“The one thing I want people to do when they see this collection is smile—that’s bizarre coming from someone who allegedly never does.”
I always enjoy watching a good journey - a farm girl gets her big break, an underdog dances or sings her way to victory. I found this short film, although way beyond most people’s travel budget, a lovely journey through different climates, hotels and fabulously chic outfits. If I were a rich girl, I would definitely run around the world like this.
“I think that all creative people are a little bit nuts.”
Anyone Can Go To Fashion Week: Here’s How
Needed a longer break after my NYFW adventures but am back online to give you a few tips on how to get a piece of Fashion Week without an invite. Here’s the scoop:
1. Check out the public venues around Lincoln Center. Head to the Starbucks across from Lincoln Center to see a mix of models, designers, media and insiders throughout the day. There’s also a number of restaurants in the same area that are great for people watching - you never know who you will run into.
2. You can get into Lincoln Center without a ticket. Whether you want into the main tents or other areas such as the David Rubenstein Atrium where you could have checked out the fun at Barbie’s Dream Closet there is a way to get in. Dress chic (don’t go overboard - insiders are surprisingly minimalist), memorize the show schedule and head to the main entrance with confidence. If anyone asks what show you there to see, pick one next on the schedule and head inside. There is a ton to see in the main lobby, from the main sponsor booths, to the parade of show attendees to an absolute mess of bloggers and media all looking for photos.
3. Tickets to shows do appear. I’ve seen two scenarios. If they show isn’t full, the organizers will come out and give tickets to waiting fans and fill up the seats. I also know there is an opportunity to wait in a queue just outside the entrance to each show and get a chance to have a standing spot to watch the show - you will have to ask the information desk on how this works.
4. Volunteer. If you can organize early enough - you can apply to volunteer on the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week site. Applications are currently closed but should open up in June/July 2012.
Stay tuned for some Fashion Week highlights and hope to see you in September!
Irony: Food at Fashion Week
The above is a picture of food served at the @rzrachelzoe show. Notice the almost untouched appearance as well as the bacon in the sandwiches.
One of the great ironies of Fashion Week is the amount and caloric value of the food you see backstage, at parties and around the venues. Starbucks Frappucinos abound as well as food trucks, fried potatoes and other high carb delights. The best part about it is the way food is treated by attendees and participants. Let me tell a little story to illustrate.
I was in the AMEX lounge in Lincoln Center a few years ago and amongst being delighted by the glass windows to both main runways turning clear once the shows started, was impressed by the cornucopia of food and drinks around the center bar. I made my move to take a look and felt a number of sideways glances bore into me. Taking a moment of pause to look around, I realized that NO ONE had food and furthermore, the cornucopia lay untouched. I continued on past the food, pretending that it had just caught my eye because of the bright colors in the BLT sandwiches and grabbed a more acceptable bottle of water to sip.
I realized then that the way people were looking at me that morning as I ate a bagel in the Starbucks across the street was not because they thought I was awesome or famous. Now, I always “pre-eat” before heading to any fashion event. It’s like the dirty secret of Fashion Week…one of them at least.
#lessonlearned
An interesting challenge as one of the privileged few to sit in an audience at a live fashion show at New York Fashion Week is taking photos. You have a viewpoint to record an amazing and beautiful event, with music pumping and the latest trends being set as you watch.
You want to record + post things as quickly as possible and reach for your phone to snap away. But as we see in the examples above of the @rag_bone show, mobile phones and runway lighting don’t get along. However, using a traditional camera, as most of the fashion media publications do, means there is a hour or more delay to get photos online.
What to do?
I am about to record a few shows and exhibitions during next week’s schedule to Tweet out from @nyfw and post to this page. This year, I rely on my trusty phone camera and will be using the hold, focus and pray method as well as my flip camera for video. Next time around, I think I may get a proper camera and a tablet computer to post. Cracking the code of live runway photos is still an elusive prize for me and I plan to try a little bit of everything until I figure it out.
#wishmeluck
Happy New York Fashion Week!
To kick things off, The Impact: 50 years of the Council of Fashion Designers of America exhibit opened yesterday at the Fashion Institute of Technology Museum in New York with a fashion star studded gala to kick off Fashion Week. Lots of glamorous photos were taken such as the shots about of @toryburch @narcisostudio (Narciso Rodriguez) and @nicolemillernyc.
However, why I love this exhibition is: From today through April 20th ANYONE can head to the museum and check out the 100 garments and over 600 images of the most influential fashion designers from the last 50 years.
Head to the The Museum at FIT site to check out a few of the key pieces and get the full detail.
Amongst the millions who can’t make it to New York before April 20th? You can also get an absolutely gorgeous CFDA Impact book for your gilded coffee table at home. Find it HERE on Amazon
Sidewalk = Catwalk
This photo courtesy of @bendelgirls reminds me of my favorite way to get inspiration for new outfits as well as what I plan to do during New York Fashion Week. I love watching people - REAL people that take a few minutes to decide what to wear each morning, walk it all down the street and do it in a way that makes me take notice. I’m not talking about those crazy girls that end up in the @glamourmag “don’t” section showing too much skin or dressing in a catsuit. I am also not talking about a lot of the girls who end up in the “street style” sections who are also usually over the top.
The people that make me take notice are the gals that can take a simple pair of jeans or a skirt and add a cool new element to make it unique - a scarf, a pair of wearable boots, a necklace or a unique jacket. They use color, they use texture, they use embellishment and they still look tastefully put together. While in NYC, I typically spend quite a lot of time keeping an eye out on the sidewalk and watching from a coffee shop window. I am going to try and catch a few REAL guys and gals to share with you all.
Get ready for my interpretation of the #sidewalkcatwalk…..
If you have a photo to share of an inspirational look you found on the street - Tweet to me (@nyfw) with #sidewalkcatwalk
Lifesaver of the week: Cough and Cold Edition
I have been ruthlessly ill for the last 6 days and not exactly feeling fashionista.
However, it did make me use two of my favorite “I’m sick but still pretty” products that kept me going through days of coughing and sniffles. On the left is Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm my minty combatant for dehydrated and cracked lips that you can find at almost any drugstore or grocery. On the right is my secret weapon: Aveda Blue Oil. It’s marketed as a “balancing oil” but it’s really a tingly, non-shiny way of moisturizing your raw, dry nose after too many tissues.
When I think of Oscar de la Renta I conjure up visions of beauty, elegance and luxury. When I think about the team behind the Oscar brand I assume they live lives so extraordinary that I cannot even begin to understand the level of their fabulousness and the complete opulence of their experiences.
That is why I completely respect and appreciate the lovely @OscarPRGirl who can make a little fun of herself for the sake of ultimately entertaining us all. I only dream of sitting on the floor, completely frozen by the decision of which gorgeous pair of shoes to wear each day.
