On a busy Wednesday evening, the Italian luxury brand unveiled its Villa Zegna on the Upper East Side, while Jacquemus, Sacai and Uniqlo all hosted evening events as New York Fashion Week kicked off.
The elegant display was inspired by the original family home of the brand’s founder, Ermenegildo Zegna, and the giant nature reserve Oasi Zegna that he developed in the Italian Alps next to the company’s headquarters, and was a great way to highlight all the latest news in this dynamic home.
The exhibition was displayed inside a beautiful gallery of carved stones located next to the Guggenheim Museum in Central Park, and included artifacts from Ermenegildo’s historic visit to America in 1938.
Ermenegildo planted more than half a million trees and built a panoramic road that connects the two sides of the mountainous landscape in the area where the Oasi Zegna is located – a 100 square kilometre natural area in Piedmont, more than 30 times the size of Central Park.
To establish his fabrics in America, the world’s largest economy, he took a transatlantic ship to New York City to meet with Italian tailors whom he considered “the best ambassadors for Zegna fabrics.” Elements of that visit were incorporated into an elevator that even included his original office.
The first chapter of Villa Zegna took place in Shanghai in May. The second chapter is in New York: it focuses on Ermenegildo’s American journey, entitled The Legend of the Conti.
In 1938, Ermenegildo hosted a lavish dinner in honor of Italy’s master tailors in America. Last Wednesday in Manhattan, Zegna’s creative director Alessandro Sartori and Ermenegildo’s great-grandson Edoardo Zegna hosted a dinner with the same menu—ravioli alla Napoletana; sicken abruzzi and sorbet with meringue.
Sartori recalled that as a boy he admired the family villa, playing in the oasis, and noted in a short speech, “I couldn’t be happier to be part of the Zenia family today.”
A week-long installation spread over three floors, it includes a multi-sensory display of Oasi’s environmental impact and unique recycling processes; a dining room with a beautiful ceiling decorated with a natural garden mural; an elegant display of its exclusive collections; and a private lounge reserved for selected clients. Highlights include a series of dedicated versions of the new “Il Conte” jacket.
Dinner parties will continue throughout Fashion Week.
Jacquemus at Nordstrom
The evening began with the opening of the Jacquemus store at the Nordstrom Men’s store on Broadway and 57th Street.
The 34-year-old French designer started his day by receiving the 2024 Couture Council Prize for the Art of Fashion from the FIT Museum. Despite the fact that Simon Porte Jacquemus is not technically a haute couture designer.
Jacquemus has built a huge business on his innovative handbags and clutches, which can be found in Nordstrom’s men’s and women’s stores, though judging by his oversized clothing, recent speculation that he’s a candidate for a Chanel design job seems far-fetched.
Uniqlo Lifewear
A day after Uniqlo announced the appointment of Clare Waight Keller as its first-ever creative director, the Japanese brand giant presented some of its latest ideas for the house. They were displayed inside its Spring Studios and washed down with some frankly ridiculous yellow sake cocktails.
As the sun shone, one could check out the Lifewear collection for Autumn/Winter 2024/25, which was a great and distinct collection. Alongside some great felted sweaters and men’s cardigans, there were new and smart lightweight jackets and cardigans – a key category for Uniqlo.
More often, however, the design conjured up an eccentric on a desperate date with a Midwestern dentist’s daughter—like cocktails.
Sakai at Bergdorf Goodman to Celebrate Bill Cunningham
Fashion brand Sacai celebrated one of the fashion world’s favorite figures, Bill Cunningham, with another cocktail party.
Specifically, the late photographer’s recently unveiled images of the famous Battle of Versailles, where American and French designers went head-to-head in an epic joint show in 1973. A fashion moment to be remembered in a photo gallery in a season that will hopefully produce many more.
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