Former CFDA Chief Responds to Seating Snafu

Fern Mallis won’t stand for NYFW.

Fern Mallis, who, as former CFDA executive director, revolutionized New York Fashion Week by moving it to Bryant Park, knows a thing or two about best fashion week practices. (Exhibit A: Never miss a photo op with Ansel Elgort.) So when she reportedly encountered a “standing-only” seating assignment at an undisclosed show earlier this week, she rightfully had some notes for whichever unwitting PR agent had diverted the industry veteran to steerage.  

Although Mallis hasn’t publicly outed the designer (word around the block is that it was menswear brand Nihl) she did good-naturedly posted the gaff on Instagram. With the simple retort, “I don’t think so,” the picture garnered baffled chuckles from friends and colleagues. “F**king comedy,” commented Kelly Cutrone. 

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I don’t think so….????

A post shared by Fern Mallis (@fernmallis) on

Mallis later told Page Six that she laughed when she saw the assignment, but added that, “It’s very important for PR people to know who’s in the audience. Some people can be oblivious. This is something people can learn from.”

We can only guess that the mistake was made by someone too young to recognize Mallis’s clout, but it’s safe to say that they’ve since taken a backseat. 

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