Marchesa Cancels New York Fashion Week Show in Wake of Harvey Weinstein Fallout

In the wake of Harvey Weinstein being exposed as a sexual abuser — to real consequences — the film mogul’s wife Georgina Chapman, co-head of Marchesa, has kept a low profile. This upcoming New York Fashion Week, Chapman will continue to do so as it has just been revealed that the fashion brand will no longer be presenting their fall 2018 collection in the traditional catwalk format. “Georgina couldn’t go through with it,” a source told The New York Post. “She was too scared. They were gung-ho… but as they got closer, she choked.”

Marchesa’s fall 2018 show had been originally scheduled for Valentine’s Day, as TNYP reports, however, a spokesperson for the brand has confirmed to W that “Marchesa is looking forward to presenting their Fall 18 collection in an updated format this season.”

This won’t be the first time Marchesa looks to a new format post-Weinstein fall out. Earlier this month, the brand distributed images of their pre-fall 2018 collection via a digital lookbook without scheduling press appointments as WWD noted. The Marchesa collection reportedly took inspiration from “a nocturnal garden party, boasting dramatic silhouettes and colors” and the Marchesa Notte line was a nod to the “vibrant, tropical fantasy that was the kingdom of Hawaii and their last crown princess, Ka’iulani.”

Chapman hasn’t been vocal since announcing her separation from Weinsten with the note “My heart breaks for all the women who have suffered tremendous pain because of these unforgivable actions. I have chosen to leave my husband.” However, in December, her good friend Alyssa Milano offered an update on her wellbeing, saying, “Georgina is doing very well. She’s an amazing mother. She’s an amazing woman, and I think her priority right now is focusing on how to raise those two children to the best of her capacity given the situation… She goes through very dark times. She’s very sad. This is not easy for her, but I have no doubt that not only will she come out on the other side of this, but she deserves too. She’s a good woman.”

Her divorce from Weinstein has since been finalized with speculation that she’ll receive $15 to $20 million and primary custody of their two children.

Marchesa is the latest designer to eschew doing a formal NYFW show, following Alexander Wang and Victoria Beckham.