My Close Celebrity Encounter with Heidi Klum At New York Fashion Week

Perhaps you don't agree with me, but I am crossing my fingers that you do: there are certain moments that transform you from a consummate professional to a complete groupie.

Welcome to one of mine.

As you already know by now, we are in the midst of New York Fashion Week and so naturally every designer, celebrity and wannabe is in midst of trying to get some press.

Firmly in the top two categories is Heidi Klum, model/mother and host of hit reality show Project Runway. The multi-tasking mogul has now added a new title to her c.v: denim designer. Klum teamed up with Jordache jeans to design a capsule collection of comfy-yet-glam jeans, tops and jackets for this season. To promote the line she held court at Bloomingdale's on New York City's Upper East Side on Tuesday, September 5th.

As I quietly waited my turn behind a gaggle of reporters and fans to interview Klum, I marveled at something I would have never thought to be true: Klum was consistently friendly, warm, and attentive to everyone who walked up to her.

Perhaps, I had confused the icy stares and warnings she doles out to Project Runway contestants on television with the reception she would give in person. But reality could not be further away from reality television. Klum chatted with me longer than her publicist had allowed about everything from my hair cut to her busy schedule to the denim line she's launched.

As Klum tells it, the collection - though stylish - is more about comfort chic than the glitz and glam of fashion week. She set out to design real clothes, for real people with real schedules. After our chat ended, with a sweet smile and a warm handshake no less, I took a stroll through the racks of Heidi Klum for Jordache Clothes. She wasn't kidding. The pieces are simple, fashionable and best of all - affordable. Her denims, cashmere sweaters, luxury knits and rich leather jackets retail for between $140 to $298. The garments I saw were much like the model/mogul/mom who designed them: classic, yet modern; glamorous yet down to earth.

I may have morphed into a fashion groupie, but with good reason. Heidi and her new collection are most definitely "in" in my book.

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