MQ Vienna Fashion Week opening night event & my stay in Margareten. Photos & text by Glenn Belverio

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Dear Shaded Viewers,

I’m here again in one of my favorite European cities, Vienna, for the 4th edition of the yearly MQ Vienna Fashion Week. (Because I covered NYFW back in the exciting pre-internet days of the early and mid-’90s, I find it too corporate and unglamorous now. I always flee to Europe in September.) Last night’s opening catwalk and champagne-soaked soiree (Brut Rose by Markus Altenburger) was jampacked with everyone who’s anyone in the Austrian capital, from all the designers to the hottest hoteliers to the creme de la creme of Austrian aristocracy. The show was a teaser for the week, with a little bit of (almost) everything that will land on the runway over the next few days.

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The must-have accessory for Spring 2013: A Who’s Afraid of Virgina Woolf?-esque gun-umbrella. They’re a hoot at parties!

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Continuing the Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf theme, it looks like a Martha-inspired wig ended up on the shoulder of the MC’s blouse. Haute!

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They love the Gaga aesthetic in Vienna–in fact, they do it better than she does!

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Better than Gaga, this headress reminded me of a look from Fellini’s ROMA Ecclesiastical fashion show.

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My room at the Pentahotel in Margareten. This hotel gets an A for so many different things: rain shower with slate walls and a view of the city (I’m on the top floor); a vending maching with cheap snacks, Red Bull and beer down the hall in lieu of a a ridiculously over-priced mini bar; sexy male bellhops in black t-shirts sporting Angus Young tattoos; super-fast internet. And yes, of course I have a private terrace.

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The view from my terrace. Such a curious-looking penthouse.

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Lovely late-day light near my hotel.

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When I go back to this store, I’m going to march in, point at this mannequin and demand, “Give me the entire look–and take the tags off, I want to wear it out of the store!”

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More chic latex fashions

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Lately, in my ‘hood of the East Village, I’ve been seeing a lot of elegant 1930s toilets discarded on the street because old tenants are finally moving out and landlords are renovating. Ridiculous that they would throw out such beautiful toilets. This one is rather elegant too, but my bathroom is too small to do it justice.

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A 1920s Socialist Housing Project from the city’s “Red Vienna” period here in Margareten. Stay tuned for my full report on the “Ringstrasse of the Proletariat.”

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Thanks for reading.

Love,

Glenn Belverio

Glenn Belverio

Glenn Belverio is a writer and New Yorker. He has been reporting for ASVOF since 2005 and currently works at The Museum of Modern Art as the Content Manager for MoMA Design Store.