Daily Front Row

2010 February 12

Late-Night With LNA

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April Leight, Ashley Glasson and Lauren Alexander
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(NEW YORK) “Welcome to fashion week!” roared Patti Smith, kicking off the first official day of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week with a warm welcome at the LNA afterparty at Milk Studios--before diving into a rousing rendition of ‘Gloria.’ The rock legend took the stage for a noisy, raucous kickoff. “Music and fashion really goes hand-in-hand for us,” explained Lauren Alexander, one half of the LNA design duo that also includes April Leight. “It’s great to get all these people together who really embody the brand!” Of course, Alexander was referring not only to the musical performers, but DJ Zack Shields (partner to Ryan Gosling in the band Dead Man’s Bones; contrary to rumors and to the great dismay of Notebook fans, Gosling did not make the bash), DJs Harley Viera-Newton and Cassie Coane, and guests like Jared Leto, James Iha of the Smashing Pumpkins, and Zoe Kravitz, daughter of Lenny Kravitz.

A decidedly un-stuffy start to fashion week, the fête offered cans and bottles of beer and Belvedere cocktails to attendees, who waited until nearly 11 p.m. for Smith to take the stage and the entertainment to begin (those attendees lucky enough to have made it inside the venue, that is—even after 11, crowds snaked down the block, waiting to get in). Let the chic frenzy begin!
EMILY GYBEN AND SHAMUS EATON