The Stylenite (own diction: StyleNite) is a cultural event organized by Berlin’s designer Michael Michalsky. It has evolved from Michalsky’s fashion shows and takes place twice a year during Berlin Fashion Week. Since January 2010 the event is officially titled StyleNite.
The event is breaking with the traditions of a conventional fashion show, by combining performances of different art disciplines. Each StyleNite is themed according to the inspirational topic of the latest collection of the designer Michalsky.
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Michalsky is considered a „seismograph of society“[1] and his collections are regularly influenced by current developments in society. These topics are picked up as central theme of the StyleNite with the aim to support a free and tolerant exchange between artists and art disciplines. In this respect, the StyleNite is considered a platform for exchange, discussion and contacts. Inherent part of the StyleNite are Michalsky’s fashion shows. Alternating locations and elaborate stage-designs are setting the scene for further performances during the event. Part of the program are always live music acts of famous or newcomer bands, show performances, movie premieres and fashion shows of other labels.[2] The evening ends with an excessive after show party.
In March 2011 Michalsky announced that the following four StyleNites are going to take place at the Tempodrom in Berlin.
| Event | Location | Theme | Music-Act | Guest label | Show act | DJ | Visitors (estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2007 | Rotes Rathaus | Anita Berbers Berlin | Frederic Sanchez | 300 | |||
| Jul 2007 | Brandenburg Gate | Bad Boy, Bad Girl | DJ Hell | 300 | |||
| Jan 2008 | Kulturforum | Neo-Wirtschaftswunder (neo economic miracle) | Fetisch | 450 | |||
| Jul 2008 | Uferhallen | Demo-Culture | Lady Gaga | DJ Hell | 450 | ||
| Jan 2009 | Zionskirche (Berlin) | Sex and Religion | DJ Hell | 600 | |||
| Jul 2009 | Friedrichstadtpalast | The Great Depression Part II | DJ Hell | 2.000 | |||
| Jan 2010 | Friedrichstadtpalast | Zille sein Milljöh | Spandau Ballet, Hurts | Kaviar Gauche, Lala Berlin | Bella Berlin | DJ Hell | 1.800 + web-live-stream |
| Jul 2010 | Tempodrom | Endangered Species | Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark | YMA Show Couture, Maharishi | Nadja Michael | DJ Hell | 1.200 + web-live-stream |
| Jan 2011 | Tempodrom | Urban Nomads | Alphaville (band) | Movie Tron: Legacy | Tiefschwarz | 1.400 + web-live-stream | |
| Jul 2011 | Tempodrom | Tolerance | Mirrors (band) | LASCANA Beachwear | Lightperformance by Gert Hof | Tiefschwarz | 1.450 + web-live-stream |
Michalsky always develops an elaborate and individual stage for each StyleNite interpreting the theme of the evening. For example, the stage of the StyleNite The Great Depression Part II featured a crashed airplane in a pool and thousands of stocks on the catwalk.
Besides famous models there are always new faces to be spotted at StyleNite.
Michalsky has always ignored the „traditional“ requirements for models regarding age, origin and perfection. He would line up handicapped models as well as aged models on the runway at StyleNite. The engagement of the handicapped model Mario Galla at the StyleNite in July 2010 was considered almost scandalous among the fashion scene and caused enormous media response.[4] In January 2011, the models Eveline Hall and Pat Cleveland walked the runway; both women are over 60 years old. The internationally renowned German model Toni Garrn has been a regular among the models at StyleNite for several years.
There is no official ticket sale for the event. The invitations are sent exclusively to a limited number of guests. The audience at StyleNite changes each time, consisting of people from fashion, media, politics, art and celebrities.
The organizer provides selected media - mainly fashion magazines, blogs and design journals - with a limited amount of tickets that are available for raffles.[5] In single cases tickets are given to the students of Berlin’s fashion design academies.
There is a strict door policy at the night of the StyleNite.
The StyleNite is extensively covered in German and international media. In July 2011 the StyleNite was covered extensively by Chinese media for the first time. VOGUE TV CHINA broadcasted a report[6] and the COSMOPOLITAN CHINA dedicated an entire page to the event.
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