So Long Bryant Park: What I Learned About Fashion Week

Monday, February 22, 2010

“I remember walking into the Tents for the first time, a dreamer and a stranger to this world,” – Kelly Cutrone, People’s Revolution

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. For females, Award Season and Fashion Week are like the Super Bowl for guys. It’s just one of those things you lust to attend in your life. Last week, I somewhat about to fulfill a dream a dream of mine – stepping into the tents at Bryant Park Fashion Week.

Being a fashion-obsessed person who reads way too many blogs and magazines, I somewhat knew what went on a Fashion Week. However, this week, I learned many more secrets that I would love to share with those readers interested!

Disclaimer: I never want to sound like someone I am not. I was in New York for 3 nights – staying at the Bryant Park Hotel across from the tents. On behalf of a client, a colleague and I were meeting with 10 editors from different women’s magazines. A fairy godmother-like editor from O, Oprah Magazine offered us tickets to two shows she was unable to attend. So yes, I made it into the tents because I had an invitation to flash. However, due to timing, I did not actually have the opportunity to sit through the show. These notes are based off of information I learned during my meetings.

· Are You On The List: The people on the invite list for the shows include celebrities, investors, editors, friends of the designer, high-end retailers, students and party crashers. There are a number of random nobodys that have the balls just to make their way into a show. The key to crashing a fashion show is to look like you belong and don’t let anyone doubt that you don’t below.


· Who Are You Wearing: I always thought it was customary that you must wear clothing to a show created by the designer you were about to see. That’s false. Basically only celebrities (who are paid to attend!) and socialites wear the designer.


· Personal Style: An editor I met with said that when you attend the shows, you should really express your personal style – wear what you feel comfortable in. It’s easy to spot someone who is trying to hard. I saw this first hand when a girl wearing a zebra print dress with a black shrug looked more Jersey Shore than NYC Chic inside the tents.

· Sponsor-paloza: The inside of the main tent is a bit like a NASCAR Race. This area is infiltrated with sponsors. Of course there is a Mercedes Benz on each side of the tent (its Mercedes Benz Fashion Week). Additional sponsors included the American Heart Association, Starbucks Frappuccino, QVC (I bought a Haiti shirt from a little girl at this booth) and Maybelline.


· One, Two, Three: The view from my hotel was basically tent city. The “Tents at Bryant Park” are really big, white tents. You need a ticket to enter the main tent (the enterence is shown above). Right when you walk in there is a main holding space that features the sponsors and booths. This is where people check in and wait for the next show. The shows take place in three different tents – the salon, promenade or tent. Each tent is a different size and all designers must pay for their show (many have sponsors). Other areas of tent city include the backstage area for models to get ready and some VIP cocktail areas. I guess if you really think about it, the tents hold some of the most fashionable people on the planet, yet they are un-stylish TENTS!

· Tick Tock: I was baffled to learn that the shows typically only last TEN minutes. Yes TEN. It takes longer to fill the tent with spectators than it does to for the actual show to take place. What’s crazy to think that designers work for months for just ten minutes!

Well there you have it! My brief recap of what it’s like when you make it inside the tents! During the week I had some D-list celebrity spottings – AnnaLynne McCord (who I hit with my purse on accident), Shane Grimes (both from 90210) and Elizabeth Hasselbeck (who looks so so young!).

And just incase you’re wondering, I was wearing a bright blue dress, black tights, a long black coat and black patent pumps ; )
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I Believe the Children Are Our Future…

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

As I sit in a hotel room across from Bryant Park where the 2010 Fall Fashion Shows are taking place, I wanted to introduce you to three tech-savvy teens (or tots) who are looking to take the fashion world by storm.

· Tavi Gevinson, Style Rookie: I’ve been following Tavi for about two years now and I am obsessed with her. This 13-year-old fashion blogger has a style I will probably never understand, but I applaud her confidence and the way she takes fashion risks at her middle school in the suburbs of Chicago. Not only does she keep me in a trance with her fashion-forward posts and designer history, but she has caught the eye of a number of high-powered people in the industry, including Marc Jacobs, Rodarte and Comme des Garcons (just to make a few). Designers are flying her all over the world to preview their designs, but when she returns to real life, she's just your average teen that throwns up in gym class and gets picked on by kids in her grad. You may not fall in love with her at first, but if you read blogs everyday, consider adding Tavi.


· Cecilia Cassini, Fashion Designer: I just learned about Cecila today as I was combing through pictures of today’s shows (just to confirm that I did indeed whack AnnaLynne McCord with my purse in the hotel lobby). Cecilia is TEN YEARS OLD and designs AND SEWS her own clothes. In fact, her first trunk show sold out of all 200 designs available. Cecila is at Fashion Week right now thanks to some producers who are shopping a tv show about this pre-teen around to the networks. I checked out her stuff and it is actually pretty cute (for kids). This girl is one to watch if the industry doesn’t destroy her by 16 (or her parents that most likely wrote the horrible bio on her web site).

· Jane Aldridge, Sea of Shoes: So I don’t know Jane. I’ve never met her. I just read her blog on a daily basis. But there is something about Jane I hate to love. She is a pretty 18-year-old that has an incredibly fashionable mother, whom she’s inherited her clothes and style. Jane’s blog received the attention of Urban Outfitters and the hipster brand asked Jane to design a line of shoes for their stores. She was then featured in a number of magazines, including Vogue, who recommended her for the prestigious Crillion Ball in Paris, where she was dressed by Chanel . As you can see, this girl has an awesome resume at such a young age, however there is one thing I’m not so sure I like about this girl – she dropped out of school after her junior year to be “homeschooled” so that she could work on her blog and eventually enroll in fashion school. While I can’t tell this person I don’t know what to do, I kinda wish Jane would have shown her readers that she can manage school (high school for sake) and a blog at the same time.




(photos from harpers bazzar, atlantis home and cecilia cassini)
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PARTY in the F.E.B.

Monday, February 08, 2010



Seriously. If you don’t find an excuse to celebrate something in the next 8 days, you are really lame.

Okay…I am being dramatic.

It’s really weird. February is the shortest month, but it is also the month with the most unofficial holidays! Here’s 8 things to drink to in the next 8 days.

1. Football: Raise your hurricane in the air for the Black & Gold winning the Super Bowl! I just hope we are all toasting some Iron City’s in 2011!

2. Fat Tuesday: Fat Tuesday is going to be one awesome celebration this year with the Saints Super Bowl win.

3. Carnaval: Brazil’s version of Fat Tuesday, people in Rio. Toast with a Caipirinha!

4. Basketball: WVU vs. Pitt on Saturday night? Sweeeeet Caroooolinnnnee…Bah, Bah, Bah…Eat Shit Pitt!

5. Valentine’s Day: Love it or hate it, Valentine’s Day is on Sunday. Drink wine with your sweetie or drink a bottle by yourself.

6. Chinese New Year: The Year of the Tiger starts on Valentine’s Day? I guess the only tiger I know could use some love this year.

7. Olympics: Remember the Shot of Brandi Beer Olympics? You don’t? Well you can read all about it here

8. President’s Day: Celebrate George & Abe by throwing down some Benjamin’s at the mall!

Bonus Ready to Celebrate? Do a heel click in your Jimmy Choos. Fall 2010 Fashion Week starts. Wanna know a secret? Yours truly will be drooling outside the tents next week as I will be spending three nights across the street at the Bryant Park Hotel. So yes, I’ll be bringing you the news from Bryant Park. Seriously – don’t expect that I’ll see more than white tents!
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Cheer on the Black & Gold in the Super Bowl

Thursday, February 04, 2010

To me and my fellow Steelers faithful, the football season ended a month ago. However, this weekend I’ve decided that I’ll still root for the black and gold of New Orleans. They’ve never one, the city could use some positive news and they would have one good ole ticker tape parade.

If you are hosting a Super Bowl party and are looking for a creative cocktail option, may I suggest a signature cocktail and beer.

The Sazerac is the official drink of Louisiana, the Hurricane is a more iconic drink when one thinks of New Orleans.


For the official Hurricane recipe, I turned to NewOrleans.com.

Traditional Hurricane Recipe:
2 oz light rum
2 oz dark rum
2 oz passion fruit juice
1 oz orange juice
½ oz fresh lime juice
1 Tablespoon simple syrup
1 Tablespoon grenadine
Garnish: orange slice and cherry
Shake all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice and strain into a Hurricane glass filled with ice. Garnish with a cherry and an orange slice.


When think of Indianapolis, no signature drink comes to mind. However, when you say the word “Colt,” all I can come up with is Colt 45. Surprise your Super Bowl guests with some ice cold Colts.

The label of Colt 45 has a fancy kicking horse and horseshoe which, according to Wikipedia, is said to be a reference to its “extra kick” compared to other malt beverages.

Let’s hope that the Colts don’t kick the Saints ass and it’s a good game!
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Woo Woo - Spring is Coming!

Wednesday, February 03, 2010

Regardless of what Phil said yesterday, this week, I saw the first sign of spring in Chicago.


Sixty-nine years young, Ronnie is the pure definition of a “super fan.” Ronnie began following the Cubs in the 1940’s, but it wasn’t until around 1958 or 1959 when he began “whooing” as a way of cheering for the Cubs.


Ronnie’s story is actually very remarkable. He had a trouble childhood, was homeless and didn’t have a stable job for a portion of his life. But working nights as a custodian got Ronnie on the right track. To keep his spirit alive, he attended Cubs games from 1984 to 1990 with donated tickets – whooing fans and wearing a full on Cubs uniform. He has become an unofficial mascot of the team.


Because of his superfan status, Ronnie now brings in an income from paid appearances at parties and has even stared in local commercials. He’s a star to Cubs fans and has even sang “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” during the seventh inning stretch.


So as I was taking the train back from the grocery store on Sunday, Ronnie was riding the elevator directly behind me. He actually stopped to let me go ahead (ladies first). While it was clearly the last day of January, Ronnie was decked out in his Cubs uniform. Alas, spring is on its way in Chicago.

(Source: Wikipedia)
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Home Font

Tuesday, February 02, 2010



I wouldn’t classify myself as a computer geek, but I can navigate my way around the net pretty well. And I can run a blog, right?

One thing that can really jazz up your word documents is a fun font.
There are a number of web sites out there where you can download new fonts for free. Here are some of my favorites:

· 1001 Free Fonts· DaFont
· Simply the Best· Two Peas in a Bucket Scrapbooking Fonts



Once you download the file, unzip it (just right click with your mouse and select “unzip”). Next, go to your “control panel” and open the fonts folder. Finally, drag your freshly unzipped font file into the fonts folder and bam – you have a new font!

If you are having issue with my directions, you can totally google “install a new font” and you’ll find some help!
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