My Better Half had an extra ticket, so I found myself (like Stephanie) at NorthPark Center today at noon for the CH Carolina Herrera men’s/women’s fall 2007 ready-to-wear show. If you like free booze, beautiful models and getting away from work, it was definitely the place to be.
Mixing with the duded-up crowd before the big show, NorthPark Center CEO/co-owner Nancy Nasher said this second Fashion in the Park is significant because it drives traffic directly into the NorthPark stores. Everything you see on the runway, in other words, you can snap right up on the NorthPark premises, no waiting. That’s got to be one reason, she added, why overall, year-to-date sales at the center are up 12% over last year, while competing malls are showing flat results.
As for the Herrera show itself–it benefited the Dallas Symphony Orchestra–the guys’ stuff reminded me of college. You know–all sweaters and pea coats or plaid and preppy-looking, with those weird little tabs on the coat collars and even elbow patches on the sleeves. The women’s dresses all looked nice, and lots of the models weren’t wearing any bras. Inside the “goodie” bag you got when it was over: a bottle of something called 212 Sexy Men by Carolina Herrera. The Web site says that’s an “eau de toilette spray” for men, but I frankly don’t know many guys who would buy anything called 212 Sexy Men.