Tom Scott, whose Fall 2009 presentation took place in a garment district storefront transformed into a mannequin-filled drycleaning studio, took a step further in his exploration of fashion presentation as conceptual installation for his Spring/Summer 2010 collection last Thursday.

Inspired by “’some of the old-fashioned things you can find in your grandmother’s house,’” Scott upped the Fashion Week ante by moving the location of his most recent presentation out of the garment district altogether, and into Room 710 at the historic Chelsea Hotel in Manhattan’s contemporary gallery center. The hybridization of art-fair theatrics with clothing design resulted in a environment with charms hard to resist.

In a fully-furnished apartment redolent with the spirit of mid-century domesticity (complete with pink tiled tub, overstuffed couch and an array of milky glass plates filled with sweets on the sideboard), models dressed in Scott’s collection played the roles of glamorous residents in the household vignettes staged in each room. The attention-grabbing detail, beautiful light and authentic tone of the presentation almost overshadowed the understated beauty of the clothes themselves.

Taking cues from the nudes of photographers Melanie Bonajo and Georges Tony Scott, the designer showed knit separates and dresses and in muted flesh and pastel palettes that draped on or exposed on the body in unexpected ways. Notable pieces included a jersey drape-back curtain dress and sheer drape pants.

Visit Tom Scott

All photos by The Totam

Tags: 2010 fashion week, Chelsea Hotel, knits, Spring Summer 2010, Tom Scott.

On a faded stretch of West 37th Street, designer Tom Scott held his fall winter presentation yesterday in an old garment district storefront. Just a hop from the glitz of the Bryant Park tents, but worlds away, Scott’s conceptual attitude towards fashion strangely but perfectly fit in with the seedy street which is home to zipper shops, delis and knockoff handbag stores. The collection was appropriately titled, “things I don’t like,” and is meant to be a playful stab at his working through the aspects of design which he is normally uncomfortable. Scott who works with knits primarily attacked his fears of cable-knits, popcorn ball stitches, and “Golden Girls” type sweaters. All pieces were given Scott’s unique treatment - the enlarged cable knit became a caricature of its once humble beginnings and found its way onto a voluminous and vibrantly hued vest. A loud thrift-store striped pattern was reinterpreted into an oversized dropped sleeve sweater with an exaggerated neckline. However funny these pieces may have seemed, the irony was not lost in the intricate details along with the plush yarns that Scott is known for.

While the back room of the space resembled a dry cleaners with metal racks floating hundreds of plastic garment bags and pieces displayed on “We love our customers” hangers, the front room resembled a scene out of the Twilight Zone’s The After Hours episode, where mannequins come alive in a department store and take turns leaving for a month. Here the “girls” seemed content to hang out - “Priscilla” relaxed in the front wearing a colorblock mohair sweater and large alpaca earmuffs, listening to her record player. “Tom,” the only male mannequin hid in the back and wore a “polka dot” sweater - the “dots” being the negative space in the knit. “Shirley” in a strapless alpaca dress which resembled the tufted bottom half of an ostrich pressed her hands up against the storefront and gazed outside - possibly ready for her month leave.

–Joyce Tota

When some designers want to use humor, they usually end up with M.I.A.’s Grammy performance outfit. Designer Tom Scott, takes his wit and talent to a less overt level where it becomes more of an inside joke. This season for fall ‘09, Scott stayed true to his completely wearable, modern, and just plain cool knitwear, by being open to the upside down and unconventional manipulations of the average sweater.

Scott takes his reluctantly intellectual approach to fashion and has fun with it. With hairy cuffs on alpaca sweaters, drapey cashmere tube skirts, a fishnet mohair dress, and quirky sweaters with colorblocks or just plain holes, Scott creates key pieces that quietly evolve knitwear for the modern age. He effortlessly pulls off beautifully draped knits, like a heavy zip-front cardigan with an enveloping back, or the knit blanket with sleeves, that doubles as quite the warm coat.

–Hillary Rocker

All images c. The Totam

Tags: Bryant Park, conceptual, dry cleaners, Fall 2009, Fashion Week, garment district, knits, knitwear, New York, Tom Scott, Twilight Zone.

If you happen to be in New York this week, you’re in luck. Not only can you claw your way through the Barneys Warehouse Sale but get ready to party 1990’s Grind-style, or head over to Craigslist for fashion week tickets and you just might score a free ride to Jersey.

Join the frenzy. Indeed.

1/ The bi-annual Barneys New York Warehouse Sale starts today just in time for fashion week. Now is the time to find your Dries Van Noten, Lanvin, and Marc Jacobs at 50-75% off. Our tip: Wear a dress or skirt for easy try-ons as there are no dressing rooms. We would love to hear what treasures you find as well!

*255 West 17th Street, between 7th & 8th Avenues. 212-450-8400

Hours: Thursday, Feb. 12th - Friday, the 13th: 8am - 9pm / Weekdays: 10am - 9pm, Weekends: 10am - 7pm

2/ Party like it’s 1992 again at photographer Clifton Parker’s fashion week bash with host Eric Nies. Yes that Eric Nies, the early ’90s host of MTV’s dance show The Grind. Our tip: Don’t forget your baja jacket.

*Friday, Feb. 13th / Hudson Terrace, 641 West 46th Street, between 11th & 12th Avenues / Doors at 9pm /  RSVP necessary to info@cliftonparker.com

3/ British designer Matthew Williamson will be opening his first U.S. store in New York’s Meatpacking District, with an opening party on Sunday night. Fans of Williamson’s Indian-inspired togs include Sienna Miller and Jade Jagger. This one will be a tight list. Our tip: Ogle from across the street.

*Sunday, Feb. 15th, 6:30 - 9:30pm / 415 W. 14th Street, near Washington Street

Hopefully Bryant Park is a little more organized.

4/ Who says there are no free rides? Maybelline and Marie Claire are teaming up to offer complimentary taxi rides to fashion week attendees as they leave the Bryant Park tents on Thursday, Feb. 19th. The stunt is to promote the Style Network’s new reality series Running in Heels, starring Marie Claire fashion editor Nina Garcia. No word yet on how far one can go once inside the cab. Our tip: Hoboken, please! (Fashion Week Daily)

Surprise, honey! We're not on the list!

5/ Can’t get into the shows? Need a Valentine’s Day date idea? Try Craigslist. For anywhere from $80 - $500, you too can stand with the best of them. Since the last time we checked, Charlotte Ronson show scalpers seem to be pretty popular. Our tip: Don’t waste your money. Instead, stay tuned to The Totam for fashion week updates from the Rachel Comey, Karen Walker, Tom Scott and Matthew Ames’ shows. (The Cut)

Tags: 1992, Barneys, Bryant Park, Clifton Parker, Craigslist, Dries Van Noten, Eric Nies, Fashion Week, Hoboken, Jade Jagger, Karen Walker, Lanvin, Marc Jacobs, Matthew Ames, Matthew Williamson, New York, Nina Garcia, Parties, Rachel Comey, Running in Heels, Sienna Miller, store opening, Style Network, The Totam, Tom Scott, valentine's day.