Inside Marchesa’s doomed plans to show at NY Fashion Week
When the news broke this past Tuesday that Marchesa had canceled its New York Fashion Week runway show, originally slated for Feb. 14, no one was shocked.
The only question was: What made the label, designed by Keren Craig and Georgina Chapman, the estranged wife of Harvey Weinstein — Public Enemy No. 1 of the #MeToo age — ever think a show was a good idea?
Offering one glimmer of hope might have been Anna Wintour, the editor-in-chief of Vogue and artistic director of Condé Nast. A source close to the Marchesa brand tells The Post that Vogue stylists have called in Marchesa clothing for a photo shoot to run in the March issue.
That same source says the label’s NYFW show was never a sure thing, but rather something for which it hurt to admit defeat.
“Marchesa’s been on the [NYFW] calendar for years, so the date was printed automatically. [Craig and Chapman] didn’t want to cancel since time slots are competitive. They’d been afraid to cancel it before for fear of bad press.”
Chapman and Craig dragged their feet in hopes that the Weinstein-related furor might die down — especially since Chapman announced she had left the Hollywood producer less than a week after the New York Times broke accusations of him having raped and sexually harassed many women. (Page Six reported that Chapman will receive a $15 to $20 million settlement in their divorce.)
But the brand realized that not everyone was ready to welcome back a business associated with Weinstein. Although invitations had not gone out, inquiries were coming in.
“[Most of the] requests they had came from gossip columnists and investigative reporters who rarely go to fashion shows,” said one fashion publicist in the know.
Finally, last week, a spokesperson issued a statement saying Marchesa would show in an “updated format” — said to be digital-only.
Even so, the brand’s employees are “scrambling,” said a second publicist. “They have no idea what this ‘digital presentation’ will be. But there was no way that runway show was going to go on. It was wishful thinking.”
In the past, Marchesa’s NYFW shows have been attended by the likes of Katie Holmes, Mandy Moore, Anna Kendrick, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West — and always Wintour, who typically sat next to Weinstein in the front row.
But with actresses turning away from the brand during awards season, it was unlikely any would have supported Marchesa at NYFW. Stories that Weinstein had bullied stars of his movies into wearing the brand on past red carpets didn’t help.
“He ruined her life and he might have ruined the brand,” said a Chapman friend.
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A former NYFW executive suggests that Marchesa shouldn’t throw in the towel once and for all: “[Weinstein’s] a pig — but why should [Chapman] suffer? This cancellation [was] the wisest decision. Just step back and wait for the storm to wane.”
Those close to Chapman are frustrated that she is being held in any way responsible for her ex’s behavior.
“I think she knew [he] cheated,” said one insider, “but she didn’t know he assaulted people. I think she looked the other way in terms of infidelity. Isn’t that what women married to celebrity alpha males do?”
Sources say Chapman and Weinstein have barely had any communication since October, when he entered rehab in Arizona and she flew to London with their two children.
“She’s done,” said the friend. “She’s only spoken to him when absolutely necessary, to discuss money. There’s . . . not going to be any forgiveness — no matter what he thinks.”