A couple of weeks ago we learned Marc Jacobs canceled his Fashion Week after-party, which we’ve come to think of as the biannual reincarnation of fabulous, so it’s not surprising to learn those cutbacks will carry over to the runway show as well. The number of invitees has been cut from 2,000 to 700. Typically, 1,100 sit while 900 stand, but this season only 500 to 700 will sit while 200 will stand, with virtually all of the standing spots this season going to employees. As for celebrities, Jacobs’s business partner Robert Duffy said, “There may be one or two.”
Duffy told WWD they’re cutting the list to save money, because he’d rather cut back there than lay off employees. Jacobs is showing in his usual spot, the 69th Regiment Armory, because it was booked a year ago and Duffy doesn’t want to pay a cancellation fee.
“This isn’t the time to spend the money to entertain the entire world…. Everybody thinks it costs the same money to entertain 500 people as opposed to 2,000 [when you’ve got the space],” Duffy continued. “It doesn’t. All those 2,000 people still need to be seated, they still need to check in, this one needs this, that one needs that, and you know what? It’s very costly.”
Just think of how many security details are needed to save Posh Spice from asphyxiation in the photographer crush. And the number of burlies to guard the extra seat Kanye West needs for his ego — er, monogramoflauge Louis Vuitton bag. Duffy also plans to trim crowd fat by not allowing invitees to bring special guests. For example, editors can’t bring their husbands and kids this season, which should be policy going forward, because nothing seems more wrong or unfair than a Hannah Montana fan in the third row of the Marc Jacobs show. Except, maybe, Miley Cyrus in the front row — God forbid we see the day.
Hopefully this will be a temporary adjustment, and Marc Jacobs can go back to entertaining the entire world for a night in future seasons. “I’m not saying it’s not going to go back to that, but right now, during this economic environment, it would seem ostentatious for us to continue doing the same thing,” Duffy said. “[The feeling is] just have the people that need to be there be there and look at the clothes.” Kevin Federlines of the world, your time is up.
