Best Week Ever (Thus Far at Least)

I always try to set high goals for myself. Last season, during Fall Fashion Week, I attended only one show -- Baby Phat. And while it was fun and exciting, (considering it was my first "real" fashion show), I desperately wanted to attend a show in the Bryant Park tents. To me, the tents at Bryant Park signaled the "official" Fashion week: invitation only entrance, a sneak peak at celebs and models, heaps of swag filled gift bags, and the chance to see my favorite designers at work. So I made a decision during that Baby Phat show that I not only would be attending Fashion Week in the tents, but I would go to more than one show.

Getting past the Tent entrance may not seem like a lofty goal to those with a lot of fashion experience, but to me, it felt like I was reaching for the stars. So after emailing over two hundred external and internal PR people, I could barely contain my glee when I received my first physical invitation, and since I was alone at the time (besides my dog Flynn), I danced around my apartment like the true fashion dork that I am.

The invites continued to pour in until I reached a grand total of nine shows over the course of seven days. While I wished at the time that I had received more invitations, I felt that I shouldn't be greedy and that nine is a good number to start with. After all, I had achieved my goal -- I was attending fashion week in the actual tents!

Besides the nine shows I was scheduled to see, I snuck into several more -- and don't even ask how, because I won't divulge that secret. I interviewed designers, hair stylists and make-up people, and celebrities and models alike, all while keeping my composure and leaving others to believe that I was absolutely supposed to be there. On the outside I appeared to be an absolute professional, but inside I was screaming like a little kid on Christmas who had just received the newest "it" toy.

From Friday to Friday, I ran non-stop from one show to another, with a few after-parties to cap off my night. My arms developed temporary creases from swag bag handles, and I think I may have permanently damaged my left shoulder from the weight of my over-loaded Marc Jacobs purse. Crawling in at three am, I barely managed four hours of sleep a night and paid the price with heavy-lidded eyes at my day job. When I did find time to eat, it was typically whatever kitschy hors d'oeuvre that was offered at whichever party I was attending. Normally I am an extremely healthy eater; I consume fresh veggies and lean protein with almost no excess carbs, sugars or fats added. But when I ate during fashion week I allowed myself to eat cookies, tiny mac and cheese cubes, and bits of bacon artfully skewered into itsy bitsy BLTs. And I washed it all down with champagne and cucumber martinis and mini bottles of Evian. And I lost five pounds.

In the end, I attended a total of fifteen shows and countless after-parties, met almost every contestant from Project Runway as well as two America's Next Top Model winners, not to mention the myriad of amazingly friendly and fabulous fashion insiders who were more than eager to befriend me and chat, AND on top of all that I lost five pounds!

I hope that I have numerous fashion weeks ahead of me, but I do think that you always remember your first time and hold it dear to your heart. This entire experience has shown me that I am on the right path -- that fashion is where I will be happiest. My lofty goal for next season: a front row seat.

Comments

[smontclaire]

i'm not sure what i'm more jealous of...the fact that you were in the tents, met a bunch of famous people, or lost 5lbs.

great article...excited to hear about february's fashion week!

[sujo]

Fantastic article, hope to see more of this fashion savy lady's work.. i can only imagine how great the week of parties was..i love the new line of Jumpsuits...keep the articles comming...

[ValleyAlly]

so jealous of your fashion week experiences! that's so awesome you got into 9 shows...hopefully you'll get a front row seat for fall fashion week! :)

[LumberJohn]

Really awesome experience! I only wish that all weeks could be as fun and exciting. Those itsy bitsy BLTs sound very good. At the rate you are going you will have multiple front row seats in February!

[Rodzilla]

The writer Liz Black fashions her words such that her excitement jumps off the page. Good job Liz!