When the Runway Came to Southampton
By Linda Lee–
“Trunk show” is a funny term, What it means is that a designer is bringing a preview of clothes to customers before they hit stores. The clothes are sample sizes, zero to 2, maybe 4 for a model who is 5 foot 10.
(Just so men understand, sample size for them is a 34-inch waist for someone six-foot-two.)
Yelena Feuerman, the designer Frederick Anderson, Katlean De Monchy at the trunk show (Photo credit Andrew Simon)
On August 13, at Feuerman mansion in Southampton, Frederick Anderson presented his 2027 resort collection to 50 invited guests who included socialites, media figures, business women, academics, artists and entertainers. The two women sponsoring the show were Katlean De Monchy, the publisher of easthampton.com, and Yelena Feuerman, a Ukranian fashion retailer who sells accessories from a boutique in her home, Yelena New York.
Katlean De Monchy with one of the guests, Judy Garland’s other daughter, Lorna Luft, who also performs on stage. (Photo credit: Andrew Simon)
Frederick Anderson studied fashion design at FIT. He has his showroom and atelier in New York City on 57th Street, in the former townhouse of Elizabeth Taylor. His high octane designs tend toward the dramatic; Beyonce and Janet Jackson are customers.
Yelena Feuerman with Nurit Kahane Haase, a business woman and philanthropist. (Photo credit: Andrew Simon)
Four years ago he won the Fashion Group International “Rising Star Award” for womenswear. So gettiing an invitation to try on some of his designs before they were in the most exclusive stores was attractive.
A line-up from Frederick Anderson’s 2027 resort show, which will be available to customers in the fall (Photo credit: Rocio Segura)
Trying on the same red dress, at the trunk show. The designer would be happy to make the dress fit perfectly for the customer, an interior designer, if she wanted it. (Photo credit: Andrew Simon)
The point of the trunk show was to see the dresses and workmanship up close, feel the fabric, perhaps try something on. It was also a chance to meet Frederick Anderson, the designer, and talk to him about his inspiration and ideas. Maybe even, if you are brave, ask him what he thinks you should wear.
Frederick Anderson with the artist and actress Phyllis Chase.
Among the guests were the businesswoman, social figure and philantropist Nurit Kahane Haase, the entertainer Lorna Luft, the actress Phyllis Chase, the art professor Maria del Mar Morosse and others.
