Glamazons,
When I heard Opening Ceremony was doing a play for New York Fashion Week instead of a traditional presentation or runway show, I was immediately intrigued. The play, directed by Spike Jonze and co-written by Jonah Hill, exceeded my expectations! The plot followed Opening Ceremony designers at a model fitting as they prepped for the Spring 2015 presentation. And it gave a hilarious yet poignant look behind-the-scenes of a fashion week show.
Here are just three reasons why I loved the Opening Ceremony play.
-It was wickedly funny.
Elle Fanning as Julie
The play was full of jokes that only the fashion world would get. For example, first-time model, 18 year-old Julie (Elle Fanning), rambled to veteran model, Bella (Dree Hemingway) that she just moved to New York from a small town and that her cousin Gabe is a bartender at Tonic, where they could drink without an ID.
Dree Hemmingway as Bella
The crowd laughed because what self-respecting fashion person would be caught dead at Tonic?! Bella‘s face said exactly what we were all thinking.
Catherine Keener as Carol
Opening Ceremony‘s imagined head honcho, the foul-mouthed Carol (Catherine Keener) walked in cursing someone out on the phone and threatening to sue them, only to follow up with “Sorry…I think you’re a wonderful nanny.”
The fashion industry’s caricatures — like the clueless small town transplant, mean boss and snotty model — were used to great effect here. Comic relief at its finest.
-It was sad and poignant at times.
Yes, I said comic relief. For all the clever, witty banter, there was an undercurrent of sadness (which, in my opinion, makes for a pretty spot-on depiction of the fashion world). Bella spends a drunken night with designer Brian (Bobby Cannavale) who reveals he’s a “bad person” for falling in love with the husband of his mentor, head-designer Humberto (John Cameron Mitchell).
John Cameron Mitchell as Humberto
Later in the play, we discover that his feelings for Humberto‘s husband are less about love and more about envy. He’s deeply lonely and covets the family life Humberto seems to neglect for his work.
Bobby Cannavale as Brian
After that drunken night at the club, Bella and Brian reconnect at the fitting. But he doesn’t remember her, which sends her into her own spiral of sadness. She unloads to Julie about her experience at fittings where designers “look you up and down for 30 seconds without looking you in the eye.” After each fitting, she says, “you avoid your reflection in the window because they make you feel like the ugliest girl in the room.” All very real, deep issues that people in the fashion industry deal with, often silently.
-The gorgeous clothes were weaved into the narrative.
As much as I loved the play’s light-hearted and touching moments, I couldn’t help but wonder how they would incorporate the clothes. After all, it was still a Fashion Week presentation.
As it turns out, the fashion portion of the play was both creative and seamless. Several times during the fitting, about 6-8 models would come out from the “dressing room” (backstage) and “walk” for the designers, at which time we got a glimpse of the clothes. After the show, we were all directed to come onstage and see the looks close up.
The creative part? The looks actually helped to tell the story. When Carol storms in screaming on the phone, the clothes are loud: jackets, pants and dresses in bold orange prints.
When Bella approaches the designer and he doesn’t remember her, the clothes are as cold as his disposition: stark, structured white separates styled with dark shades.
Instead of an awkward tie-in, fashion was used to push the narrative forward. Pretty cool, right?
Check out more looks:
Bonus: Cool music. The play started with the radio version of Spandau Ballet‘s “True” and a slowed-down instrumental played later during one of the darker scenes. The play ended with the actors choosing a song for the collection and Julie suggested none other than Drake‘s “Hold On, We’re Going Home.” Yes, the song’s pretty played out now but her beautiful a capella rendition of the hook, and the cast hilariously joining in musical style, made up for it.
Another Bonus: the star sightings. Karlie Kloss played her stunning, long-legged self in the play.
Rashida Jones played a Vogue editor who couldn’t be bothered when Humberto and Brian started arguing. “I got what I need…prints!” she says before running away from the drama.
She has the editor look down: no color, messy hair and bag resting on elbow. Hilar!
As for the audience at the 9pm show (there was also one at 7pm), I walked in next to Laverne Cox (who looked fab with her blonde hair and choppy bangs) and walked out next to Carmelo Anthony and Lala, who wore a black crop top, white pencil skirt and black pumps. And when I say next to, I mean literally next to. I unknowingly photobombed her picture!
And was giving resting witch face (le sigh – swear I’m nice!). Love my JustFab Jagger shoes though! Yasssss!
So what did you think of the collection, Glamazons?
Kisses,
Glamazon Jessica
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