Lil’ Kim was fashionably late for this NYFW show, but she wound up stealing the spotlight.
Designer Christian Siriano had a 4:30p.m. arrival time for his fashion week show, but was forced to start without the rapper sitting in the front row after organizers learned she’d be 45 minutes late.
Models hit the runway at 5p.m. and — to Kim’s credit — she managed to show up three minutes earlier than expected. Still, she arrived midway through Siriano’s NYFW showing.
Lil’ Kim and Christian Siriano grinned backstage. Gregory Pace/ShutterstockWe’re told the “Crush on You” rapper couldn’t have been more gracious — and left the fashion crowd in awe.
One person working the bar gasped when she arrived, flanked by bodyguards, as Lady Gaga’s “Judas” played on the speakers.
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Siriano’s longtime flack, Bianca Bianconi, ushered Kim across the runway to her seat, between Cyndi Lauper and Tiffany Haddish. The rep was left blushing when Kim complimented her by quipping, “You are amazing! Don’t let anyone ever tell you differently,” a source told Page Six.
And like that, her tardiness was forgiven.
Lil’ Kim was seated next to Cyndi Lauper at Siriano’s show. Gregory Pace/ShutterstockKim’s model behavior didn’t stop with compliments for the crew, we hear.
She also showed love to one of Siriano’s attendees, Austin-Jade Meynell, 6, who has been attending his shows since she was just an infant!
The daughter of the Mulberry Bar co-owner Phil Meynell (known as Spiky Phil) was doing cartwheels in the lobby after the show, and “Kim walked by and said ‘8 out of 10!'” an eyewitness said.
Kim and Siriano reunited at his afterparty at Hearsay. Getty Images for Christian SirianoThe hip hop icon later showed up to Siriano’s afterparty at Hearsay, arriving at around 11p.m., wearing a “super glam” black ensemble from the designer.
Partygoers and models cleared the way for the star as she made her way to the VIP area with an entourage of “about four to five bodyguards,” a spy told us.
“She was so nice and seemed very happy to support Christian. She was sitting on the banquet, dancing and really having fun. She sipped on her drink very elegantly,” the spy added.
Tiffany Haddish also partied at Hearsay. Getty Images for Christian SirianoKim was seated in the same area as Coco Rocha, Selma Blair, Christina Hendricks and Bijou Phillips.
We’re told she hung out a bit after Siriano’s party ended, and the club opened to the public.
Siriano ended his night partying at the Mulberry. DANIEL RAHALSiriano and Rocha headed downtown for the Mulberry’s late night NYFW party, where they had to party in the dark due to a power outage at the bar.
Guests danced in the dark and belted out songs such as “Believe” by Cher. “It was like the [2013] blackout all over again,” a partygoer told us.
Meghann Fahy, David Rosenthal, Alicia Vikander, Dylan Penn and Ty Hunter were also at the bash.