American Express to Close Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week With a Runway to Retail Exclusive Cardmember Only Show Featuring CH Carolina Herrera and Edited by Harper’s Bazaar

American Express to offer Cardmembers exclusive access and experiences at MADE and Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week

NEW YORK, January 18, 2013 — American Express announced an exclusive Cardmember Only Show featuring the CH Carolina Herrera collection in collaboration with the editors of Harper’s BAZAAR will take place during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week on February 14th. For the first time, American Express Cardmembers and all CH Carolina Herrera fans will be able to shop select looks from the runway show exclusively on ShopBAZAAR.com.

“As a proud partner and supporter of the fashion industry, American Express is committed to creating unforgettable experiences for our Cardmembers,” said Deborah Curtis, vice president, Entertainment Marketing & Sponsorships, American Express. “In collaboration with CH Carolina Herrera and Harper’s BAZAAR, this season we will deliver a show that reaches beyond the tents and allows Cardmembers to purchase select looks from the show. Carolina Hererra is one of the most requested designers to be featured for the Cardmember Only Show from the Cardmemers at the American Express Skybox each season and we are thrilled to deliver on this wish.”

The show will feature 50 looks from the Spring 2013 Men’s and Women’s Collections. Hailed as “Fashion’s First Lady”, Herrera was named the CFDA Womenswear Designer of the Year in 2004 and honored with the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008. Acting as a mentor and critic to graduating design students for years, Herrera recently received an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from the Fashion Institute of Technology. In addition, she was also awarded the 2012 Fashion Group International Superstar Award.

“I cannot think of better partners, American Express and Harper’s BAZAAR, to present CH Carolina Herrera for the first time at Lincoln Center,” said Carolina Herrera. “To me, Harper’s BAZAAR is synonymous with art, beauty, fashion and sophistication…always inspiring its readers. I am also thrilled to be collaborating on another project with American Express. This time bigger and better, an evening of fun and fabulous fashion.”

American Express’ relationship with Harper’s BAZAAR will deliver a true runway to retail show with the support of ShopBAZAAR. Prior to the show, Harper’s BAZAAR editors worked together with the CH Carolina Herrera team to style their favorite top five looks which will be available for sale on ShopBAZAAR.

“Working with American Express and CH Carolina Herrera during Fashion Week seems to me the very best way to bring to life our idea of content-to-commerce,” says Carol Smith, Publisher and Chief Revenue Officer at Harper’s BAZAAR. “We’ve gotten a good start with ShopBAZAAR in the online space, but we’re especially happy to be doing this particular show. It’s styled by Harper’s BAZAAR editors, and the looks it features are available for purchase immediately after viewing. I truly believe this sort of association is pointing the way to a more vital kind of modern business partnership.”

The memorable evening will take place on Thursday, February 14th at 6:30PM at Lincoln Center, kicking off with pre-show cocktails and appearances by Carolina Herrera and Glenda Bailey. Tickets for this night of fashion are available exclusively for American Express Cardmembers beginning January 17th at www.AmericanExpress.com/entertainment.

Access to Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week and MADE for Cardmembers and Fans
Celebrating its 12th season at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, American Express Cardmembers will have the exclusive opportunity to purchase packages to see some of the best designers show their collections from the American Express Skybox at Lincoln Center. In addition, American Express is continuing its support of emerging designers through its partnership with MADE. Cardmembers can get an intimate look into the artistic process through designer meet-and-greets and beauty styling sessions, as well as MADE’s lineup of young designers including Peter Som, Jeremy Scott, SUNO and more.

Tickets for packages at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week and MADE are available on January 17th at www.AmericanExpress.com/entertainment.

Service with Style: The Lobby Space
American Express will once again bring world-class service to the Lobby at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week with new on-site features and services. This season, knowledgeable American Express Customer Care Professionals will bring our special brand of Relationship Care® servicing to provide a variety of concierge-type offerings at Cardmember Services including dining and car service reservations, NYC-area information, and Card assistance. In addition, guests will be able to stay cozy and nourished this season with a coat check and American Express Refresh Bar serving healthy snacks and beverage options.

To learn more about American Express’ special access to the world of fashion and other exciting entertainment offers, follow @AmericanExpress on Twitter, become a fan of American Express on Facebook and visit americanexpress.com/entertainment.

About American Express
American Express is a global services company, providing customers with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and help build business success. Learn more at americanexpress.com and connect with us on facebook.com/americanexpress, foursquare.com/americanexpress, linkedin.com/companies/american-express, twitter.com/americanexpress, and youtube.com/americanexpress.

Key links to products and services: charge and credit cards, business credit cards, travel services, gift cards, prepaid cards, merchant services, business travel, and corporate card.

About Carolina Herrera
Carolina Herrera is a global fashion house recognized worldwide for timeless elegance and sophistication. The eponymous company founded in 1981 produces multiple collections of apparel and accessories for women, men and children, bridal and fragrances distributed today in over 100 countries. Current collections of the house include the designer collection Carolina Herrera New York, the lifestyle sportswear collection CH Carolina Herrera and Carolina Herrera Fragrances.

The CH Carolina Herrera collection, inspired by the style and heritage of Carolina Herrera, was launched in 2001, encompassing fashion and accessories for women, men and children. It has been embraced in new markets worldwide with 90 exclusive retail stores and 200 shop-in-shop locations throughout Europe, Asia, US, Latin America, and Middle East. All the collections and products exude an effortless sophistication inherent in the iconic style of founder, Carolina Herrera.

About Harper’s BAZAAR
Harper’s BAZAAR is fashion. We inform and inspire, as we have since 1867. BAZAAR is a visual muse and an unrivaled source of ownable style— turning the unexpected into the wildly coveted. America’s first fashion magazine is available in 43 countries around the world. Harper’s BAZAAR is published by Hearst Magazines, a unit of Hearst Corporation (www.hearst.com), one of the nation’s largest diversified communications companies. With its acquisition of Lagardère SCA’s 100 titles in 14 countries outside of France, Hearst Magazines now publishes more than 300 editions around the world, including 20 U.S. titles. Hearst Magazines the largest publisher of monthly magazines in the U.S. (ABC 2011) and reaches 87 million adults (Spring 2011 MRI). Follow Harper’s BAZAAR on Twitter at @harpersbazaarus.

About MADE at Milk Studios
MADE was born from a successful collaboration that started in 2009. Now in its eighth season, MADE continues to showcase outstanding design talent and harness the energy of the global creative communities. The impressive list of events includes over 50 fashion shows and presentations, events, concerts, plus an unrivaled online presence at milkmade.com. MADE is a year-round, dynamic platform which connects emerging talent in fashion, music, art and pop-culture with visionary brand partners. MADE’s vibrant atmosphere encourages creativity, fosters growth and challenges conversation. MADE innovators are a powerful voice in the international creative community and leaders in their respective industries.

About Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is the premier fashion event in North America and at the forefront of fashion events globally. Each September and February, industry experts make their way to Lincoln Center to see what’s in store for the following fashion season. Home to leading designers who travel from across the world to show their collections alongside the most important American designers working in the industry, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week hosts over 100,000 journalists, photographers, VIPs and fashion insiders in four runway venues; the Theatre, Stage, Studio and Box, offering designers an optimal space to debut their latest collections.

SOURCE American Express