New York Fashion Week Men’s Parties: CFDA vs. John Varvatos

It may be the height of summer, but this week, designers, male models, hairstylists and backstage hands were hard at work for the third New York Fashion Week: Men’s. Things kicked off with a CFDA-approved opening event, chock full of brand ambassadors – Common, Kellan Lutzl though inquiring minds want to know what happened to Dwyane Wade? – and closed with a more rock ‘n’ roll party at the John Varvatos store (appropriately, the former CBGB venue). Here, a side by side comparison of the week’s bookends.

Location, location location Official opening party: A former warehouse that has been turned into a corporate showcase for Cadillac, where the carmaker has stationed its New York headquarters. Varvatos after party: The former CBGB in the Bowery that has been turned into a corporate showcase for John Varvatos.

Tribes CFDA: The industry. Varvatos: Models, model wranglers and anyone after a free cocktail – “hot nobodies,” as Holly Brubach once called them.

The Theme CFDA: Americana, by way of luxury cars and scrubbed-clean designers. Varvatos: “Dark Rebel Rider.”

The Meh-list CFDA: Kellan Lutz, Nick Cannon, Eric Rutherford. Varvatos: Machine Gun Kelly, Chloe Wise, Jordan Love.

That’s Entertainment CFDA: Top 40, Oscar and Grammy award-winner Common. Varvatos: Guns N’ Roses opening act and rock ‘n’ rollers Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown.

Future Entertainment CFDA: Travis Mills, who happens to be a NYFW: Men’s ambassador. Varvatos: Rapper Machine Gun Kelly, who then went on to perform at the party for model agency Wilhelmina, where he’s signed.

Athletes in the House CFDA: Professional snowboarder and skateboarder Shaun White. Varvatos: Pro footballer-turned-model Dale Moss.

Pièce de Résistance CFDA: A restored 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz convertible. Varvatos: A preserved section of CBGB‘s original wall.

Watch all the episodes of “The Myth of Orpheus and Eurydice,” a four-part film series by Gia Coppola, here. Produced for Gucci by W magazine.