Lincoln Center

Where’s the party during fashion week? It’s always backstage at Betsey Johnson where the champagne flows, the cupcakes tempt, and BJ’s effervescent personality charms reporters, models, even the Lincoln Center security lighten up a bit. We brought our cameras backstage before her show to find out how much time she spent rehearsing her cartwheel and what she was going to do to celebrate the collection. (Hint: It involves bubbles.)

It doesn’t really feel like NYFW until that moment when Betsey Johnson follows tradition and does her signature cartwheel at the end of the show. At 71!!! On Wednesday in front of a front row at Lincoln Center that included Paris Hilton, Sonja Morgan, Iggy Azaelea, and Miss Jay, Johnson was joined by her young granddaughters for a cartwheel on the runway post-show with Sinatra’s “New York, New York” playing. (Does it get any better?)

Can’t wait to see what Kors has got in store for Spring ’14? Wait with baited breath no longer! Watch the always-chic Michael Kors runway show right here, live streamed as the designer sends his mods down the runway at Lincoln Center at 10 a.m. Eastern Time.

What’s considered the true launch of New York Fashion Week these days? The Couture Council of The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology’s benefit luncheon at Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theatre has our vote. This year Michael Kors followed in the footsteps of designers such as Karl Lagerfeld and Oscar de la Renta as the latest recipient of the 2013 Couture Council Award for Artistry of Fashion on Wednesday.

Hell hath no fury like a publicist scorned (especially Kelly Cutrone)! Today we received the following correspondence in our inbox. Oy vey. Some lessons are learned the hard way, right? “People’s Revolution is canceling our participation in the David Tlale show, Thursday, September 5th 9:30 AM in The Box at Lincoln Center as we have not been paid.

Grace Coddington couldn’t decide whether to go for a twilight jog in Central Park or attend the CFDA Awards last night, so she paired her noir kicks with an all-black ensemble (that fiery coif is an accessory in and of itself) and ended up at Lincoln Center. Coddington’s always been all about flats, and we’re all about comfort being in Vogue, but we highly doubt we’ll be seeing sneakers en masse at the 2014 CFDA Awards, alas…

Congratulations are in order for LIM College’s graduating class of 2013! The school had its commencement ceremony at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center on Friday night. Mark Mendelson, president and CEO at Ellen Tracy, gave the keynote address and also received the college’s Distinguished Achievement Award and honorary Doctor of Commerical Science degree at the ceremony, where more than 300 undergrads and 46 MBA grads took home degrees.

Here’s a sign of the times… Last night at Time’s 100 Most Influential People in The World gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center some of the influentials in attendance (namely Lena Dunham, Claire Danes, Hugh Dancy, Instagram founder Kevin Systrom and girlfriend Nicole Schuetz) took a little “time” out. These power players had a moment we can all relate to getting distracted by that addictive iPhone screen.

Watch what happens! Bravo personality Andy Cohen has been announced as the host of the 2013 CFDA Awards on June 3rd at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center. “Andy Cohen is a friend of the fashion industry,” Diane von Furstenberg said in a statement. SNL’s Seth Meyers hosted the show last year. Cohen and his bestie Sarah Jessica Parker have been front row regulars at DvF’s show for years.

Oscar de la Renta
We’re hearing some major Oscar buzz, and it’s not of the gold statue variety. On Tuesday, Oscar de la Renta gathered a packed house at his 42nd Street showroom to debut his much talked-about Fall ’13 collection. On everyone’s mind? The effects of that three-week in-house residency de la Renta offered to disgraced former Dior designer, John Galliano. The answer came in the form of nipped-waist jackets atop knee-grazing skirts slightly reminiscent of the iconic Dior Bar silhouette, not to mention those cloche hats pulled over darkly-shaded eyes. Sublime. Later, a stash of de la Renta staples paraded out, from a toile-print day dress to a black organza number with white floral embroidery, to the show-closing silk faille ball gown with gold bullion embroidery worn by Karlie Kloss. Galliano’s temporary stint may be coming to a close, but we’re guessing this is only the beginning.