As Twitchy reported back in mid-November, the fashion industry found itself along with much of the world angry, heartbroken, and in crisis after Donald Trump won the 2016 election.
The New York Times, for example, noted that the fashion industry suddenly found itself having to “wrestle with what happens next: how it defines itself if it is marginalized — reduced to mere decoration — in a Trump administration, and whether there will be repercussions for either its pledge of allegiance to the president-elect’s opponent or some of the more angry postelection statements designers have made on social media.”
Those dire expectations are beginning to be realized, as the Los Angeles Times reports that while Donald Trump enjoys a costume party on Long Island, the annual holiday party for the fashion industry hosted by publicist James La Force and his husband, writer Stephen Henderson, has been cancelled.
Annual holiday party for fashion industry canceled because Donald Trump won the election https://t.co/LAaQGcrOTp pic.twitter.com/JKSkIrsgxi
— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) December 3, 2016
The L.A. Times reports that the couple had custom invitations printed in advance with the assumption that Hillary Clinton would be president and the national mood would be jolly. Alas, no one feels like partying, so the invitations were sent out with not only a cancellation notice inside, but a note saying that the party budget would be donated instead to Planned Parenthood, Housing Works, and the Stonewall Foundation.
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Nobody cared anyway.
— True Detective (@riverarobert) December 3, 2016
I think its time to end the pity party. #rebuild
— StayGold (@StayGoldDopey) December 3, 2016
Try as they might, the self-described fashion world has failed to make pacifiers & diaper pins the accessories of the year.
— Kaaren Mann (@KaarenMann) December 3, 2016
This is the biggest one yet… pic.twitter.com/pz2aLr77A0
— #DemExorcist???️?? (@DemExorcist2) December 3, 2016
The L.A. Times says La Force and Henderson’s holiday parties are known for their “somewhat raucous atmosphere,” possibly best illustrated in this shot from the 2014 S&M-themed holiday party, held at The Eagle, “New York’s premiere leather bar.”
In other fashion news, top designers continue to fret over Melania Trump’s inauguration dress.
"Personally, I'd rather put my energy into helping out those who will be hurt by Trump and his supporters." https://t.co/k8D1CZSIm4
— ELLE Magazine (US) (@ELLEmagazine) December 3, 2016
https://twitter.com/Msuwonkunda/status/804363282060607490
How is this not like a baker refusing to bake a cake for a gay wedding? https://t.co/JofLH2hkwm
— Michael Smerconish (@smerconish) December 1, 2016
https://twitter.com/America_1st_/status/802253033564438528
TIME actually bothered to round up quotes from 14 fashion designers to see if any would consent to dress Mrs. Trump. Surprisingly, several were perfectly fine with the idea.
14 fashion designers on whether they'd dress Melania Trump as First Lady https://t.co/3y6dMqkzpF
— TIME (@TIME) December 4, 2016
Since all the big parties are being cancelled, Diane von Furstenberg doesn’t have to worry about not being invited. “Donald Trump was elected and he will be our president,” she told WWD. “Melania deserves the respect of any first lady before her. Our role as part of the fashion industry is to promote beauty, inclusiveness, diversity. We should each be the best we can be and influence by our example.”
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