NYFW Gets A New Home And More In NYC This Month

From city traditions making a long-awaited comeback to high-profile openings, here’s what we can’t wait to experience this month.

Ensemble, Christopher John Rogers (American, born 1993), fall/winter 2020- 21, courtesy of Christopher John Rogers

IN STYLE

Mark your calendars because The Met’s major, two-part exhibition on American fashion is opening this month, housed in the Anna Wintour Costume Center. Part 1, In America: A Lexicon of Fashion, opens in September and explores shifting trends of the 20th and 21st centuries. This first portion will dissect the expressive qualities of dress and focus on the deeper associations between fashion and equity, diversity and inclusion, and will be uniquely displayed in a “quiltlike” fashion as the squares exhibit various qualities of American fashion. Part 2, In America: An Anthology of Fashion, will follow next May with a more thorough look into the history of American fashion, showcasing designs dating from the 18th century to present day. In the latter portion, cinematic “freeze-frame” 3D structures produced in collaboration with several notable American film directors will allow you to journey through different eras to experience times when style and design were continuously affected by politics, culture and innovation. “Fashion is both a harbinger of cultural shifts and a record of the forces, beliefs and events that shape our lives,” says Max Hollein, the Marina Kellen French director of The Met. “This two-part exhibition will consider how fashion reflects evolving notions of identity in America and will explore a multitude of perspectives through presentations that speak with powerful immediacy to some of the complexities of history.” Part 1: Sept. 18-Sept. 5, 2022, Part 2: May 5, 2022-Sept. 5, 2022, The Met Fifth Avenue, 1000 Fifth Ave.

HOME BASE

“New York City is not only an evergreen inspiration to our talented designers but also the ideal setting for the week,” notes Steven Kolb, CEO of the CFDA.

New York Fashion Week is making a comeback—and in grand fashion. After last fall’s and spring’s events were held digitally with minimal live programming, this fall’s event has been given the go-ahead to be held fully in person, and for the first time, Fifth Avenue will be a host. “We are thrilled to welcome New York Fashion Week to Fifth Avenue as we celebrate and support one of the largest revenue-generating events for the fashion industry—and what better place than on Fifth Avenue, the heart of global fashion and luxury shopping?” says Jerome Barth, president of the Fifth Avenue Association. “We look forward to being home to emerging designers and top talent this year and beyond.” A three-story space will be transformed into runway, presentation and activation spaces, equipped with top-of-the-line lighting, staging and sound, for this year’s event. And, thankfully, Fashion Week will once again culminate in an in-person Met Gala, anticipated to be star-studded, extravagant and one of the flashiest seen in years. We can’t wait. Sept. 8-12

IN RESTROSPECT

Christian Dior (French, 1905-1957), Bar suit, afternoon ensemble with an ecru natural shantung jacket and black pleated wool crepe skirt, haute couture spring/summer 1947, Corolle line, Dior Héritage collection, Paris

It’s time to say bonjour to the highly anticipated Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams exhibit, opening at the Brooklyn Museum on Sept. 10. This spectacle of fashion ingenuity, which first debuted in Paris before wildly successful runs in London and Shanghai, features a world-class collection of some of the French designer’s most celebrated work and allows viewers to experience the rise of the distinguished fashion house. Over 200 haute couture garments will be on display, featuring designs from the classically silhouetted Bar suit to dresses worn by celebs including Grace Kelly and Jennifer Lawrence. The exhibit will also present historical photographs, archive footage, sketches and accessories, including information about Dior’s post-World War II work and the creation of his groundbreaking New Look design. “The Brooklyn Museum has a long record of recognizing important contributions in the history of fashion design,” says Matthew Yokobosky, the museum’s senior curator of fashion and material culture. “We couldn’t be more excited to present these innovative, beguiling—and technically outstanding—designs to our audiences.” Sept. 10-Feb. 20, 2022, Brooklyn Museum, 200 Eastern Parkway

LAND AND SEA

Le Pavillon’s main dining room

World-renowned chef and NYC favorite Daniel Boulud has opened a new French-inspired eatery in the heart of midtown—and it’s a must-try. At Le Pavillon, the Michelin-starred chef focuses on the foundations of French cooking with a terre et mer—land and sea—ethos and sourcing local ingredients. The menu features a wealth of vegetable-based and seafood-centric dishes, from sole and scallops to halibut and king salmon. Complementing the cuisine, the atmosphere inside Le Pavillon is airy, earthy and open; think luscious fauna, olive trees and serenely soft lighting illuminating the space. Le Pavillon will no doubt follow the same fast track to fame that the rest of chef Boulud’s portfolio has over the years. 1 Vanderbilt Ave., 42nd Street

ANTIQUE ANTICS

Three photographs of Pablo Picasso artworks, one signed, from the collection of Alfred Barr.

Read all about it! The New York International Antiquarian Book Fair is returning this month for the 61st year. Housed in the echoey, 55,000-square-foot drill hall of the Park Avenue Armory, the fair will no doubt enthrall antique-lovers with its wide variety of experienced exhibitors from around the globe showcasing their quality selects. “We’re thrilled and very fortunate that we are able to hold the book fair in person this year,” says Sanford Smith, founder of Sanford L. Smith + Associates, which produces the fair. “We’re expecting a great turnout with nearly 160 exhibitors from around the world, including a significant number of U.S. exhibitors.” Expect a world-class selection of antique books, maps, manuscripts and ephemera, all with a guarantee of authenticity from the Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association of America and the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers. Sept. 9-12, Park Avenue Armory, 643 Park Ave.

CHECKING IN

The soaring facade of Virgin Hotels’ new city spot

On the tail end of a Las Vegas opening and news of a New Orleans launch in the fall, Virgin Hotels is now adding New York City to its list of 2021 debuts. With a swanky rooftop bar and pool, and 463 stylishly appointed guest rooms, this new location, set to open late this year, for Virgin’s growing network is cementing the brand in the city’s once-again buzzing hospitality scene. The newly built hotel will also house luxury retailers on the first two floors and several eateries throughout, including Commons Club and the brand’s new concept The Pool Club. Despite a pandemic-delayed opening, Virgin Hotels is optimistic that the venture will flourish amid an uptick in travel and reopenings. As for where Virgin will land next? Miami, Edinburgh and Glasgow hotels are on the roster of openings in the next few years. 1225 Broadway