By Mark La Monica
Accepted practice at a fashion show is to have the designer walk out from backstage after all the models make their train lap down the runway to end the show.
Here, the people in attendance can clap and praise and shower the designer with affection.
When Vera Wang emerged onto the runway, the applause was typical for a fashion show by a popular designer, perhaps even a little less.
Even from my vantage point in the back row of the media risers, I could see she was fighting back tears as soon as she stepped onto the runway. As the rest of the people in The Tent began to see what I saw, the applause grew.
These weren't tears of joy. Wang's father died early this morning, I'm told, and she powered through her show anyway. But when the time came to wave to the crowd, it couldn't have been easy. She smiled as best she could, wiping her tears up and down the runway.
No way to not feel compassion for Wang in this situation. Losing a parent has got to be one of the hardest things to cope with in life. Mama and Papa La Monica are both alive and well, but my eyes started to swell a bit as I typed that last sentence.
I understand the concept of "The show must go on" but it certainly can't be easy. At least not now. Wang had the distraction of preparing everything one last time for the 2 p.m. show, but now that it's over, her emotional pain will likely be felt.
Wang's collection wasn't too impressive to me, but I'm not exactly a licensed fashion critic. Some things were nice to look at, others were a bit "whatever."
However, I'm curious to read how the real style deciders critique this show. Will they love it? Will they not like it but show some compassion for Wang 24 hours after her father died? Or will they be detached enough to express their opinions regardless of what happened.
Should make for some interesting reading Friday morning before the "Project Runway" show starts.