Fashionistas in Training
Harriette Cole spent an afternoon steeped in kids and fashion. she loved every minute of it.
2007-08-01
Who knew that I would get to the middle of what seemed like a normal workday and long for my toddler like nobody’s business? I can thank Kimora Lee Simmons.
Who else would host a must-attend, standing-room only event in mid-July in Manhattan—for little girls no less—than that fashion diva! And what an event she pulled off.
A swell of people filled a narrow hallway, but not in the tents at Bryant Park. This go-round the scene was slightly different than, say, a Baby Phat show where hundreds of people, celebs included, press to get into what many deem “the” urban fashion event.
While the usual suspects were not gathered, this time the hallway leading toward the fashion extravaganza was filled with as many little divas as fashion insiders. Indeed, this event was focused on little girls. It was a fashion show for Baby Phat Girls – the new Ming & Aoki Collection – and everybody from Malinda Williams to celebrity stylists June Ambrose and Misa Hilton Brim (mom to Justin, Diddy’s eldest) turned out. Fashion industry veteran Emil Wilbekin was sitting on the front row with his sleepy niece in tow.
True to form, the wait was long. People eyed and chatted each other up—or not. Photographers tucked into the tiny area allocated for them to shoot the models on the runway. Elbow to elbow they waited. I spotted a photographer from Women’s Wear Daily and verified what I knew already: the fashion world takes KLS seriously, even when it comes to her little girls’ lines.
Truth be told, I waxed nostalgic when I saw that photographer too. She is a woman I’ve known since she began at WWD, where my husband is a veteran photographer. Seeing her reminded me of my toddler daughter who was glaringly not present. Talaya had come to the hospital the day my daughter was born to pick up a camera from my husband, because, as show business so aptly says, “the show must go on.”
My darling Carrie had been invited. All the little divas were. But when June Ambrose called to make sure I was coming and wondered if I would bring my girl so she could decide if she would bring hers, I said, “No.” The choices were clear: take a 3 ½ year old out of summer camp for a fabulous hour of fashion fun and then what? I still had to work. So did June. But, the two of us were dying inside as we scoped all the little angels from the front row to back as we were sitting front and center empty-armed! Guilt doesn’t even begin to describe that feeling.
We got over it, thank goodness, distracted when the thumping music paused momentarily, Kimora and Russell took their seats and the show began. (Kimora alone was a sight to see. She was wearing a strapless white dress with a huge bow at her waist with the highest stilettos any experienced fashion pro could manage, while Russell was sporting a karmic-ly hip T-shirt and OM jeans from his new hip Atman collection.)…
Two by two the 16 three-foot divas strutted their stuff, starting with the Simmons’ daughters Ming Lee and Aoki Lee arm in arm, beautifully styled, feeling their moment. They were as cute as they could be, as serious as any supermodel would want to be. Hands on hips. Attitude for days.
As each duo made their way down the runway, the crowd cheered them on—another industry aberration. (Normally from the front row to standing room only, onlookers keep a straight face no matter how much they long to cheer, but for the kids it was all love.) Even better, the clothes were good. Really good, wearable clothing for fashion-forward girls from barely walking to that awkward tween set. And nothing, I repeat NOTHING, was scandalous. Thank you, Kimora. That’s what happens when you don’t just design for children but you HAVE girl children. You want to make sure they understand the difference between foolishness and wearable fashion.
Cheers,
Harriette
Harriette Cole is the Creative Director of Ebony magazine and a veteran attendee of fashion shows