American Express Offers Card Members Fashion Week Perks

American Express is offering platinum and gold card members a bird’s eye view of events during the upcoming Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week next month, along with a chance to gain first-hand insight from top designers.

Platinum and gold cardholders will be able to watch the parade of new fashions on the runways in New York City’s Bryant Park from the vantage point of the newly-designed American Express Skybox. Card members will also be able to meet designers in the Skybox who will share their fashion insights perspectives and help card members make informed shopping decisions. The cost is $150 for one show and $250 for two shows.

Celebrity stylist and fashion expert Kate Nobelius will host in this season’s Skybox event.

This marks the fourth season for the American Express Skybox in Bryant Park since 2007. The popular event draws 1,500 American Express card members throughout the week, according to Jessica Igoe, American Express director of global sponsorship marketing.

“This is an area that we know a lot of our women customers are interested in,” Igoe said. “It’s really about our card members who are passionate about fashion.”

American Express will make a $250,000 donation to the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund (CVFF), a program of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), as part of its ongoing support for fashion designers. The CVFF program helps emerging American design talent find opportunities in the fashion business.

This year, card members can also purchase accessories from established and emerging CFDA members. The meet-and-greet experiences were added last year. “Every year, the experience keeps evolving,” Igoe said.

“By Invitation Only” Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week packages, available exclusively for platinum card members, were offered earlier this month and sold out in one day. These packages provide full-day access to the Skybox on Feb. 14 and 15, meet-and-greets with fashion industry insiders, a behind-the-scenes tour and hair and make-up touch-ups. Those package costs $750.

In a new wrinkle to the overall experience, card members also will have access to reservations at a selection of New York’s top-rated restaurants.

Amex publicizes the Fashion Week options on its Web site, and also transmits information about it to members in its weekly entertainment e-newsletter. Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week runs Feb. 13-20.