Style|February 13, 2014 08:28 EST
New York Fashion Week Goes To Church; Does Fashion Belong in the House of God?
New York Fashion Week is a biannual series held in February and September of each year. International fashion collections are shown to buyers, the press, and the general public for the first time while celebrity appearances are a usual occurrence. The elaborate experience is now also being held in churches.
Fashion shows are usually exhibited in open space galleries, lofts, the tents at Bryant Park, extravagant open rooms at Lincoln Center, but now in recent years even churches are opening their doors for the popular event.
During the Feb. 10 presentation of the Thom Browne Fall 2014 collection Pennsylvania born Browne held his event in Chelsea at a gallery space that he transformed into a giant church.
Qctimes reporter Jocelyn Noveck described her experience. She said while waiting for the show to start "extremely loud, church-type music" played in the background and as models walked the runway in their white-haired wigs and Victorian style clothing, huge "crosses hung on the walls, candles burned," the smell of incense filled the room and wooden pews were everywhere.
The Veronica Beard Collection was also displayed in a Church-like venue - a sweeping staircase taking guests to the main hall - candle lit room while models stood like statues on blocks.
Perhaps Browne and Beard were inspired by fashion shows in Paris. Designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac held one of his popular fashion shows in a historic Parisian church a couple of years back.
Breathecast got in touch with Designer Maria Tumminello about her successful clothing line, Maria Michele. The "bold and confident" women's collection was featured in a church across the street from Central Park for its first showcase in New York.
"Doing my first runway show in a church was extremely significant to me. I have always prayed to God for direction and perseverance in my career, and when the PR Company I was working with told me about the venue I felt solidified, as if I received confirmation that this is exactly what I should be doing," Tumminello said of her experience to Breathecast. "They probably selected the church for it's beauty, but for me it was so much more. As the actual show took place I felt overwhelmed and thankful, everything I prayed for and believed in was actually happening."
Is church a venue for models and designers from all over the world to showcase beauty? Leave your thoughts in the comment box below
