My tale of NOT getting into Fashion Week-NY

Enjoy the tale of my three days of NOT getting into the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.  As a former model, cosmetologist of 15+years, a previous owner of a modeling agency for 5 years, make-up artist and stylist for models/photographers and now new blogger, I have always wanted to go to Fashion week.  I pride myself as being creative, assertive and resourceful. I wanted more than anything to get into at least one of the onsite Fashion events in the new Lincoln center. I can remember wanting to be on the first row, admiring the work put into designs, watching the beautiful models strut and make fashion look fabulous.  I am older and I still want more than anything to see the inside of Fashion week. This season was my first time trying to gain entrance as press. Side note: I did gain access to cover Couture Fashion Week, which is held during the same time frame at the Waldorf Astoria. Excited as I was to cover Couture, I said to myself invite or not, I simply must be at the MBFW…

As a basically unemployed gal who was laid off like half of America- I needed a plan.  First I emailed a friend who found me a place to crash.  Next, to make sure I had some extra money, I cashed in on my Chase rewards, which put an extra $300 in my silver sequence Jimmy Choo sunglass holder by day and purse by night.  Then I Facebooked a friend to borrow a short black sequence dress; which was a hit. I arrived a day early and roomed with the friend of a friend who lived uptown on the Eastside and took a taxi daily.  Did I mention, he lives next door to a place that cuts the heads off of chickens?  Okay back to my story.

I knew to be recognized by fashion you have to look like fashion, so I bought new shoes on a budget for every outfit I wore; Alice and Olivia and Isabel Torres to name a few.  I put on my Mac cosmetics face (who only allow bloggers with extreme Google Analytics to cover their events at NYFW) and went to Lincoln center. With camera in hand, I decided to follow an idea of some of the top bloggers- take pictures of total stranger’s outfits and write about them.  The cool thing is that it’s Fashion week and everyone is there for a photo op and I must say that my outfits did get me a few photo ops of my own.

Having never been a reporter, I looked around a saw that most people with a camera had a pen and pad, so I took one of those out too.  Then the first paparazzi scene took place with me and my new camera and telephoto lens; that I bought especially for Couture Fashion week.  I jumped out there with the rest of the journalists and began snapping away like I had been pounding the streets for years.  Then I waited to see what everyone does after that.  They simply ask, “What are you wearing?” Wow, I thought that seems easy enough.  Except people start rambling off their designer items and I can’t write that fast.  So I jotted the most important items I can remember, dress and shoes.  Suddenly I remember getting an email stating, I should try to register for press access on site.  I walked up to security in front of the Lincoln Center and stated I wanted to register on-site. I was sent to the media trailer where I found out that I needed to bring a company letterhead letter of recognition and media credentials from my blog. These items were in Jersey-still under development. UGH!

I walk out of the trailer sadly without a pass, back towards the Lincoln center- rejected.  I returned back to my role of journalist extraordinaire.  I took more photos of street style and found a great curly head of red hair to shoot on a woman who happens to be handing out the Modelina flyers out front.  She said, ”You’re on your way in to Fashion week?” I said, “No, I don’t have access.”  She said, “You should walk in there like you belong!  You look like you belong.” Don’t make eye contact and walk right in.”  And that is exactly what I did!  I walked straight up the stairs, pretended to be on the phone, made no eye contact and got into the Lincoln center.

It was beautiful inside with walls of black velvet, 2 new Mercedes Benz cars, 52inch plasmas displaying the shows and a Maybelline booth- giving out samples. I got a lipstick on day one and their new stain on day two- yes, I got in on another day as well.  The Maybelline stain works fabulously- add gloss to it and you look like you were born with rouge lips.  Love it!  Starbucks had a booth giving away free bottles of Frappachino and silly bands in the shape of stars, frappachinos and shoes! I took extra for my kids.  Tresseme had a hair booth.  I wanted to go up and get my hair done- but I needed a reservation.  However, I did get a sample of their FreshStart no frizz cream.  Actually, I took like 5 in the 2 days, incase I really liked the product.  So while sitting in one of the cute high winged backed chairs in the MBFW waiting center I read one of the publications they were handing out and I found an ad for InStyle lounge.  It was by invitation only and said send an email.  So I took a shot and then my week transformed from fun to fabulous.

On day two, I could not get passed the security. It may have been because I had my assistant with me and he is a male or because it was the second day of Fashion week and they beefed up their security checks.  After standing outside all day, becoming a fashion journalist/photographer a side door opened and people were coming out.  I turned to my assistant and said, “Let’s go into the open door where everyone is leaving.”  We ended up back stage at the end of the Jill Stewart show.  It was over.  I did get photos of the back stage action though I have no idea of whom I was shooting.  Check them out…

I spent my days in the beautiful lounge where there were 4 MAC computers with huge monitors and a printer, Wi-Fi, couches and conference rooms and a wonderful staff that caters to you.  I was sipping mimosas and eating frittatas each morning.  In the afternoon,  I was sipping champagne and tasting hors d’oeuvres: spicy tuna tartar and shrimp on bamboo and more plus enjoying wonderful mozzarella, tomato and pesto sandwiches. On that Sunday it rained and I scored an InStyle umbrella.  I may not have accessed the fashion events of Calvin Klein, Michael Kors, Christian Siriano, Richie Rich, Nicole Miller, L.A.M.B, Vera Wang, Ralph Lauren and Betsey Johnson and more nor did I get to attend the after parties- but I was treated like a queen in the InStyle lounge.  Thank you InStyle!

Fashion Night out is where all the designers open their stores, showcase their designs and host parties. Some locations like Sax was completely push and shove with people like Jade Jagger signing autographed photos and musicians to the likes of Joss Stone and Mary J. Blige performing.  I was on 5th avenue and once I realized that some locations were by invitation only I wanted to get into those stores.  I thought, I would have access to people I may want to see and photograph for my blog.  My guest and I proceeded to crash each event up and down 5th avenue with a waiting line and a man with a clipboard.  We marched up to the front of each line and gave my name as if I belonged there and we believed I did.  My night was highlighted by my Salvatore Ferragamo experience of photographing and speaking with supermodels: Carol Alt, Alek Wek, Ashley Wick and Carol Winberg.  It was simply a fantastic evening of fun and glamour.

I can’t close before I mention this memory that you all will appreciate.  It is rare that I run into someone with a good heart and does one of those random acts of kindness we hear about.  Although, I myself try to live my life by doing good unto others.  While in the Lincoln center waiting lounge, I met so many interesting people; but one I simply must name is Sara Delaney from London. Her blog is http://notesfromastylist.blogspot.com.  This stylist with the lovely British accent, walked up to me because she heard me mention I had a blog.  We talked and got along so well and then she asked me that embarrassing question, “So what shows have you seen?” “None”, I replied.  Here is the thing- Sharon said to me as several others had, “I have quite a few shows and may not make it to them all, if I have extra tickets, give me your number and I will share them with you.”  Would you guess that a couple days went by and now I was back in Jersey, she texted me and offered me tickets to a couple shows she could not make it to.  Of course, I could not make it either due to my work schedule since I took off the beginning of fashion week. However, that simple act of kindness I will always remember.

All Photos by Me

Fashion week will come again for the next season and though I never saw one designer to blog about during the Spring 2010 Mercedes Benz Fashion Week; my goal is to blog like crazy, hopefully gain more followers and continue to build a page of style and beauty and try again next year.  So please follow me on bloglovin, twitter: @prettytildawn or my Facebook fan page: http://www.facebook.com/prettytildawn and support my goal of gaining access to Fashion Week next year.

Tags: #mbfw, actors, alice & olivia, betsey johnson, calvin klein, christian siriano, couture, fashion night out, instyle lounge, instyle magazine, isablee torres, LAMB, lincoln financial center, MAC, MAC Cosmetics, mercedes benz fashion week, michael kors, models, nicole miller, nyfw, ralph lauren, story, vera wang

This entry was posted on September 18, 2010 at 2:17 pm and is filed under FASHION/FASHION WEEK. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.