Blogging during fashion week is always ultra-tricky…there’s the running from show-to-show, party-to-party, and press “retreat” to press retreat. It all sounds very glamorous, and believe me, some of it is, but it’s mostly exhausting, especially if like me, you’re trying to balance a full-time college schedule and a part-time job. I did significantly less fashion show attending (5 shows? ha.) and (OMG!) no backstages this season, but instead hit more of the media-geared events to learn about the things I can actually share with you now–instead of 6 months before their affordable knockoffs hit a store rack near you. Despite my significant decrease in fashion week activities, I still managed to catch the cold we bloggers have named the “Fashion Week Flu”, (I’ve blogged about it before) which I’ve been battling since Tuesday or Wednesday and can’t seem to shake. It’s tough being sick near the end of fashion week, especially because there are usually a million things to do the weekend following (and of course, there are) and I’m stuck trying to catch up on sleep.
My message on the Rue La La/It Gets Better Lounge board
My fun (until I got sick) week kicked off with the Nicole Miller runway show. Saturday afternoon, I hung out at the It Gets Better lounge and retreat where I chatted up new friends from OSoChic and Lacee Swan, caught up with old ones like Pretty Connected (one of the hosts), Orange Juice and Biscuits, and Tineey; got pampered with an eyebrow cleanup from Lilibeth Beautiful Brows (and can honestly say I’ll never wax my eyebrows again), got a makeup touch-up from the always wonderful Kevin James Bennett, met the ladies of Rue La La, hung at Mario Badescu, got my hair did at the Barrett Braid Bar, and most importantly, filmed a PSA for It Gets Better, courtesy of the Sundance Channel–which I will post as soon as it’s available.
The gorgeous final look at Blanc de Chine s/s 2012
After that world-wind pampering session, I headed over to the Blanc de Chine S/S 2012 show in their 5th Avenue store and had a front row seat for some of my favorite (and especially refined) spring fashion! While I was there, the fabulous team at Kmart Concierge delivered a fabulous fashion week survival kit and Dr. Scholl’s Fast Flats for my tired feet (believe me, I needed them!). After the show was over, I watched the 9/11 parade come down 5th ave, which you can read about here. Later that night, I attended Cocktails and Couture, hosted by my blog-mama Lianne Farbes! I caught up with tons of friends behind some of my favorite brands and blogs and met some new ones including The Curvy Fashionista, Miss Merli, The Gorgeous Ingredient, The Runway Times, and The Style and Beauty Doctor! After that crazy day, I was too tired to hit anymore parties.
Jim O'Connell, Yours Truly, Kevin James Bennett (who did my makeup!), SanTara Cassamajor (The Gorgeous Ingredient) at Cocktails & Couture (photo by Sherry Blossom)
A sampling of plates at the Goodness Pop-up
Sunday I met with Elettra Weidemann to chat about her new pop-up restaurant “Goodness” which called Ed’s Chowder House home from Sunday-Wednesday, just across from the Lincoln Center. Elettra, who has some crazy advanced college degrees (most models don’t even finish high school, so I was super impressed by her), came up with the concept to have a spot to get healthy, delicious, and nutritious food during Fashion Week, after experiencing the crap she usually was subjected to eat, and seeing how awful it made her body feel during one of the most important weeks of her life. The lounge is also media friendly, offering free wi-fi via Orange Hat Group. While I didn’t get to sample anything at Goodness (well, besides mimosas), it’s going to become a regular pop-up during fashion week and hopefully I can get the info out sooner next season so we can all experience it!
Products from Travertine Spa!
After the Goodness press review, I hit The Luxor Media Lounge Media Retreat co-hosted by Travertine Spa, coordinated with L’elite Magazine, with Christine, where Alex from The Real Housewives of New York was hanging out. I got a lovely hand massage and learned about Travertine’s product line, sampled the latest collection of dresses from one of my favorite brands, Taylor Dress, and sampled multiple mini-cupcakes from the fabulous cupcake catering company JJ’s Rockin Cupcakes! (I had the French Toast, Red Velvet and Chocolate Peanut Butter..nomnomnom!) I cut my Sunday short and decided to head home post-retreat to relax.
One of my favorite pieces from the latest Taylor Dress collection!
The setup from JJ's Rockin Cupcakes! So much to choose from!
Monday called for work, work and more work, but I luckily made it in time to catch Avril Lavigne’s latest Abbey Dawn collection (for Kohl’s) where multiple Kardashians, Kris Humphries and Brody Jenner were present to catch Kylie Jenner walk the runway. While Avril’s collection isn’t really my taste, it’s definitely geared toward the angsty teens of today, and is sure to sell. I caught up with new friends from Sennheiser Sound, BeautiControl, and Monster. I decided to stick around for Samantha Black’s collection which attracted a bunch of celebrities I didn’t know, (with the exceptions of Solange Knowles, Omarion and Teresa from The Real Housewives of NJ), but was not assigned a seat. I was forced to fight with the other 900 people invited in standing room (way too many people were invited), and the collection was such a load of crap (sorry, I had to–I winced at 90% of what I saw come down the runway) I decided to leave before look 20 even hit the runway. Lucky for me, Tiffany was waiting outside to whisk me away to the uber-fabulous Rebecca Minkoff after-party, where Nicki Hilton followed her to, Matt Settle from Gossip Girl stared us down, and a bunch of other really fabu people were hanging out. We had the opportunity to congratulate the wicked-preggo Rebecca and spot my favoritest PR person ever, the one and only–Kelly Cutrone. I also passed my new crush (who I’d discover the next day) Matt Nordgren.
Kylie Jenner celebrates look 40 from the Abbey Dawn by Avril Lavigne S/S 2012 show
The next day (Tuesday, if you’re counting) would be my last day of NYFW this season. I skipped the shows to hit the Lia Sophia Social Suite and check out their new, fun and fabulous collection (which I wanted all of). I’ll recap in another post (this is long enough, right?). After that I hit the GBK Lounge where I met so many people, my head spins just thinking about it. My highlights included Bellezza, Croton Watches, Saachi and In-Things (who you may remember), Revitalash, and Melanie Harris; I had another really delicious cupcake there too, by Stuffed Cupcakes, and how could I forget–a staring contest with my newest crush, Matt Nordgren, who asked one of the girls at the Hard Candy display where she was from after she tried to reach a product on a high shelf and he tried to help her. When she replied, “New York,” he said, “no wonder–you New Yorkers have no idea what a gentleman is!” Swoon. (Speaking of Hard Candy, did you know they retail at Walmart and their whole collection is under $10 now? I had no idea! Amazing.)
So that is my lamest fashion week recap to date. I promise spring (F/W 2012) will be way better and I will recap beauty and fashion trends soon!
J.F. Lazartigue creator of Les Soins d’Exception “Haute Couture” for the hair honors Broadway’s musical HIT “Sister Act” in Beauty Meets Broadway. Cast Members will meet & greet lazartigue customers. Portions of the evenings proceeds of products sold will benefit Impact Broadway.
Erika is a 20-something fashion, beauty and food-obsessed college student pursuing her Broadway aspirations in NYC.
