(NEW YORK) Last night, Tod’s held its first official event in New York City for creative director Alessandra Facchinetti at Il Principe in the newly-opened Hugo Hotel in Soho. Facchinetti’s debut collection for the label was unveiled in September of last year during Milan Fashion Week to overwhelming accolades and her star shows no sign of waning. Former New York Times critic Suzy Menkes said her shows are “fast becoming a ‘Céline moment'” in a review of Facchinetti’s showing of Tod’s Fall 2014 collection in Milan. That’s no small praise. Judging from the Tod’s-decked crowd, including Maggie Gyllenhaal, Katie Holmes, Linda Wells, Anh Duong, Jessica Diehl, Misha Nonoo, Jessica Joffe, Virginia Smith, Sally Singer, Allison Sarofim, Jamie Tisch, and Leandra Medine, to name a few, Facchinetti is bringing a renewed energy to the brand.
“She’s definitely revamped the brand. I mean, look at her: she’s so chic!” said Gyllenhaal of Facchinetti. Dressed in a Tod’s powder blue leather top, a silver below-the-knee leather skirt with cut-out details, and a Mini D Cube bag for last eve’s affair, there’s no doubt Facchinetti looks the part. But it’s Facchinetti’s affable nature that’s winning fans as much as her designs. When Gyllenhall attended the Met Ball with Tod’s last year, the pairing wasn’t exactly organic. “I think that was a match made by Anna Wintour,” said Gyllenhaal. “But in this case it was a really good pairing, because we had such a great time together.”
Facchinetti is only in town for three nights, but managed to swing by the Frieze Art Fair on Randall’s Island on Sunday, where she checked out one of her favorite artists, Christopher Wool. “I always look at art for what I do,” Facchineti told The Daily. “It’s my passion.” So what else does she plan on doing while she’s here other than business meetings? “I really like to just walk in New York. I like walking in general,” said Facchinetti. “You can do so much in New York, not even one lifetime is enough!” Looks like Facchinetti is taking in plenty of the city already.
PAIGE REDDINGER
