The Fall/Winter collection presentation, titled “Prom Night,” is staged on Valentine’s Day 2003 at Bowlmor Lanes in Greenwich Village, New York. Models, cast by Jennifer Venditti of JV8 INC, include a range of ages and sizes. Models and attendees bowl together. Debby Harry and Isaac Mizrahi attend, and a young photographer, Billy Farrell, photographs the evening for the Patrick McMullen Company. The Nadine Johnson Agency puts together the evening and goes on to do many more events for the company. So many of the people working on and attending the show become lifelong friends—including Zoe Turnbull who goes on, a decade later, to produce all the Makeshift events in New York City (read entries on Zoe Turnbull and the Makeshift events).
The Alabama-born founding editor of Gawker, Elizabeth Spiers, attends the party and writes a rather “surreality” review of the night, which Natalie still loves.
Read Elizabeth’s piece for Gawker here.
View Billy Farrell’s photographs from the evening here.
Learn more about Elizabeth’s important work here.
Learn more about the Nadine Johnson Agency here.
Slide 1: Heart Sash from Prom Night show, Project Alabama, photograph by Robert Rausch
Slide 2: Hand-cut metallic paper crown worn by models during Prom Night, designed by subtitle, photograph by Robert Rausch
Slide 3: Heart Wrap Cardigan worn by Diane, Project Alabama, photographed by Billy Farrell for Patrick McMullen; Heart dress and jacket worn by Jaja, Project Alabama, photographed by Billy Farrell for Patrick McMullen
Slide 4: Models in Project Alabama for Prom Night show, photographed by Billy Farrell for Patrick McMullen; from left: Maxamilla, Ksenia, Camila, Jaja
Slide 5: Heart tank and bow, worn by Theo, Project Alabama, photographed by Billy Farrell for Patrick McMullen
Slide 6: Project Alabama Prom Night invitation sent to friends and guests, designed by subtitle, photograph by Robert Rausch; Natalie Chanin at Prom Night wearing the Heart Wrap Top, photographed by Billy Farrell for Patrick McMullen