Man rama

Glamorama's scantily dressed male models were the talk of the after-party for Macy's annual fashion bash. A golf game and elbow room also played big.

By KRISTIN TILLOTSON, Star Tribune

August 16, 2009 — 1:51pm

Fashion shows are primarily about fantasy. The annual Glamorama blowout, put on by Macy's to benefit children's cancer research, delivers enough to make attendees want to prolong the effect at the after-party.

That's where groups of men standing around hoping to meet models is a sight as familiar as long lines at the free bar. This year, there seemed to be just as many clusters of women eying the male runway walkers.

Asked to choose her favorite collection from the show, Minneapolis singer Jearlyn Steele said, "The boys -- are they a collection?"

"Whenever you put guys in almost nothing, that's going to happen," said Eric Allen, a model from Chicago, referring to the Papi underwear segment of the show.

Unlike the after-parties of past years, you could actually move around without stepping on a stiletto or picking pâté off your elbow. The free grazing tables offered pared-down fare such as Tex-Mex and fried veggies, and plenty of it.

The most popular attraction -- especially for those who would rather have been watching Tiger Woods at Hazeltine -- was a golf-simulation game that cost $10 a pop to prove your prowess with a driver.

Two body-painting stands were an exhibitionist's dream, the chance to have your skin be the canvas of expert artists in front of intrigued observers. The only takers seemed to be lithe young things. Was Tina Rafowitz of Orono game?

"Oh, my God, no -- I'm wearing Spanx!" she said.

As for the show, she and her friend Jane Schwartzman, who have been going to Glamorama for 12 years, loved Ne-Yo but found the rest of the music "morose."

"We like to see models moving to something more upbeat," Schwartzman said.

Popular lines among the partygoers were Alberta Ferretti's feminine Philosophy, Gaultier's stormtrooper chic and Max Mara, which model AnnaMaria Mostrom called "classic, beautiful, very Paris."

When asked about their favorite part of the show, a woman sitting quietly with a friend in the photo area said she didn't see it: "We're cops. There are a lot of us here."

Good thing, too. This was a dangerously beautiful crowd.

Kristin Tillotson • 612-673-7046