Flashback: Johnny preparing to walk in his first Heatherette show
He'll be walking for Richie again
in the designer's upcoming "Villionaire" show
on Thursday, Feb. 10, as part of NY Fashion Week.
But there's a beautiful twist to this fashion event ...
Look, let's just be clear: I am probably one of the most fashion-challenged people on the planet.
(BRB adjusting my overall straps ...)
And so I'm hearing lots of exciting rumors that Johnny has about a million events coming up during New York Fashion Week, February 10 through 17, which is wonderful for him because he loves fashion--or, more accurately, "he is fashion," according to Isaac Mizrahi, whom I love because he's always helplessly crushing so hard on Johnny. But fashion is something I totally don't understand. And that's OK. Lots of things other people do aren't for me to understand, and I'm good with that. So mostly I figured the next week would just be another blur of Johnny media blitz, and I, in my fashion fugue state, could enjoy whatever pretty Johnny pictures pop up without any comprehension of what it is exactly they DO during Fashion Week, and then order some more overalls from eBay.
But then Johnny tweeted this:
And also this blurb appeared on his website:
OK, three things: (1) Johnny's walking in this show so this is WIN already; (2) "For the first time in NYFW history, an individual designer is opening to the public," which is interesting; and (3) You had me at "Villionaire." Because whatever it is, I need to see one / have one / be one immediately. I'm a sucker for catchy, made-up words.
So I had to go check all this out, and I learned all kinds of fascinating things. I didn't know much about Richie Rich, but I do know lots of people have lots of opinions about him. I learned that he was a figure skater who at one time was ranked 12th in the country. He partnered with Traver Rains to create Heatherette, and Johnny walked for them twice, the second time after Nationals in 2007--with, as he describes in Welcome to My World, makeup troweled on and glowsticks a-dangling.
Richie's now doing his own thing in New York, and for this new collection he has teamed up with bridal designer Angelo Lambrou. And that sent me on another odyssey to find out who he is, and let me just say: WOW. Even to my fashion-impaired eye, his stuff is BEYOND gorgeous. I don't even like dresses, and I want to wear every single one on his website. Plus he's mesmerizing in this interview.
And then I found this interview with Richie, in which he describes his collaboration with Angelo and what their concept is for the Villionaire collection:
It’s sort of 20s/30s glamour meets East Village punkiness / funkiness. Imagine if Marie Antoinette fell out of the sky and landed in the middle of the East Village. We’re just going to let her have fun. But it’s going to be more refined and upscale. ... Angelo brings refinement to my glittery fun.
Here's the logo for the show which BTW I want on a T-shirt ASAP:
And then Richie explains why he's breaking all the rules of Fashion Week to invite the (great unwashed) public and sell tickets:
The show this season is on February 10th at the Hammerstein Ballroom. [OMG please GO to this link. This place is INCREDIBLE]. Fashion Week is usually very exclusive, invite only, but I’m opening my show up like a rock concert this year, letting people in who never really get a chance to go to a fashion show. ... This year I’m selling tickets to the show and proceeds go to DOsomething.org as well as Cookies for Kids’ Cancer, which is a charity for little kids who unfortunately have cancer. We have a good friend who passed away in the last couple days. ... It felt weird at first, selling tickets, but you know, if you can help people, it makes sense.
So yes, according to the article linked to from Johnny's site, this is the first time an individual designer has done this. And more to the point, he's doing it for charity.
And the seats are just $25 and $35.
To see Johnny. In that unbelievably gorgeous venue.
And it all goes to two kid-focused charities.
Now THIS I understand.
Because love is always in fashion.
If there's any chance you can attend this event,
PLEASE DO IT! Do it for the charities,
and do it for the overall-clad schlumps
everywhere who live out in the cornfields FFS
and have no opportunity to go to amazing things
like this but desperately need
to live vicariously through you.
The show is expected to sell out quickly, though,
and RSVP to Angelo. Because his stuff is amazing.
Johnny will be a special guest at The Tenth Annual
HRC Greater New York Gala this Saturday, February 5,
at the Waldorf-Astoria in NYC!
More details on Johnny's website and on HRC!
Designer T. Rains and Johnny have teamed up to raise money and awareness for The Trevor Project! This organization is "determined to end suicide among LGBTQ youth by providing life-saving and life-affirming resources." Proceeds from the "Army of One" t-shirt sales will go to The Trevor Project foundation. Order yours today! Your support is greatly appreciated!
Yes! You can own a fine art print of Johnny perfect for any/every room in the house! Prints of artist Peter Jurik's "Showtime!" are available for purchase from his website. More info here!
the JW Art Project's email newsletter!
They have great tidbits to offer,
and you get a special sneak peek at an exclusive photo
from the Artbook when you sign up!
"Buy my single,'Dirty Love' via iTunes.
Tell all your friends to as well. The more copies sold
takes me one step closer to making a video! №1!"
THE WORLD NEEDS THIS VIDEO
IN THE SAME WAY THAT IT NEEDS AIR.
IN THE SAME WAY THAT IT NEEDS AIR.
You know what to do.
or just click the "Buy" button on the player
at the top of the blog!
Hey, Welcome to My World also is available
as an eBook! More info on Johnny's website!
Designer T. Rains and Johnny have teamed up to raise money and awareness for The Trevor Project! This organization is "determined to end suicide among LGBTQ youth by providing life-saving and life-affirming resources." Proceeds from the "Army of One" t-shirt sales will go to The Trevor Project foundation. Order yours today! Your support is greatly appreciated!For more information, please visit www.thetrevorproject.org.
They have great tidbits to offer,
and you get a special sneak peek at an exclusive photo
from the Artbook when you sign up!
