I mentioned earlier that I’d gone to a preview of the Tommy Hilfiger collection and that the designer had been inspired by the idea of relaxed glamour. Well, he put his collection on the runway last evening at Lincoln Center. In order to improve his business, he has adopted the European model for the American market. That means that he’s shifted his sensibility and his prices upwards. Except for the line he now sells exclusively through Macy’s, the collection now boasts evening gowns in the $1,000 range. The result of the shift and the Macy’s partnership is a 60 percent increase in his women’s business. So says Hilfiger himself.
Because I am a fan of “Project Runway” — for professional reason only, honest! — I couldn’t resist going to the Christian V. Siriano show. Yes, he includes the middle initial on his label. He was last season’s winner who couldn’t get enough of the word “fierce” and has become Victoria Beckham’s BFF. Well, sort of. Anyway, he showed his spring 2009 collection just before the Zac Posen fashion circus. All manner of “Project Runway” cast-offs were in the house, including Malan Breton, who I swear looked like he was wearing eyeliner, and Sweet Pea, whose tattoos are much more subtle in person than on TV and seemed to be giving a running commentary about the show to some guy from MTV.
It must be hard for these designers to move on after “PR” and be thought of as real designers and not just reality show knuckleheads. TV can do a lot for name recognition, but it’s hard to shake off the stench of cheesiness.
