New York Fashion Week: A Childhood Dream Is Coming True

It's been over a month since my last post. We've gotten through 2 of 4 major fashion weeks. I'm a little behind. If you follow me on facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, you know I finally got to go to New York and attend shows. I won't offer reviews here, I don't think, there are plenty of those out there. But I will tell the story of my childhood dream come true. Here's the first of a few posts...

It all started with bad pageant wear. There were probably some batons, a bit of off key opera, and maybe a stilted sonata, too. The Miss Virginia pageant was on a local cable channel, and this woman I followed, @jessicaquillin, known only to me as a pair of red soled black shoes in her Twitter profile pic, was snarking it up.

I tuned in, snarked along, and the rest is history.

What the rest was – is – is a shared love of fashion, design, and the well-written word, and then of more “mundane” things like motherhood and reality TV. From the moment we met, we talked about elevating the written word around fashion. There are loads of photos and illustrations in this space, of course, but the writing in the fashion world, well, that needed our help. To realize that goal we needed to attend fashion weeks together. Naturally. We hatched plans. That was 3 years ago.

Fast forward past childbirth, new jobs, new businesses, a few (many) blog posts, many pounds lost, opportunities made and grabbed, and we ended up editor and contributing writer for Glass. Finally, then, this year, after covering New York, London, Milan, and Paris (Jessica in person for some, I remotely, thanks to the rapid posting of sites like Style.com) for Glass, the scheduling gods aligned, and I managed to join Jessica for 2 whole days of New York Fashion Week.

Let’s not be shy about it. As soon as I figured out that it was happening, I was ridiculously excited. Crazy excited. This was a lifelong dream, really. I was one of those (misguided) girls with a smidgen of artistic talent who sketched teal gown after teal gown (it was the 80s, afterall). I dreamed of attending fashion school. Then I wanted to be a marine biologist, a biology teacher, a history teacher, a German teacher, and then ended up in the current day job, nowhere near fashion.

As the email correspondence between my Glass editor (Jessica) and the PR reps hit my inbox, it got more surreal and more real simultaneously. I was to be there for 2 days only, and we wanted to maximize my time there. My schedule developed: confirmed seats for Porsche Design (yes, that Porsche), hoping for a standing spot at DKNY. Rolando Santana put us front and 2nd row, and Tommy Hilfiger confirmed standing at the last minute. Milly confirmed our spots, as did Guilietta New York. Only one of our requests fell through: DKNY just couldn’t make it happen. With the rest of the lineup, though, I was thrilled. It was a lovely mix of established, commercially proven lines, veteran niche designers, and newer lines.

Through all of the preparation, though, I was a mess. I had to ask Jessica about the app used for RSVPs, invite etiquette, and all sorts of other logistics. All while juggling significant day job deadlines, activities for the Beans, and, oh yeah, a few reviews of earlier shows for Glass. On top of that, I was coming off a 21 day food based cleanse, and was worrying about food choices.

A slinky yet-office appropriate DVF number I did not spend my Saks gift certificate on the week before my trip.

The easy face the Giorgio Armani counter at Saks gave me the week before I left. Buy the foundation. It really is that good.

It wasn’t until the night before the trip that I could even think about packing. Unless, of course, you count the morning I spent spending a Saks gift certificate on Helmut Lang pieces that would be absolutely perfect. Or the moment I spotted a pristinely vibrant but neutral vintage Pucci skirt and shirt set on my “dealer’s” facebook page. Also perfect for NYFW. So the night before I crammed on my last DayJob deadline, then made a packing list on my organizer app. But it didn’t list anything more than “Saturday night outfit,” “Sunday outfit,” “Monday outfit,” and “extra outfit.” That meant I forced H and the Beans to endure a quick packing fashion show Saturday morning.

The gloriousness of vintage. Thanks to Malena's, this is now in my closet - and came with me to NYFW.

I debated coats the morning I left. This vintage astrahan, a touch too big, as warm as it is (and with amazing details like a ribbon belt inside and embroidered monogram on the lining), stayed in DC.

How to pack for the most stylish event I’d ever attended? In below freezing temps. I had no idea where to start. What I did know was that I wasn’t in the least bit worried about standing out. I wasn’t vying to be photographed by the tents. I wanted, above all else, to simply look like I was meant to be there, even though I felt like a big ol’ pretender. In a bit of an existential fashion insider crisis, though, I realized on Friday night, as I was debating, of all things, whether or not to bring my blog business cards (I was attending as a fashion writer, see, not as a blogger), that not only do I belong, but I have something to contribute to the fashion conversation. And just as my blog – my writing – is what got me the gig at Glass – my writing is what earned me a spot next to the runways where I can almost literally feel the fashion fly past my face. That realization calmed me, and, maybe tritely, made it easier to pack. I put in four ensembles that make me feel good and strong and powerful, and off we went.

 It's not a party 'til there's a Bean on your shoulders with a glow stick in hand. If only you could see his little (self-selected hipster party outfit).

I said “we.” Did I mention I started my trip with a family night in Philly? We had a friend’s 40th birthday party to attend on Saturday, so we all went north in one vehicle – all five of us (my mother-in-law included). Then I got up at the crack of dawn Sunday morning (after showering, blowdrying my hair, and doing my nails the night before in the darkened hotel room so as not to wake the Beans) and took the train to New York City.

Traveling clothes, pre-dawn, in the Le Meridien Philadelphia bathroom: Hanes sweatshirt, Calvin Klein coated cotton moto pants, Bettye Muller oxfords, LOFT crystal necklace, Target aviators, vintage Hermes Kelly bag

Yes, Mommy, I am carrying a white bag, wearing a white coat, and drinking coffee. All in the name of arriving in style.

When I arrive in NYC, there are those minutes where the train pulls into Penn Station through dark tunnels. I can’t see New York. I don’t know where you are. Out of the platform, then up to the street I come. It’s bright, alive, and the world is zipping around.

So into the tunnel I zoomed, then disembarked. Up the escalator, and…into a cab I went…off to the W New York Downtown. My first shows were hours away. Hours. I could barely contain myself.

Style Dilemma: What to Wear to Meet a Fashion God

I'm going to meet Simon Doonan tomorrow.

Yes, he of the Barney's Windows Fame.

Except that now, he's much more than that. He's Barney's Creative Ambassador.

No, I don't know exactly what that means, but I don't really need to know. He. Is. A. Fashion. God.

Or at least a hero with some superpowers.

Anywho.

What does one wear? I know, I know, I'll get to shake his hand, smile at him, ask him to sign my newly purchased book, and maybe, just maybe, he'll spell my name with one "L." All without - most likely - even looking at me. It's an open-to-the-I-sent-an-RSVP-public book party at the W.

What do I wear? I'm hoping beyond hope that I can catch his well-trained eye and garner a gracious response.

What do I wear? I'm hoping to catch his eye with an accessory, since I'm not really happy with my body, and therefore with what I'm draping around it (as I sit here eating potato chips and french onion dip. next week i start with the healthiness, i swear). I'm also hoping for bonus points with either vintage or local talent, like lillybee or Queen Bee Designs.

What do I wear? The immediate response yesterday when I posed the question to the twitterverse was "color, color, and more color." And then "simple elegance." So do I have something - that fits - that hits both of those?

To figure this all out, The Bean and I hosted a bit of a #fashionshow tonight before she went to bed. hillarygrove, TheMadamEditor, and CarlyJaneZ (with jesserker and stylish_in_dc piping in at the end) cast their votes. The funny thing? Their response was, at first, the exact opposite of The Bean's. Team Orange, as they named themselves, loved my drapey Grecian orange knit - that The Bean immediately panned (she came around in the end). Apparently, she doesn't like dresses with belts, "only fashion dresses." (BTW, this rule apparently only applies to me, as she's constantly adding belts to her party dresses.)

The first look, a classic hi-lo combo of Target dress, belt, and Oscar de la Renta sandals, was the quick front runner.

Next votes went for my mod black, white, and grey 9 West shift, then for my vintage brass and green necklace, dress aside. What didn't garner any response - at all - were my grey bronzed T & cargo skirt ensemble and my beautiful red dress that is, well, let's just say I need to put it on again after I start taking care of myself.

So where will I end up? What do I wear? In the end, votes or no votes, it'll be me and my mirror - and my comfort level with myself tomorrow. But in the meantime, if you'd like to cast your vote, head on over to my facebook page, where I have all of the options posted, and critique away.

Style Dilemma: Bachelorette Cute - But Not "Too"

BabySis called me yesterday evening in a panic. So much so that when I didn't return her call right away, I found out she called Mom. Clearly, she was desperate (we love you Mom, but...).

She's attending a bridal shower and bachelorette party for a good friend (actually, one of the 'Maids from her wedding) this weekend, and needed some help.

First question was what to do about the bachelorette attire. The girls are going in a "uniform," with some of them buying a blinged out pink tank for the heck of it. But BabySis is, well, curvy, and bling on a ribbed tank looks, well, let's just say she's opting for an old skool white tank and either a denim mini or jeans (they're headed out in Annapolis, Maryland). So if she goes with the mini, she wonders, what to do about shoes? What won't look hoochy (in a bad way - because some hooch is good sometimes)?

Second question is what shoes to wear with a navy blousy top and pale silver suit shorts (not metallic). Her instinct was brown pumps, but in that frantic call to mom, mom said "not brown." She was all turned around, color-wise.

So what to do?

Funny, when someone calls with a question about what to wear, I tend to get pictures in my head from what they're describing. And when she told me about her denim mini, I pictured cream colored ankle-tie espadrilles (like the DKNY sandal version, top left). A little beachy, pretty, and girly, all at the same time. Colored ones would work, too. But she doesn't want to spend any money and buy new shoes. "I want to work with what I have," she says.

Then flats. Metallic flats, something like MIA's woven ballet Gabriella (2nd, at left). She has those, I know. But apparently, they're not in such good shape.

Her first thought was black patent pumps. "Nope," I say. "Hoochy. In a bad way." In fact, any pumps with a mini is pushing it - unless you have a big, blousy top - which she doesn't, for this event. So those are out.

"What about wedges?" I ask. Height (as if she needs any - she beats 5'9"), but not hoochy, and the wedge makes for easy walking on the cobblestoned streets of Annapolis. Score. She has those - in fact, the Amanda (Isaac Mizrahi for Target) pair I happened to recommend to BlueSuitGirl for Cairo. That should work. She sent confirmation this morning that she's packed those, along with some fun earrings and necklaces from which to choose on Saturday night. Perfect. I'm always a fan of a simple, neutral outfit with a big splash of color jewelry.

Next, on to the shower. A blousy (banded short sleeves and waist) scoop neck top in navy (H&M*) and pale silver suit shorts. My first response: brown pumps. Might sound a little odd with the silver, but like I've said before, brown can either be treated as a color or as a neutral. In this case, it's a strong neutral. A nude shoe would be to pale, and black too blah. So brown pumps or even pick a color - almost any color, other than gold (and even that could be done, if careful). Yellow, green, or red (classic, but stately), especially. And seeing as the only red shoes she has are her wedding shoes (yeah, BabySis wore red d'orsay pumps under her gown - a brilliant touch, in my book), she's opting for brown. My pick, if she didn't already have some? KORS by Michael Kors - grounding to the blousy top, and flirty enough to not look staid with the suit shorts.

BabySis, if you get a chance, forward a pic or two from the weekend and let us know how the style choices ended up. We'd love to see!

*Dear H&M: Please put pictures of your inventory on your website. I would love to look at the pretty things before I go buy them.

**Thanks to zappos.com for all of the pics! My favorite online shoe site, by far.