By Mary Katherine Schweitzer
“Fashion is like a sport, it needs no language to be understood,” stated creator of New York Fashion Week, Fern Mallis.
Mallis graced Savannah College of Art and Design with her presence and fashion insight during SCAD Style on April 25. As the director of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, Mallis was a major contributor in getting New York’s very first cohesive and extensive runway show up and walking.
Now it is a biannual event, which brings in more than $235 million dollars for New York City each season.
Mallis opened the lecture with her “Top 10 Tips,”
- 1. Firm and connective hand shake
- 2. Warm smile
- 3. Wash hair
- 4. Nails done, not chipped
- 5. Do not chew gum, not in public, not ever
- 6. What you wear makes a first and lasting impression
- 7. Don’t ask, “So what’s your job?”
- 8. Send a thank you card by mail
- 9. Want it badly
- 10. Become that person
Malllis went on to describe how she began her monumental career in fashion by winning Mademoiselle’s “Guest Editor,” competition and continued to be a merchandising editor there for several years. She stated that Mademoiselle was a thinking women’s magazine for the intellectual, college woman.
Mallis told an amusing story about why she started New York Fashion Week. Before the creation of New York Fashion Week, designers would have their shows in warehouses and show rooms in exclusive locations all throughout the city.
During one of Michael Kors’ shows the music was bumping and the ceiling started to reverberate and crumble. It was a disaster as pieces of the ceiling rained on the models, the designs and the all over the spectators. This was the turning point for fashion shows.
“We live for fashion; we don’t want to die for it,” said Mallis.
Out of the bumping, crumbling disaster evolved a chicer and expansive event, one that we recognize today as New York Fashion Week.
Mallis brought designers together to show in one central location: Central Park. New York Fashion Week just celebrated its 18th year with over 3,500 shows.
Not only has Mallis made these colossal contributions to the fashion world but she also contributes to and raises money for charitable events and causes. She highlighted a few of the organizations she raises money for which are breast cancer and AIDS research.
Mallis said, “get involved in charitable events for the experience, context, and for your soul.”
Mallis’ lecture was informative, insightful, and real. Mallis is currently the senior vice president of IMG Fashion, in which she is involved in fashion events around the world including Mumbai, Moscow, Sydney and Berlin.
Mallis answered one final often-asked question. What is the one thing that everyone should have in his or her closet?
“A full-length mirror,” she said.
