With this year's Glamorama, Macy's is thinking bigger than ever. Not that the show has ever had any problem being big -- for 22 years, it has showcased fall collections from some of the world's top fashion designers in a highly choreographed production peppered with big-name musical acts. But for the first time since it expanded to Chicago in 1999, Macy's is bringing the event to two new markets: San Francisco and Los Angeles. Macy's has produced a show called Passport on the West Coast since 1982. "We wanted to combine the best of both shows to create one event," said Glamorama producer Mike Gansmoe.
Also new this year is a dance segment choreographed by "So You Think You Can Dance?" judge Brian Friedman, who long has been involved with the Passport shows. (Claim to fame: He taught Britney her moves in the "Toxic" video.) The dancers -- many of whom have appeared on "SYTYCD?" -- will don over-the-top ensembles by "Project Runway" Season Four alum Chris March. "There's a couple of very wild pieces," March said. "There's video, there's disco balls, there's all sorts of things."
As always, it's a treat to see high-profile runway fashions in our home state. Expect the usual suspects: Marc Jacobs, Versace for Men, Sonia Rykiel, Just Cavalli, SportMax, Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti, Tommy Hilfiger and Jean Paul Gaultier, plus, for the first time, avant-garde Japanese designer Issey Miyake. Musical accompaniment comes courtesy of "I Try" hitmaker Macy Gray, who has a new album ("The Sellout") under her belt, and pop singer/songwriter Eric Hutchinson. The crown jewel of the event is an afterparty of Dionysian proportions atop the eighth-floor rooftop of Macy's downtown location. Party favors include live DJs, multiple dance floors, free food, open bar, photo booth and perhaps the chance to run into Macy herself.
