With how integral fashion and summer’s big events are to the identity of the Hamptons, it’s strange to think there was a time before Hamptons Fashion Week, but that was the reality when DCG Media Group CEO Dee Rivera decided to do something about to. Now ramping up for the event’s fourth iteration, August 5–7 in Southampton, Rivera has an even bigger experience planned than in years past.
Experienced working as a fashion editor Latin Magazinehelping produce New York Fashion Week in Bryant Park and serving on the board of the Ellen Hermanson Foundation, Rivera realized during her frequent visits to the Hamptons that something was missing.
“I’ve always gone to the Hamptons — it’s like my happy place — and I saw that there wasn’t a lot of fashion at the event. … There wasn’t something that highlighted the fashion that is in the Hamptons, which has its own look,” he says. she, adding that the expertise she gained from producing high-end events in the city was essential in allowing her to successfully launch Hamptons Fashion Week.
“That experience, fast forward, helped me know what to do and what not to do with this event. … I took everything I learned and then applied it to Hamptons Fashion Week. That being said, my goal for the Hamptons is to take it to the next level.”
HAMPTONS FASHION WEEK 2022 DESCRIPTION
The 2022 event kicks off with a Hamptons Fashion Night and Runway at Jobs Lane on Friday, August 5.
Rivera worked with the Southampton Arts Center board of trustees and Southampton Village Mayor Jesse Warren to organize a fashion show on Jobs Lane featuring the latest collections from Hamptons stores including Ralph Lauren, Marina St. Barth, Hidden Gem, Fivestory, Unsubscribed and other labels. “I’m so excited that they got behind us and believed in our vision because it’s the first time there’s been a fashion show on Jobs Lane,” says Rivera.
At the Shop & Sip after party, guests can shop, sip wine, enjoy delicious bites and compete to be one of the first 200 to visit each participating store, take a photo of their favorite item and tag @hamptonsfashionweek on Instagram to win a bag valued at $5,000.
Also new to Hamptons Fashion Week 2022, as part of a full day of runway shows at Southampton Arts Center on Saturday, is the Hamptons Swim Week event — featuring celebrity swimwear designers and international designers such as BOLD Swim and Origin of Oceans — and Hamptons Fashion Week’s Metaverse event where attendees can get a glimpse of tomorrow’s experimental fashion styles. Guests will enjoy bites from participating chefs, a wine bar, bartenders and cocktails, selfie station and swag.
“As the world is evolving, as the Hamptons is evolving, there’s so much fashion in the Hamptons,” Rivera says.
Also on Saturday, Hamptons Fashion Week presents the Fashion Icon Awards. Rivera and event sponsors Victoria Schneps, founder/president of Schneps Media; and Alicia Grande, CEO/founder of Grande Cosmetics, will present this year’s awards to four deserving names in today’s fashion landscape.
Fashion icon Nicole Miller will receive the Designer of the Year Award to celebrate 40 years in fashion, celebrity stylist/designer Cesar Galindo will receive the Trendsetter of the Year Award, fashion writer/editor Constance White will receive the Fashion Media Award and Endurance-focused designer Gloria Lee will receive the Rising Star Award.
Rivera adds that she loves being able to celebrate diversity in Hamptons fashion with these awards.
With runway shows throughout Saturday, the final show of the day takes place at Southampton Arts Center at 9pm with a 40-year retrospective of Nicole Miller’s iconic work in the fashion industry.
Then, Hamptons Fashion Week 2022 officially concludes on Sunday, August 7 with an exclusive invitation-only event known as Bites, Bubbles & Brunch. Press, VIP guests and designers will enjoy the book signing How to kill by Constance White and a menu curated by Picnics & Peonies Luxury Picnics.
Rivera expects this year’s event to further solidify Hamptons Fashion Week as one of the Hamptons’ most popular events, and she hopes to continue to build on the event, eventually extending the festivities into a full week of shows across the South Fork highlighting local and international designers.
“We want it to be a platform for international designers around the world — we want it to be open to everyone — but we also want to highlight the luxury brands that are in the Hamptons,” she says.
For more information about Hamptons Fashion Week, visit hamptonsfashionweek.com. For tickets, head to hamptonsfashionweek2022.eventbrite.com.
