Last Thursday the New York City Opera hosted the 5th annual DIVA’S: Shop for Opera Shopping Event in which fashion lovers purused exclusive designer clothing, accessories and home furnishings provided by the City Opera Thrift Shop and donors alike. In addition, this year 25 designers including Carolina Herrera, Narciso Rodriguez, and Christian Lacriox designed one of a kind sketches inspired by an opera character. The sketches were on display and available by silent auction. The event raised an incredible $95,000 dollars which will benefit the New York City Opera to support the design and creation of costumes and new productions at NYCO. ManhattanStyle was fortunate enough to have City Opera’s Director of Retail Operations and Volunteer Services Eric Hagmueller discuss the shopping event and how fashion and opera go hand in hand.

1. How has this event changed over the years? Were sketches and clothes always included?
This is the fifth year of DIVAS and it has grown over that time. We first started in a 3,500 square feet studio and last year’s event was in a vacant store on Madison Avenue. This year we found the space in Soho with over 10,000 square feet – we were able to bring twice as much merchandise than ever before. Reaching out to the designers to create a costume sketch was new this year and it was really exciting to have their participation in a new way rather than just donating items. The clothes were always the ‘main attraction’ of the event, we receive some incredible designer couture and vintage merchandise that is collected for an entire year.

2. Why is fashion and music particularly Opera a perfect marriage?
I have always been attracted to the theatricality of fashion shows and there are many nights at an opera performance when you have a impromptu fashion show as stylish patrons come to the performance. Additionally, more and more designers are crossing over to designing for the theater, both Zandra Rhodes and Isaac Mizrahi have designed costumes for New York City Opera performances.

3. Why would it be important for fashion designers to design for the Opera or theater in general?
When I spoke to many of the designers about their inspiration for their sketch, many of them spoke about the creation of a character rather than just designing clothes. Some spoke about the time period of the opera or the local which further inspired the design. I see designing for the theater as another opportunity to use their talents.

4. How can Opera support the fashion industry and vise versa?
I think with Fashion Week coming to Lincoln Center, you’ll really see a larger collaboration between the two. The DIVAS event attracts patrons of all ages, introducing New York City Opera to them for the first time and we can introduce our audience to many of the designers.

The next NYC Opera is A Quiet Place by Leonard Bernstein opens our 2010-11 season. It’s Bernstein’s final and most ambitious achievement for the theater and has never been performed in the city.

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One Response to “DIVA’s Shop for Opera Shopping Event Raises $95 Grand for the New York City Opera”

1. Daisy K. says:

   June 21, 2010 at 10:36 am

   Sounds like quite the event. Wish I was invited!