Michael Kors and others draw crowds for Fall Fashion Week 2011

New York City “fashionistas” filled the streets Thursday as they celebrated Fashion’s Night Out to kick off Fall Fashion Week 2011.

Michael Kors, a native New York designer and entrepreneur, “Project Runway” host, and fashion house icon held the main event at his new store in Rockefeller Center. He drew in crowds with signed handbag giveaways, endless glasses of champagne, a DJ, and special performance from the Radio City Rockettes.

Simultaneously, throughout the city, other elite fashion houses hosted their own events featuring big names like Nicki Minaj, Justin Beiber, and DJ Pauly D to attract the masses.

The Michael Kors public relations team expected more than 1,000 people to attend their events around the city. “Are you having fun tonight?” Kors asked the crowd anxiously waiting outside the store. They erupted in cheers to acknowledge their excitement as the Rockettes filed on stage.

“It’s a huge publicity stunt more than anything,” Michael Kors Global Events Director Kathryn Knox said, “yes, sales is a part of it, but the truth is, it’s a free party and most importantly it’s about the PR and bringing crowds in.”

Knox spent the majority of the night making sure top clients and VIPs were accommodated accordingly. “You have to treat everyone at the events like a celebrity and make sure they know they are appreciated,” she said.

Knox, who recently joined the Michael Kors team, said she mainly wanted to observe the event details of the night. “There are definitely elements that I would change for next year, but overall I think it was a success.”

Fashion was not the only reason swarms of people filled the haute couture boutiques of NYC. A man in the Michael Kors Collection store on Madison Avenue said, “Well, I like the brand, it’s classic and great for work, but to be honest I just got off work and wanted a couple free drinks!”

Fashion Week entices not only the public but employees as well.

Michael Kors Associate Account Executive Matthew Carvalho attended the event in support of the company. However, Carvalho said he is more excited for the fashion show at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 14, where Kors will introduce his highly anticipated fall collection to the public.

Carvalho helped out at the fashion show the previous fall season. “I really hope I can go again this year,” Carvalho said. “Watching the show makes you realize that the work you did all year was so worth it. It truly was beautiful.”

Frank Spadafora, the president and CEO of fashion sample tracking company D’Marie, is celebrating Fashion Week as well.

“The trick to fashion,” Spadafora said, “is to not have a job that revolves around Fashion Week, because it sucks.” Spadafora said this week he will be meeting young designers, attending events, and “wearing fabulous clothes.”

“I think Fashion Week in September marks a new year in the city,” Michael Kors Public Relations Intern Hannah Danahey said. Danahey is from North Carolina and traveled to New York City solely to be a part of Fashion Week.

“It’s a time when people with every style come together because of the passion they share,” Danahey said. “It doesn’t matter if you don’t work in fashion, it’s a week that makes the city alive. You simply can’t escape it.”

LM

Summary:

Fall Fashion Week (September 8-15) began Thursday with Fashion’s Night Out. I spent the night helping Michael Kors with the event and got insight and details of people’s reactions to the event and the upcoming week.

Structure Outline:

I. Lede

II. Michael Kors Fashion’s Night Out Event

A. Summary of the Night/Event elements

B. Other similar events

C. Guest Count and crowd reaction

D. Kathryn Knox

1. Quote

2. What she did that night and reactions

E. Guest reaction

III. Michael Kors Fashion Show

A. Matthew Carvalho

1. Quote and reaction to last year

IV. Fashion Week General

A. Frank Spadafora

1. Quote

2. Schedule for the week

B. Hannah Danahey

1. Quote

2. Final Reaction to Fashion Week and ‘kicker’ quote

Sources:

Kathryn Knox

646-441-7755

Matthew Carvalho

860-620-3208

Hannah Danahey

704-241-1411

Frank Spadafora

206-465-5482