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What Wendy Wore: FNO: The Show

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I went to Lincoln Center last night for FNO: The Show, the ginormous, star-studded outdoor fashion show (Gisele! Naomi!) intended to get people jazzed to shop on Fashion’s Night Out this Friday. At first I was sad that I was inside Alice Tully Hall viewing the livestream of the event (courtesy of American Express) rather than outside by the fountains. But I came to appreciate both the air conditioning and the unintentional hilarity of our livestream hosts, Vogue contributing editor and full-time fashion personality Andre Leon Talley and hapless model Hanneli Mustaparta. Poor Hanneli! She didn’t know what to say or where to look. ALT threw her the shank-eye before turning his back to her to focus on fashionistas including Donna Karan and Vera Wang. The camera eventually abandoned Hanneli too, zooming in on ALT and his guests. Occasionally, an unseen Hanneli would chirp something like, “This is so exciting!” from beyond ALT’s broad back and the audience would burst into laughter. (Donna Karan’s spectacular hair flip also brought the LOLZ.)

Here are my tweets from the event:

  • ALT is going to cut a bitch!
  • Hanneli! Don’t speak!
  • It’s inclusive except we’re excluding this chick from the video…
  • Has someone confiscated Naomi Campbell’s Blackberry? Public safety issues!
  • There’s Naomi! DUCK!!!!
  • Models arrived and left in less time than it takes a Marc Jacobs show to start!*
  • Should I ruffle Grace Coddington‘s hair? I am close enough.

Dresses? What dresses? There were dresses there? Who cares! I like to report the fun stuff.

My gorgeous friend Melissa took this picture of me outside.  It makes me think of the song I Am What I Am from La Cage aux Folles: “And so what if I love each sparkle and each bangle?/Why not try to see things from a different angle?”

What Wendy Wore
Dress: Roland Mouret (2009, last seen here)
Shoes: Manolo Blahnik (2009)
Necklace: My own Cleopatra (also on an angle!)
Purse: Prada (Gift from MrB, 2009)

I was less creative with my photography.

What Melissa Wore
Sweater and skirt: J. Crew
Shirt: Searle
Shoes: Jimmy Choo
Purse: Chloe
Earrings, Ring and Necklace: Wendy Brandes

I’m looking forward to seeing some of you fashion bloggers at Independent Fashion Bloggers’ sold-out Evolving Influence conference tomorrow. Don’t fret if you can’t make it, because I’ll be tweeting in my own inimitable way from IFB and other fashion events over the next week. Follow me here on Twitter.

*Marc was notorious for starting his shows two hours late, leaving his audience to freeze or sweat, depending on the season. His show in September 2007 was the last straw for a lot of attendees. They got angry at him, and, instead of apologizing, Marc got pissy and threatened to move his show to Paris. Then he thought better of hitting the proverbial evacuation slide and grabbing two beers on his way out of New York. Instead, in February 2008, he pushed his show back to a later date, which gave him more time to prepare. As a result, he managed to start a mere 17 minutes after the scheduled time. (In my world, that’s right on time.) He’s been on time or early ever since. I haven’t had the pleasure of attending any of the post-September 2007 shows, so the two-hour wait is seared into my brain as the classic Fashion Week experience. If Marc wants to invite me to any coming shows, I’ll be happy to report on how prompt he is!

UPDATED TO ADD:

  1. I had an amusing moment last night while I was waiting for Melissa in the Alice Tully Hall cafe, by the window. I suddenly noticed some gesticulating immediately outside the window and turned to see two women at an outside table pointing to my shoes, smiling and giving me a thumbs up. It’s moments like that that make me love fashion.
  2. Before the livestream of the show, there was a panel hosted by Hamish Bowles, featuring designers Tory Burch, Alexander Wang and J. Crew creative director Jenna Lyons. It was the first time I’ve seen Wang in the flesh and I swear he could pass for a gorgeous tomboy: long hair, great skin, long shorts and black sneakers.
  3. Today’s Melissa’s birthday! Say “Happy birthday!” to her, y’all!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  18. theres a girl on the sartorialist today that could be Grace Coddingtons twin daughter, pretty funny.

    I want to hear more about Hanneli, what happened?

  19. You both look gorgeous! I thought your tweets yesterday were funny, but having the blog recap to put them in context makes them even more hilarious. Keep the coverage coming!

  21. LOVE your dress and your shoes! looking good, little lady!!!

    p.s. thanks for the age correction on my post today! you were right! 14 it is!

  25. What a beautiful dress! Love it and all the accessories!

    Sounds like the event was a blast. Since I wasn’t able to get away for NYFW or the IFB conference, I am going to be living vicariously through your tweets. Looking forward to them!

  26. Mouret…gah. I have to say I am so envious of you right now. But you look AMAZING and I love the shoes with your dress.

    I’m also envious that you’ll be at the IFB conference and I won’t, but based on the hilarity of your tweets, you KNOW I’m going to be following you! Have fun.

    ♥ V

    http://www.gritandglamour.com

  28. I so wish I could go to the conference. I know it’s going to be amazing. You look fabulous, as always. Those shoes are gorgeous. Have a GREAT TIME! xoxo

  29. you both looked great! I love that she is another “Melissa.” Also, now I FINALLY understand where those tweets were from. I’m so sad that I’m missing IFB… schedule didn’t work out for that day but I will make it work next year damn it! I’ll be keeping up with the tweets.

  30. I love the sheen and how simply elegant your dress is, and the pretty color of your shoes. You rocked it!

    Loved reading your notes on the night. I feel bad for poor Hanneli –it sounds like all of it would have been a lot to take in! And ALT isn’t an easy personality to trade witty quips with.

    Also, this is just related to the commenting: did you program the anti-spam word to coincide with your swear rings? Because I had to type in “OMGF@#!,” and thought if it was intentional, you’re a genius.

    • Yep, all my anti-spam words are custom. I used to have 100 of them or more but the widget ate them up 🙁

      I’m starting to accumulate them again.

  36. You certainly got me excited, Wendy – It seems everyone got what they deserved. Will follow your tweets from now on. (and the dress: spot on!)

  40. Love your outfit Wendy. Btw, you look good with pixie cut. I am thinking about it but don’t know if I want to become best friend with my hair stylist, being I have to see her often. : )