Singer Carnie Wilson Celebrates the Grand Opening of Lane Bryant in NYC

By: Anne M. Raso

Three remarkable parties and one preview stick out in my head from last week, the most highly-publicized and unique one being the grand reopening of the Lane Bryant store on West 34th Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues. Because they had a store on 34th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues for so many years (I went there with my grandmother in the 60s and 70s), I automatically went there instead of the address on the invitation -- OOPS! The store is gigantic and luminaries such as singer/entrepreneur Carnie Wilson and Jay Manuel were on board to greet guests and even suggest some ensembles that would look good on them. Several plus models featured in the Lane Bryant catalog and on store displays were on hand, looking even better than their photographs if that is possible.

Singer Carnie Wilson and Lane Bryant Model

I was lucky enough to get a few minutes with Wilson, who is currently on a lengthy tour with her group Wilson Phillips but also has a successful baking business in LA (she is working on getting a regular and gluten-free mini cheesecake line into Whole Foods at the moment) and is hoping to design a line for Lane Bryant. She was wearing a show stopping black stretch jersey sheath dress with metal stud details from Lane Bryant and told me it was something she also plans to wear as a stage look. The affable and outgoing chanteuse told me how proud she was that LB asked her to be a rep for them, and she was very obviously having a blast. Wilson told me, "I am just floored--I love everything I see just looking around."

They Feed the Models at this Party!

As for Wilson Phillips, she says, "We do about 40 shows a year and have for the past three years. We have nine kids between us so we have to pace ourselves a little bit. We hope to be doing a new album soon." She also hopes to be sporting Lane Bryant fashions on CBS' The Talk in the near future!

Photos: Anne M Raso