CIRCA may be a buyer of consumers’ unwanted old jewelry, but its CIRCA Lounge in Lincoln Center—open this week during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week—features designs that are anything but scrap.
CIRCA Lounge at Lincoln Center during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week
The lounge showcases the fall 2011 accessories collections of a select group of Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) designers, including Vera Wang, Tory Burch, Dennis Basso, Elie Tahari, and more. Chris Del Gatto, CIRCA chief executive officer and chairman, is hosting the lounge with Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, director of fashion at Lincoln Center and an IMG fashion consultant; both celebrated its opening last Thursday with an event highlighting selections of estate pieces from CIRCA’s own private collection, in addition to a visit from Steven Kolb, executive director of the CFDA.
“Fashion Week is a great platform for a luxury brand, and CIRCA is a luxury service,” said Chris Del Gatto, CEO of CIRCA, to JCK in a phone interview. “CIRCA highlights famous designers of yesteryear—with an eye to popular artists of today—so we felt the fit was natural.”
A CIRCA Lounge display of estate jewels from CIRCA’s private collection
One featured designer a day filled 10 tall glass display cases—free of charge, thanks to CIRCA—with anywhere from 15–25 pieces. Among Del Gatto’s favorites: beaded agate necklaces from Tracy Reese, shown in tones that complimented shoes and bags also on display.
The lounge also marks the start of a new initiative from CIRCA whereby it will continue its support of the accessories industry and the CFDA by donating 10 percent of the purchase price of of pieces bought from any consumer who mentions the CIRCA/CFDA Initiative at MBFW. Proceeds will go to the CFDA for ongoing initiatives, including assistance, advice, and support, to its member designers.
In the CIRCA Lounge, from left: Steven Kolb, executive director, CFDA; Elie Tahari; Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, director of fashion at Lincoln Center and IMG fashionc onsultant; and, Chris Del Gatto, CEO of CIRCA
The CIRCA Lounge schedule of events started last Thursday and runs through this Thursday, Feb. 17. The schedule for the duration of the Lounge includes a presentation of collections from Vera Wang today, Feb. 15, Elie Tahari—who is presenting the Emmy Rossum bag with Emmy Rossum—Wednesday, Feb. 16, and, a CIRCA/IMG Accessories press event on Thursday, Feb. 17. Presented earlier in the schedule were collections from Rebecca Minkoff, Dennis Basso, Tory Burch, and Tracy Reese.
In the CIRCA Lounge, from left: Veronica Webb; Chris Del Gatto, CEO of CIRCA; and, Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, director of fashion at Lincoln Center and IMG fashion consultant
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