Even celebrities had a tough time skirting the mob at an early-bird offering of hot French designer Isabel Marant’s collection for H&M at its Fifth Avenue flagship store.
“I was doing an interview . . . when they opened the doors, and I literally survived a wave of people that reminded me of my ‘Resident Evil’ film,’’ said actress-model Milla Jovovich, as her assistant clutched two shopping bags stuffed with goodies.
“All of these women grasping for jackets the way [‘Resident Evil’] zombies grasp for brains and flesh. They don’t care. They just want it.
“It’s going to be like a women’s football game’’ Thursday morning, when the doors open at 8 a.m. offering Marant’s H&M designs to the public for the first time, she said.
Joining the actress at the store for the preview event were other celebrities, such as Molly Sims of TV’s “Las Vegas.’’
Also on hand were “Real Housewives of New York City’’ star Kelly Bensimon, socialite Nicky Hilton and designer Rebecca Minkoff.
Bensimon bought a Marant Navajo belt, two T-shirts, leather pants and a metallic bomber jacket.
She lamented that she missed out on a tuxedo jacket after another specially invited shopper snapped it up.
Also at the event were hordes of fashion editors and writers, who stood in a line that snaked down the block and around the corner at West 51st Street.
Security services that were hired for the event struggled to keep them orderly.
“I’ve been to over 100 sample sales, and I’ve never seen anything like this,’’ said city stylist Mindi Smith, guarding a pile of clothes as a friend disappeared to grab more for them to sort through.
The clothes were flying off the shelves so fast that within an hour and a half of the doors opening at 7 p.m. Tuesday, many sizes were already gone.
“We stood on line, and then we divided and grabbed whatever we could, and now we’re coming here to consolid
ate and figure out what we actually want,’’ said jewelry-company sales director Renata Marcus, who was with her friend Renee Luboz and their teenage daughters.
The group had five pairs of red leather pants in their pile.
Marant’s designs are considered boho casual. Her more reasonable H&M offerings include a $60 black and white textured sweater. Among the priciest items is a $400 beaded jacket.