Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot
On the first night of NYFW parties, “It” girls and guys braced the high temps to swan about parties for Victoria’s Secret, Pandora and Chanel.
On the first night of NYFW parties, it was all about trying to look chic while sweating through high 90-degree weather. And luckily for those attending Victoria's Secret's “The Tour” party, lingerie is about as close to naked as one can get.
The brand rolled out the pink carpet at the Manhattan Center on Wednesday night, to celebrate its new fashion show, reimagined in video format as “The Tour.”
“The brand comes from a tumultuous history, for sure,” said Priyanka Chopra, commending the brand's recent pivot. “There was a time when the brand told people what women should look like, and I think now what they're trying to do is champion people and individuals to be as they are.”
“I remember going into Victoria's Secret with my mom and being so enamored by the glitter and bras and panties and lingerie,” said “What It Is” rapper Doechii, who was gearing up to perform later in the evening. “So to be here in it, finally as a woman, it feels like a manifestation.”
The crowd was also filled with many of the brand's recent collaborators, including Aaron Rose Philip, a transgender model who uses a wheelchair.
“I love VS because they've really stepped it up to where at this point in their journey as a brand, they're so accepting to everyone,” she said.
Inside the pink-lit venue, Naomi
Campbell appeared on the venue's balcony to recite a poem written by one of the “Victoria's Secret 20,” a group of worldwide creatives recruited to contribute to the brand's video. “First rule about this planet is: Don't look a star in the eye if you still want to live,” the model said.
Over at Pandora's Lab Grown Diamond District event, Pamela Anderson proved that she was invincible to sweat, even in a long silk blouse and wide-leg trousers.
“I don't really sweat,” she shrugged later when asked how she was keeping so cool, dressed in her own head-to-toe The Row ensemble (a stylist had been offered, but she opted to go more no-frills and work from her own closet) while at Pandora's New York Fashion Week party. Anderson is the face of Pandora's latest venture, lab-grown diamonds, which was celebrated Wednesday night at “a new diamond district.”
In addition to Anderson, celebrities like Halle Bailey, Ashley Park, Hari Nef, Barbie Ferreira, Adriana Greenblatt and more swung by, all wearing diamonds from the new collection.
The heat was certainly all anyone could focus on. “I feel like I look crazy right now,” Ferreira told her handler as she took a breather from interviews, which she'd
been doing with a handheld fan in one hand and a cup of ice water in the other.
“No, you look amazing,” was the reply, as she was guided toward another reporter, who was instructed to keep things audio only for the sake of melting makeup.
In Williamsburg, the “It” girls and gents were sweating it out in tweed at the opening of Chanel's Lucky Chance Diner, celebrating the Chance Eau Fraiche eau de parfum.
Lil Nas X was there, dressed boldly in a leather vest despite the intense heat. Reese Witherspoon's look-alike daughter Ava Phillippe, who has been slowly but surely making her way onto the fashion scene as of late, was in from the West Coast, while Molly Gordon, who had quite the summer between season two of “The Bear” and
indie movie “Theater Camp,” paired a black Chanel top with denim. Lori Harvey, Annabelle Dexter Jones, West Duchovny, Tommy Dorfman, Chase Sui Wonders and Kristine Froseth were just some of the other names.
Most had done fittings much prior to the event, when it was cooler in New York and the brand's signature tweed seemed the perfect thing for a September evening, so while inside the diner was the place to be, much of the party spilled out onto the patio, where soft serve ice cream was being doled out and a DJ was at work.
“Brilliant, there's a fan,” said one guest as they made a beeline for the soft breeze, seeking solace.
Champagne swirled, as did trays of burgers and fries, chicken tenders with ranch dressing, grilled cheese sandwiches and other diner food favorites. Pink milkshakes in old-fashioned glasses and whipped cream and cherry topped pies glistened from behind the diner counter. Personal ice cream sundaes were passed around, and a photo moment seemed to present itself at every turn.