I had credentials for Vera Wang, but when I got there the same small boned, sullen girl who had refused me entry to backstage a few days ago treated me with ill concealed contempt as she couldn’t find my name on the backstage list. I stood helplessly on the side while dozens and dozens of photographers and journalists streamed past me into the tent. Finally, a guardian angle form MAC Cosmetics arrived graciously took me backstage, but only to interview the lead MAC Cosmetics makeup artist, Lucia (I had chatted with her at the Bill Blass show) and then to leave. I wasn’t even allowed to view the clothes. The makeup was sort of a matte, western cowgirl (in the outdoors) theme, with very ruddy cheeks, no mascara, nude-ish eyes, and terra cotta lips. Since I didn’t see any of the clothes, I have no idea how this translated to them, but the look was bright and warm. Very pretty! I was feeling pretty glum. My contact hovered close to me, but I was aware that she didn’t want me to wander off and lose myself in the “credentialed” crowd (even though I had correspondence that entitled me to be there). I wasn’t going to argue about it. The dressing area was packed with photographers and other press, and I quickly I asked a model if I could take a photo of her makeup. She posed, and as she did so, someone near the food table knocked into me, pushing me into a woman with a camcorder. She whirled around and hissed “get out of here” you are in my way. Go find a place back there — and she waved her arm towards the port o san.
I stood my ground, but I was shaken by the incredible hostility. I took a great photo of the model, then, shaken by the stress and exhaustion, I simply left the backstage area. For the first time all week, I really felt like a second class citizen and worse, I felt out of place, hot, sticky, and tired. I realized that I just needed to take it all in stride, but I couldn’t. I was tired. My body was achy and my ego, admittedly was bruised. I was even more annoyed that I had let a total stranger get to me, but she did.
I left the tent area to go next door to the Bryant Park Grill for the Dailys “Life is aMix” event to benefit Dress for Success, a wonderful organization that helps women find new hope and new opportunities by providing them with interview suits, and other supports. Six women (none from New York) were competing for a prize by mixing drinks they had made with Dailys mixers. Dailys mixers are made out of fruit and are easy to use and quite tasty. I knew there would be drinks and food, and I thought the event would be interesting, so I went although though I had not planned to stay (it was 3 hours long and I didn’t have the time). Since I wasn’t going to hang out backstage with Vera Wang and models, I had an afternoon off. Although there were frozen margaritas and pina coladas and other things made with Dailys mixers (and I know these are delicious) I opted for champagne, and a few canapes, and I felt better.
The event featured three celebrity judges (although I didn’t know any of them) and Leon Hall of the show, Fashion Emergency as the MC (he was actually quite funny). Each woman was interviewed (one woman’s hobby was “sleeping”) and then they mixed their drinks. While the judges deliberated, tap dancer Savion Glover performed to a solo saxaphone. The winner was a woman from Ohio who made a drink with Dailys Bloody Mary Mix featuring a lemon-spritzed shrimp.
Competition over, we were invited outside again for more drinks and dessert. I stayed only a few minutes. I just wanted to go home. There were black tote bags as give-aways. I picked mine off the table and my arm sunk to the floor! I soon discovered why. Inside was a full blender and a bottle of Dailys mix. This is a great give-away, but I had to lug it home on the subway and it felt like a TON on my arm!
I called a friend who recently moved back to my neighborhood and we attended the opening of a new, pan asian restaurant. I just wasn’t really in a party mood. We had some dinner at the Atlantic Chip Chop I walked home, and pretty much fell into bed, glad the day was really over and wondering how people who “party” every night, do it.
Stay tuned–tomorrow is the last day!