Fashion Week in NYC – One Day Down

Fashion week, for me, is a mixture of anticipation and dread. I love the chance to see what’s going to be “out there” before anyone else gets to see it (well, pretty much, anyway).  And I love getting the chance to see old friends and colleagues that I mostly have to connect with on social media during the rest of the year, because they’re not in NYC or they’re not at the same events I’m attending.

In the “good old days” when there were less people clamoring to get into the fashion week tents, I really really enjoyed the honor of being invited backstage to watch the best hair, makeup and nail pros in the world, work on the models. Back then, when I was maybe one of a handful of writers who were covering that backstage, I could stay back there as long as I wished as long as I wasn’t in the way.  (you can still see some of the old backstage beauty and runway show coverage I did on the old Advice Sisters web site or by Googling “advicesisters” and “fashion week” and maybe “backstage”).

I don’t want to knock IMG or the move to Lincoln Center but it’s certainly not better than it used to be. Still, situations change and we all have to adapt to it whether we like it or not. But yesterday at those tents, there was literally no excitement. True, it was just the first day, but where were the crowds waiting to see if a celebrity would come through the front doors?  I didn’t even see one curious tourist milling outside.  I didn’t even see any celebrities inside in the front rows of the shows I attended. In fact, it seemed like despite the fact that so many of my colleagues and I got standing room, or rejections, most of the seats (that are so hard to get) were empty. Literally no one was standing except the backstage teams.  And, other than some people milling around outside the tents dressed outrageously, even the photographers hoping to get street style photos, were bored. Inside the tents, due to what seems to be a lack of sponsors, there was nothing much to do except read The Daily and wait on another endless line to get into another show. It was disappointing.  While I don’t really need another pair of custom designed Havaianas, or tons of candy, or even a glass of warm wine or a yogurt, without vendors or exhibits, the tents inside, were just as dull and unexciting as was the atmosphere, outside.

I just posted my first little report (with my own photos, why use the same ones everyone else has on their sites) on what I saw yesterday. I went to four shows: Kaelen, Tadashi, Richard Chair Love Womens & Mens, and Chadwick Bell. I could have gone to more, but honestly, I was bored, and tired.

The bright spots in the deay (other than meeting some great new editors, and old friends)  might have been the GBK lounge and the Allure lounge, where at least I had a chance to see some unique items from exhibitors I wouldn’t see any other way. And, thanks to GBK and Allure, there was at least “life” at Lincoln Center!

..and let’s not forget Fashions Night Out. I got a fabulous blow-out from Kelly Diana Johnson, a Redken Educator who owns her own salon (Elan) and a makeup store called “Blush” in Seagirt New Jersey.  Kelly, very talented, was also very interesting to chat with.

This, after the pampering I had literally the day before by Redken pros David Stanko and Jenny Balding at the Cutler Salon.  Both David and Jenny are not just pro stylists, they work with celebrities and models all the time.  I feel honored to count them as the top two in my “beauty team.”  How much “great hair” can a girl love? All of it!   

After all the good vibes from the Redken Fashions Night Out event, I didn’t really want to slog through the crowds that were quickly forming for 5th Avenue stores.  You’ve got to keep healthy in NYC and especially during Fashion Week, when you’re running around and on your feet day and night.  So I didn’t stick around for the crowds and craziness although I did stop at the Steve Madden store for a moment on the way to the subway.  I’m not sure how many people walking around trying to see celebrities and get free entertainment really know that the official charity of FNO is the NYC AIDS Fund in the Community Trust. Good cause. The CFDA also supports young designers.  So if you bought (or buy) something like one of the FNO nifty tee shirts or a tote bag, you supported good causes.

Today I’m going to a few things, and I’ll report back. I am not entirely comfortable writing about myself, because advicesisters.net is not a blog (although we do use WordPress) but more, an online publication with seven different columns. If anyone wants to write for one of the columns of advicesisters.net, email me (contact us will get you there).  But this personal blog is something new. I don’t know who is reading it or if it’s worth continuing, but let me know what you think….

 

love, success & happiness

Alison Blackman