In Detail:
Day 1: Monday, May 11
Arrival–Tour members arrange their own transportation to New York City, and make their way to the Hilton Garden Inn New York, Times Square South. We’ll welcome you with a reception at Āne Bar & Restaurant. Get to know your fellow participants and your hosts, or reconnect with folks from past tours.
Day 2: Tuesday, May 12
Start the day with an exclusive tour and workshop at M & S Schmalberg Flowers, where you’ll discover the secrets of four generations of custom flower makers. After a group lunch at Mr. Broadway, one of New York’s famous delis, we’ll take a guided walking tour of the Garment District, led by Mike Kaback, a garment-trade veteran. In the evening, we’ll pay a visit to Kenneth D. King in his studio, where he’ll treat us to a trunk show and share a look at the marvelous wardrobes he created for his two Doll Couture books. You’ll have the evening on your own to seek out your favorite cuisine and/or make theater plans.
Day 3: Wednesday, May 13
We’ll travel to the Lower East Side for a shopping spree at one of New York’s top fabric destinations, Mendel Goldberg Fabrics. Threads Contributing Editor Susan Khalje will accompany us, lending her experience to selecting the perfect textiles for your next sewing project(s). We’ll have lunch together at the historic Fraunces Tavern, the nexus of patriot activity during the American Revolution. While we’re downtown, we’ll take the opportunity to snoop shop at Printemps, where current and vintage luxury apparel and accessories are displayed in a stunning setting, inspired by the elegance of the original Paris Printemps. We’ll head back to the Garment District to check out fabric, trim, and notions stores; Threads will provide a list of stores to visit. This evening is open for your personal culinary exploration or other activities.
Day 4: Thursday, May 14
We’ve planned a guided tour, Fashion in Art, throughout the Metropolitan Museum’s main collection, and you’ll get to view the Costume Institute’s newest exhibition, Costume Art. After lunch on your own, at the Met or in the neighborhood, the afternoon is free for window shopping on Madison Ave.; a stop at the Frick Collection to see Gainsborough: The Fashion of Portraiture; or a subway ride back to the Garment District to continue your fabric shopping. This evening, we’ll dine together at Victor’s Cafe, one of New York’s most beloved Cuban restaurants.
Day 5: Friday, May 15
On our final day together, we’ll visit Watson Ellis, a custom tailoring business founded by McCall’s pattern designer Melissa Watson. The studio’s lead designer and fit expert, Katherine Roulston, will help us understand what it takes to craft beautiful bespoke suits for any body type. We’ll keep the afternoon open for browsing at the Fashion Institute of Technology's bookstore for fashion design textbooks and/or at Kinokuniya for inspiring global fashion publications. You can also make your last forays to textile and trim shops. Our farewell dinner will be at Arno Ristorante, for a family-style Italian meal.
Day 6: Saturday, May 16
Bid farewell to Manhattan, or stay on for further New York adventures.
Secure your spot today. Places are limited.
Plan to leave room in your luggage to bring back textile and design souvenirs. We look forward to hosting you on this adventure.
