Downton Abbey-style reigns supreme at Ralph Lauren

It was not with the start of the musical score that we realized that Downton Abbey was being brought to Skylight Soho for the Ralph Lauren Fall 2012 show.  It dawned on us gradually during Ralph’s meticulous and laborious build-out of the venue.  What was this pile of 100 year old reclaimed wood doing in the corner?  Who is this trompe de l’oeil specialist creating a magnificent doorway?  Who are these artisans whom we didn’t know still existed in this age of pre-fab glass towers?

It began with a fox hunt....

As the beautiful British-formal style of cherry parquet went down to create the runway, it became clear.  This season would mark a return to the quintessential style that is Ralph Lauren, that of the aristocratic British countryside.

Time to retire with a snifter of brandy...

A communal squeal was emitted by the world’s top fashion editors when the show opened with the Downton Abbey musical score and the swoonfest continued as the looks moved from hunting apparel, tweeds, plaids and bowler hats through velvet smoking jackets and walking sticks to  divine evening wear suitable in the most elegant of manors.

There was a rush of metal at the end...

You can watch the highlights, or the full show, here.

Jason Wu: The Man, The Myth, The Legend. Photo: Nilaya Sabinis

We got the chance to have our socks knocked off up close and personally on January 26th, when Jason Wu for Target was unveiled at Skylight SoHo.  Considered by industry experts to be Target’s “most visual launch yet,” this was truly an event to behold.  The collection is inspired by the idea of an American girl in Paris, so to bring the concept to life, Wu collaborated with Target and Extra Extra Creative to build a Parisian scene that exported the energy and delights of the European city.

Skylight Soho's Corridor Became a Parisian Boulevard. Photo: Nilaya Sabinis

A Parisian Garden Plaza anchored the Room. Photo: Nilaya Sabinis

Parisian Institution and NYC-Newcomer Ladurée set up Shop. Photo: Nilaya Sabinis

Like the collection, the effect was feminine and whimsical–the Paris of our dreams.  Seeing this magical land come to life was almost as breathtaking as the event itself.  Like a troupe of Montmartre artists, highly skilled artisans descended upon the venue to hand-paint our walls with a fantastical streetscape.  Their precision, with no “pencil draft,” was masterful.  The venue was organized into a central square using gigantic flats upon which white Parisian buildings were sketched.  Some flats served as entry points into larger worlds–a cafe could be entered; Ladurée served its famous macaroons from a quaint stall; windows could be looked into; the Eiffel Tower could be glimpsed, painted on a column, between two rooftops; a DJ played from a building’s second-story window; and ooh la la, the Jason Wu boutique….

The Jason Wu Boutique Where Items Soon Flew from the Shelves... Photo: Nilaya Sabinis

Real Life "Mannequins" Enhanced the Idea of the American Girl in Paris. Photo: Nilaya Sabinis

A Typical Champs-Elysees Cafe came to Life. Photo: Nilaya Sabinis

A DJ, decked in Jason Wu for Target, Played from her Window Perch. Photo: Nilaya Sabinis

Adding to the magic was Milu, the collection’s adorable mascot, who appeared through video projections, hopping gingerly across rooftops and nosing mischievously through the imagined rooms seen through each building’s windows.  Also, enhancing the animation of this painted city, a classic theater curtain dramatically opened to reveal, Yelle, the famous French euro-pop group, who kept the energy up even for the exhausted shoppers among us.

Milu, the Collection's Mascot, Muse and Mischief-Maker. Photo: Nilaya Sabinis

The team at Skylight joined the hordes of fashionistas in the “Jason Wu for Target Boutique,” clamoring for early access to the items that everyone knew would be impossible to get shortly.  We’ve each been paid many compliments on the outfits we’ve basically worn every day since the launch, and there is something very satisfying to find these items, all priced under $60, being hawked on Ebay for several times their original price.

The Shopping Experience was brought to Life...Literally. Photo: Nilaya Sabinis

As expected, the collection has flown off the shelves, even though it only debuted in stores on Sunday.  Like this summer’s famous Missoni for Target launch, the items are already coveted by lovers of great fashion who are staking them out, guided by news reports, Ebay and Target’s helpful web site.

The "Librarie," which would come to Life as Milu arrived. Photo: Nilaya Sabinis

It is an achievement that Target, as a mass-market discount store, has been able to capture the attention of fickle fashionistas so entirely.  These collaborations elevate the brand far above its competition, not just by captivating powerful fashion editors and celebrities, but by demonstrating the continued creativity and endless innovation that is a hallmark of only a handful of large brands today.

Photo: Nilaya Sabinis

We applaud Target for keeping our industry so interesting.

The Infamous Bullseye on the Classical Stage. Photo: Nilaya Sabinis

Fin.