Daily Front Row

2007 July 18

Phillip Lim Lands in SoHo

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(NEW YORK) A slew of celebrities, editors, and socialites toasted Phillip Lim Tuesday night with a Veuve Clicquot champagne reception heralding the opening of his first flagship boutique at 115 Mercer Street in SoHo, which was followed by an intimate dinner on the second floor. “This spot is the perfect intersection in the city; it’s where uptown meets downtown and where local meets tourist,” said Lim of his expansive bi-level shop created by Jeremy Barbour, which opens today. “It has this great energy.”

Lim, who won this year’s Council of Fashion Designers of America’s Swarovski Award for Emerging Talent in Womenswear, was just last week inducted into the prestigious organization. “I feel all grown up now,” he said as he was embraced by CFDA executive director Steven Kolb and fellow CFDA member Reed Krakoff. “I can finally move away from the kiddie table and join the adults.” As Kolb noted, “Phillip embodies the new face of American design.”

Debra Messing, clad in a 3.1 Phillip Lim dress and jeweled headband, admitted to being a fan of the designer's. “His designs are chic and modern,” she cooed between inspections of Lim’s jewelry, designed with Bing Bang’s Anna Sheffield. “They’re very relaxed and effortless but have a couture feel to them.” John Legend, meanwhile, got a sneak peak of the store earlier in the day when he came to pick out his outfit. “I respect what Phillip does and I hope these designers like my taste,” said the singer, usually clad in Giorgio Armani. “I just got off my European tour so this was a relaxing day in New York City.” Legend said he will spend the rest of the summer doing studio work but is planning a vacation to Southeast Asia.

Upstairs, Olivia Chantecaille, sporting a cream dress by Lim adorned with fabric rosettes, congregated with a handful of PYTs, including Amanda Brooks, Meredith Melling Burke, Jessica Joffe, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Eleanor Ylvisaker, and Genevieve Jones. “I’m also wearing my summer rose palette, which was inspired by the roses on my dress,” Chantecaille pointed out, just back from Capri and still reminiscing about the gorgeous water. “I kind of wish I was there right now,” she laughed.

Lim, meanwhile, is already thinking toward his retail future. He’s currently scouting spaces in Los Angeles and is working on a Go Green Go organic collection for Barneys New York that will launch this holiday. In spite of his tremendous success in a relatively short span of time, the modest designer hasn’t been bitten by the vanity bug yet.

“I don’t know how you get used to this stuff,” he offered. “I hope I never do.”
NOLA WEINSTEIN