Fashion Week: Guilty (food) pleasures of six top designers
Most people think fashion people don¹t eat. After all, beauty knows no (starvation) pain.
Then again, if fashion people don¹t eat, why is it that the gossip pages are always packed with sightings of some fabulous fashionistas in really trendy restaurants wearing those really trendy outfits?
In the New York dining scene as much as the fashion world, making a statement can be the difference between making it big or falling flat. So, with the start of fashion week on Friday, we turned to six fashion designers for a peek at the food -- including a few guilty pleasures -- they crave when hunger strikes. Based on their recommendations, we added a few restaurants of our own.
Alice + Olivia Stacey Bendet, who designs for lithe Hampton princesses and lanky stars like Angelina Jolie and Sarah Jessica Parker, says she hates long meals. However, she dines regularly at The Waverly Inn, Nobu and Blossom, where meals are far from expedient. Bendet cites sushi, quinoa and chopped salads as favorite foods and confesses to a craving for string cheese since she got pregnant. We recommend For a modern take on traditional sushi, try the omakase at Soto, 357 Sixth Ave., 212-414-3088; and 15 East, 15 E. 15th St., 212-647-0015. For string cheese, head over to Murray¹s Cheese, 254 Bleecker St., 212-243-5001.
J. Mendel The 'go to' name for superexpensive, ultra-luxury clothing, designer Gilles Mendel¹s love for French pastry is well known among fashion design circles. While it may not be the food of choice for the Atkins followers, it certainly complements the designer house¹s tony Upper East Side style. We recommend Indulge the Mendel lux life at Payard Patisserie & Bistro, 1032 Lexington Ave., 212-717-5252; Lady M Cake Boutique, 41 E. 78th St., 212-452-2222; and Ceci-Cela, 55 Spring St., 212-274-9179.
Miss Sixty As the designer to all those ultra hip and glamorously sexy Europeans you see in exclusive nightclubs and VIP lounges, Wichy Hassan believes the décor of a restaurant is just as important as the food. "I love Lever House," he said. "It is a visual and literal feast! Plus, the food is delicious and the atmosphere is not stuffy." Before you write Hassan off as a snob, he also loves pretzels from the street vendors. We recommend Try A Voce, 41 Madison Ave., 212-545-8555; and The Modern, 9 W. 53rd St.; 212-333-1220 for the perfect marriage of mid-century décor and contemporary fare. For the ultimate pretzel bread, visit Commerce, 50 Commerce St., 212-524-2301.
Pamella Roland
Pamella DeVos creates elegant gowns for red carpet-trotting Hollywood celebrities, but the designer¹s taste in food is more eclectic than high maintenance. After all, the designer for Pamella Roland has been known to indulge in McDonald¹s French fries and Rosa Mexicana guacamole and margaritas. We recommend Try the guacamoles and margaritas from Los Dados, 73 Gansvoort St., 646-810-7290; Hell¹s Kitchen, 679 Ninth Ave., 212-977-1588. Those craving a more upscale version of fries can head over to Pastis, 9 Ninth Ave., 212-929-4844.
Phillip Lim The fashionista¹s favorite darling and personal designer to David Bowie and Stevie Nicks, Lim is frequently seen dining at O mai and has held his after-show parties there. We recommend While the Chelsea restaurant is reasonably unassuming, the noise level can be daunting. Those wishing for a quieter Vietnamese spot can try Mai House, 186 Franklin St., 212-431-0606;Tet, 83 Ave. A, 212-253-0800; and Nam Son, 245 Grand St., 212-966-6507.
Vivienne Tam Like her Asian-inspired designs -- T-shirts with buddha prints, jackets with sanskrit lettering -- Vivienne Tam¹s gastronomic palate leans towards haute cusine bolstered by flavors from the continent. She frequently dines at Jean Georges and was recently spotted nibbling handmade tofu skin at Matsugen, the most recent addition to the celebrity chef¹s kaleidescope of Asian-tinged eateries. We recommend For another four-star dining experience try L¹Atelier de Joël Robuchon, 57 E. 57 St., 212-758-5700. Don¹t want to blow a month¹s rent on dinner? Try Lan, 56 Third Ave., 212-254-1959.
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