Fendi Fiasco
We had been sitting around waiting for the Fendi show to start for about 20 minutes when all of a sudden we heard an enormous boom. Then all sorts of shouting and bellowing erupted from the photographers' platform at the foot of the runway. We'd say about 100 photographers were crammed onto the platform when it suddenly collapsed. One of the photographers was injured and headed to the hospital, escorted by paramedics. The other photographers walked out of the building, refusing to photograph the show, citing unsafe working conditions.
Then there was all sorts of huffing and puffing in the audience, confusion and bewilderment about whether the show would go on. The head of Fendi, Michael Burke, was trying to figure out if the platform could be quickly repaired. But that was a moot point. More than 90 percent of the photographers had already angrily flown the coop, one of them shouting, "(Expletive) Fendi!" Oh my.
The show ended up going on. Some people even applauded when the lights went down, signaling that the show was getting ready to start. We thought that was a little tacky and cold-hearted since a woman had to be helped out of the building because she couldn't walk. We suppose blood would have to be spilled before anyone would cancel a fashion show.
Anyway, Fendi later issued a statement apologizing to the injured photographer and to all the other photographers and promised that the house was investigating what caused the platform to collapse.
Kate Moss (Elisabetta Villa/Getty Images)
We also attended the Burberry show, where we were treated to our first sighting of model Kate Moss after those unsavory images of her getting up close and personal with a white powder appeared in the British press. We can report that she was nestled in the front row between photographer Mario Testino and father of her child, Jefferson Hack. She did not appear to be wobbling when she walked in. She looked alert although not particularly perky. She also looked as if she'd had a few good meals in rehab.
We also saw Jennifer Lopez and husband Marc Anthony at the Dolce & Gabbana show. No one was particularly interested in Marc who seemed just fine with that. He waited patiently while Jennifer posed for the photographers in a tight little dress that showed off her prodigious derriere. She was wearing a pair of Christian Louboutin shoes that had to have at least 5-inch heels. (As a result, she towered over Marc who is a wee, wee gentleman and is maybe 100 pounds soaking wet. We outweigh him for sure. Shoot, Kate Moss outweighs him!) Before Jennifer made her entrance, the photographers had been all up in model Elle McPherson's face snapping photos. When they got wind of Jennifer, they turned their back on Elle so abruptly we almost felt sorry for her. Dumped like yesterday's old fish.
By Robin Givhan |
February 23, 2006; 7:31 PM ET
Milan
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Posted by: ilegalism | February 23, 2006 11:57 PM
It saddens me to know that the media still pays attention to Jennifer Lopez, or that little rat terrier of a husband of hers. She's tacky.
Posted by: fashionista | February 24, 2006 8:57 AM
I enjoy the use of the first person plural, too, because it is so deliciously arch. (Irony isn't quite the right word, I don't think.) But even delicious archness (if that's a word) can become a bit tiresome.
That said, it would be awkward to be switching back and forth between "I" and "we." It might be good to give some thought to how to retain your high-toned snarkiness while keeping the use of we to a minimum.
Posted by: THS | February 27, 2006 5:47 PM
The comments to this entry are closed.
Ms. Givhan: Like many others, I enjoy your perspective on the world of fashion. In my country, there is a name for this perspective; it is, how you say, first person plural.
Is there a reason (other than a constant devotion to irony) to refer to yourself always as a 'we'? Just how many of you are there? And how self-important can they all be?
For the record, irony can be a solid reason.
Incessant irony is, inarguably, irritating.