pm (a line had formed at 5:30 for the shop so this was surprising and great news for us). Mixed in with these re-released and archival beauties, were some fall pieces that are being created in very limited quantities such as a shrunken leather jacket, fully studded along the arms and ruffled (oh yes!) throughout the back. It was the kind of moment when we scoff "Only $1,500?" and then, um, come back down. Lim and Irina Lazaraneau were hand in hand and charmingly polite hosts- encouraging revelers to check out those archival pieces and visit the dumpling truck parked in front of the store.
Onward to a pit stop at Topshop- a rather puzzling party where DJ Lissy Trullie was spinning (but sequestered in a booth out of view it seemed) and Vogue editors had curated a special room filled with must-have pieces for Fall. Due to the size of the store, it all felt a little sparse.
Payless was hosting Pat Field, who politely posed for photos with fans. We asked her where her next stop was and she replied she was heading to her own store to, well, party.
Chanel was smelling like a nail salon, manicurists working hard to satisfy the frighteningly long wait list (patrons had lined up early for this incentive). Champagne was out by the time we arrived.
At Michael Kors we arrived within minutes of Michael's entrance with Debra Messing. Literally followed by an enormous crowd into the Prince St. store, the scene became mayhem within seconds. Kors proceeded to engage in a caricature "sketch-off" with renown Vogue illustrator Billy Norwich, sketching caricatures of fans. Debra Messing was hawking watches and doing a fine job at it- apparently there were quite a few sales.
Sawdust speckled all over the floors at Rag and Bone was a great aesthetic touch, though not great for slippery soled shoes. Despite some embarassing slipping, this was one of our favorite stops of the night. Guinness, fiddles, and great merchandise- it was the kind of shopping experience we'd like to believe Ms. Wintour would have been proud of.
