I’m not sure how many people have gravitated here to read my blog on a regular basis, or just for the fashion week posts (please leave a comment so I know someone is out there!).
For those who have come for Fashion Week news and views, I apologize. This is my third season at fashion week, but only my second with press credentials. Last season I did my best to attend as many shows as I could. I did get some invitations, but most didn’t come with seat assignments. If I didn’t have an invitation I waited in line and flashed my press badge. Most of the time, I was given the dreaded “S” for standing room. I spent a lot of time in that line however, networking and trying to find ways to shift my weight so my feet didn’t swell up. I know that the venues are small and the entire world wants to be in one of those tents. Also, I write online, so I’m not confused with a buyer (who really should get a seat) or the Editors from Marie Claire, Vogue, Allure, Elle and so forth for whom seats are always waiting. I dislike the fact that celebs get seats (front row, no less) and that some brought small children who also got front row seats. Yes, it did bother me that a toddler gets to see the shows better than I do. I tried not to be a diva because I didn’t “rate” a seat however. I met lots of great people waiting in the standing room lines, most of them professionals, like me.
This year, I just didn’t push for either invitations or seats. I simply assumed I’d go, flash my press badge, and wait in the standing room line. I didn’t count on the fact that somehow I’d damage my foot (wearing too-tight shoes at a wedding two weeks prior) and find the standing to be nearly intolerable. I also went out of town for a few days just as Fashion Week began.
My plan was to spend one day on, one day off. I tried. I really did. But my feet didn’t want to cooperate. After the first day of standing (although I did get a seat, here and there) I simply couldn’t put my feet back into my shoes to do it again another day.
I did manage to make it through three days, being selective about the shows I was going to attend (see my earlier posts about Fashion Week). I did see some great shows although I didn’t attend any after-hours parties and few of the largest shows in the schedule (I’m not crazy enough to think I’d get in from standing room only).
I arrived the last day of Fashion Week, however, determined to at least see a couple of shows. The first was Cynthia Rowley. On the standing room line I met a charming man who helped me to pass the time most pleasantly. We’ve been in touch, since. The show was cute — featuring a youth choir singing pop songs, and a lot of gold metallic findings and lots of blue. The clothes were cute, youthful, but sophisticated.
After Cynthia’s show I wandered into the show for Manuel. He makes over-the-top rock-star/country music “costumes” and the show was a glitzy, fun romp full of leather, rhinestones, and showy jackets. I’d wear and and all of them, if I could afford an original. They’re hundreds and perhaps, thousands of dollars (depending upon the piece). Country music stars and rock stars, however, adore him and plenty were there to hoot and cheer.
Finally, I went to Strenesse. I had a seat assignment for this one, but somehow it was lost, so of course, I stood in the back. Since the show didn’t fill however, I did manage to finally get a seat–a fairly good one in the second row. The show was as austere as the Manuel show was wild. The clothes, all in black, tan, beige, grey and just a few hits of color, are sophisticated, expensive looking, and quite appealing. Again, if money were no object…
I wandered around the tent area a few more times, picked up a small bag of candy (ah, sugar…just what I needed) from the Women’s Entertainment Network booth, and bid a farewell to Fall Fashion Week. I wish I had been able to attend more events to report them to you. I wish my feet didn’t hurt. I wish, I wish, I wish….
But I was there. I was part of it. I feel honored. I hope I’ll be there in a few months when Spring Fashion Week begins!
stay tuned.