Bright and early this morning, a group of up-and-coming designers (for the purpose of this exercise, up-and-coming = well established within the industry but not yet a fashion-fragrance-cosmetics conglomerate. Capice?) gathered at the Barneys 9th floor restaurant and kicked back with a potently strong …cup of coffee. Elise Overland, Alexander Wang (whose cushy pad was recently profiled in Domino), Subversive’s Justin Giunta, and the folks behind Lyell, Loden Dager, and Wayne all took time out from their ateliers to toast the sponsor of their upcoming shows, Ecco Domani. The well-known wine label has provided Fashion Fund scholarships to group of enterprising young designers hand-selected by industry VIPS—including Barneys’ Julie Gilhart (hence the chic backdrop to this morning’s press panel). After introductions were made, teacups raised in salute, and soft clapping sounds were made, I found it too early to think clearly about fashion. While I could have asked these Ecco Domani-supported taste-makers about their design or future aspirations, I polled a few on their favorite wine varietals instead:

Wayne Lee: Sauvignon Blanc
Alexander Wang: Anything sparkling
Justin Giunta: Barolo
Loden Dager’s Melissa Vale: Barbera
Paul Marlow: Pinot Noir
Matthew Sandager: Pinot Grigio…or maybe the strawberry kind that comes in the screw-cap bottles