The Show Must Go On: Fashion Week Designers Announced

Pictured: The Red Carpet Rolls Out for 2009 Fashion Week

Pesky Recession or no, the show will go on. What show you say? Why 2009 NY Fashion Week. The festivities are scheduled for Sept. 10-17th in New York’s Bryant Park. You know, the white tents we’ve seen on Project Runway. Today, the designers who will participate were announced. I received the news via a trusty Google alert and a check of Yuli’s MYIT Things. This is how all good, practicing recessionistas get the updates. So here’s the list of participants:

Michael Angel, BCBGMAXAZRIA, Duckie Brown, Ports 1961, Cesar Galindo, Cynthia Steffe, Yigal Azrouel, Charlotte Ronson, Nicole Miller, This Day/Arise: African Fashion Collective, Venexiana, Lacoste, Georges Chakra, Andy & Debb, Academy of Art University, Christian Siriano, Chado Ralph Rucci, Vivienne Tam, Lela Rose, Derek Lam, DKNY, Thuy, Hervé Léger by Max Azria, Diane Von Furstenberg, Rebecca Taylor, Tuleh, Custo Barcelona, Carolina Herrera, Carlos Miele, Jill Stuart, Tracy Reese, Donna Karan, Yeohlee, Tadashi Shoji, TonyCohen, Gottex, Badgley Mischka, Brian Reyes, Toni Maticevski, Pamella Roland, MAX AZRIA, Dennis Basso, Willow, Tibi, Narciso Rodriguez, Toni Francesc, Tory Burch, Michael Kors, Nanette Lepore, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Milly by Michelle Smith, Alexandre Herchcovitch, Anna Sui, Doo.Ri, Ralph Lauren, Isaac Mizrahi, Trias, Calvin Klein, Chocheng, Argentinean Designer Collections and Tommy Hilfiger.

I know, I know, I was disappointed too that Liam won’t be there with his “Pretty Green” collection:) Maybe next year.

So, is it appropriate that in the midst of the economic downturn that NY Fashion week will go on? Yes, I think it is. I predict it will be a different show, but it’s good that even in tough times there will still be fashion. After all, fashion makes us feel beautiful, it establishes our individuality and raises our self-esteem. It’s not something to be parted with or deprived of in any economy. In the Great Depression in the 1930s, there were still fashionistas and beautiful designs.

Pictured: Evening Gown from the Great Depression in the Cornell University Museum.

I’ll be very curious to see what the designers show this year. After all, the recession may well prove to be the mother of invention. If Coco Chanel were here, she’d be coming up with something fabu-less just like the wool jersey she started to use in her designs after World War I. Viva La Recessionistance!!!

If you’re lusting after some fashion week worthy garments, check out Gilt Groupe this week. Here are some of the deals: