'Super Bowl Of Style' - New York's Fashion Week Receives A Fan-Friendly Event

* Ford Motor Company's Mercury Brand Gives Consumers Complimentary Hair & Make-Up Consultations on Broadway

* Two 'Indoor/Outdoor' Runway Shows Bring the Catwalk to the Sidewalk

DEARBORN, Mich., Sept. 1 -- The fashion shows in New York kick off a month-long journey around the globe for designers to unveil their much-anticipated Spring 2006 collections. These events have become the "Super Bowl of Style" -- an all out glamfest, with pre-parties, after-parties, spas and swag suites, all made possible by sponsors of everyday products that might not even be wearable, but are certainly elements of one's personal style.

The perks of this elite week in Manhattan, typically reserved for A-listers and "celebutantes," will now go from the catwalk to the sidewalk, thanks to sponsors like the all new 2006 Mercury Milan sedan.

"The Mercury Milan target customer is the 'stylish Jane,' whose interaction with Fashion Week up until now has been confined to reading about the hottest trends on the runway in glossy magazines. We wanted to find a way to extend the fun and excitement of Fashion Week to these style-savvy consumers," said Laura Soave Stoppa, Mercury Milan Marketing Manager.

Beginning Sept. 9, Mercury Milan will give all New Yorkers the chance to look a bit more fashionable with three days of complimentary makeup and hair consultations and touch ups on the sidewalk in front of the StyleLounge. StyleLounge is a one-stop destination for Spring 2006 New York City Fashion Week, centrally located at Times Square Studios, just blocks away from the Bryant Park tents. The StyleLounge offers a turnkey show space for top designers, as well as a press room and after-party events during Fashion Week.

No Reserved Seating Needed for the Hottest Ticket in Town

Runway shows are the hottest ticket in town during Fashion Week, but on Saturday, Sept. 10, Mercury Milan truly is making fashion available to everyone. David Rodriguez and Andrew Harmon will debut their Spring 2006 collections at the first-ever indoor/outdoor runway, extending out onto the sidewalk of 43rd Street and Broadway. The Milan will also play a starring role in each of the designers' all-important runway finales.

"Andrew and I are thrilled about Mercury's plans for our shows at the StyleLounge. While we regularly dress superstars and celebrities, this year we will be able also to present our collections directly to our customers in a dramatic, yet accessible way," said designer David Rodriguez.

As the Mercury brand continues to evolve, it was clear that the Milan was the natural fit for Fashion Week. The car's design team gave it a sophisticated color palette (tinted neutrals, rich blacks, muted grays and deep blues) and a two-toned leather interior with contrast stitching inspired by the construction of upscale handbags, shoes and leather goods sourced from around the world.

Mercury's hallmarks of upscale, quality materials and an attention to detail provide a dramatic departure from the many "plain vanilla" mid-size sedans on the market today. The Milan's exterior features Mercury's signature cues -- the dramatic waterfall grille, clean lines, distinct rear treatments and satin aluminum finishes. The Mercury Milan brings a fresh flair to the interior design of mid-size cars by carrying the exterior's modernity and clean surfaces through to the cabin.

About Mercury

Mercury is a brand of the Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., which manufactures and distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With more than 328,000 employees worldwide, the company's automotive brands include Aston Martin, Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercury and Volvo. Its automotive- related services include Ford Credit, Quality Care and Hertz. Ford Motor Company celebrated its 100th anniversary on June 16, 2003.

About StyleLounge

StyleLounge -- www.styleloungenyc.com, a one-stop destination for Spring 2006 New York City Fashion Week, will be centrally located at Times Square Studios this season, just blocks away from the fashion week tents. This season, the StyleLounge offerings to the Fashion elite will include live runway broadcasts on the Times Square Reuters(R) Media Board to the tens of thousands of Times Square pedestrians. Developed by LIVEstyle Entertainment, a leading marketing and event production company.

Go to http://media.ford.com/ for news releases and high-resolution photographs.