NEW YORK — Revelers were out in force Thursday night at the Madison Avenue: Where Fashion Meets Art event. The 29-block party, where participating stores held cocktail receptions up and down Madison Avenue, drew a mixed crowd of Ladies Who Lunch, wan model types and a handful of the designers themselves.
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Ralph Lauren held court at his Rhinelander Mansion store, along with photographer Sheila Metzner. It was her black and white photographs of Manhattan that Lauren chose to display in his store windows. “I’m a big fan of hers. I admire her as an artist and as a person,” the designer said.
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Metzner’s reason for their affinity was more geographically based — and all about New York. “He’s from the Bronx and I’m from Brooklyn,” she said with a big smile. At the Calvin Klein store, where pal Bianca Jagger showed up to support the designer, Whitney Biennial artist Erwin Redl’s installation “Matrix I” was on display. “Everyone that I work with has been passing out over his work,” said Klein. “I’m so excited about what he has been doing because it really fits well with this space.
“What we do in a small way with clothes is what artists do on a much higher level,” the designer continued. “This makes people feel very good to walk into the store, and that’s what fashion should be about.”
The most raucous party was far and away at the DKNY store, which featured a performance from RUN-DMC. Music was blasting as people spilled out onto the sidewalk trying to gain access through the velvet ropes.
Although the crowds on Madison weren’t as large as at last year’s event, most retailers were pleased with the results. “There’s a great energy and turnout,” said Patrick Guadagno, president of IT USA.
At the Whitney benefit which followed at the museum, the crowd seemed more intent on partying than bidding on the auction items. However, a diamond watch donated by Fred Leighton garnered $4,000, while an evening of private shopping at Ralph Lauren brought in $3,000. The money raised at the event is to benefit the Whitney Museum Family Art Programs.”