How it Began

Backstage at Rachel Comey

This past fashion week, I played many roles: I was a freelance writer for fashionotes, a street style photographer for socialbliss, a backstage dresser, kind of a gatecrasher (not to proud of this one), a style blogger, a New Yorker, a fashion design student, and, inevitably, a little out of place.

oh, look at me getting my hair done...pic from the Glam gals!

I think the first few days of fashion week are always the most spirited. February 6th, the day before Mercedes Benz Fashion Week officially started, was absolutely crazy. I was invited to a Glam event to represent Fashionotes. The DAY OF GLAM was AWESOME but at the same time exhausting. I think I am quite possibly the worst social networker in the world. The other attendees were some of the most popular chicks in the blogosphere today so it was insanely intimidating to me; I mean, I'm too young to buy a drink while some of these girls sit front row at fashion week...insane! But I did get a free blowout (which was a first for me) from the dry bar and manicure at 10 over 10 nails and a giftbag full of goodies that have made it into my daily routine...oh, and a practically private Zulu class. AMAZING. Not to mention the gals from Glam are the sweetest, prettiest, most well dressed gals I probably had the pleasure of meeting all week. I felt like I was sneaking into an event, it was just so amazing.

Some of my favorite looks, images from style.com

That same day I switched from that relaxing experience to dressing the models at Rachel Comey. I had to duck out of the Glam event a bit early in order to run to Peir 59 on the west side to snack on catering and wait for my services to be needed. I snuck around and took some photos with my Canon (first time using it in real life...EEEE!!) The model I was dressing was from Seattle (originally Ukraine) and it was her first time at NYFW so I had a pretty alright experience-my model last year had a language barrier. I even made friends with a few Rhode Island School of Design students. I felt so much more in control than I did last season--Rachel was the first show I ever dressed!--so I was much more comfortable waiting around and observing everybody. And I definitely loved the clothing of this show much more than I did last season. It was so badass. The set was badass. The wigs were badass. The exploding flowers print was badass. Rachel Comey was badass. BADASS.

By the time I left the Pier, it was dark out and I was ready to go home. Between the jetlag I was facing from redeye-ing it the night before and the extreme social anxiety I overcame throughout the day, I felt exhaused but at the same time insanely delighted. If every day of fashion week was going to be this involved, I would have the perfect week...and honestly, I would not have wanted to start the week off on any other foot. (though, shoe on the other hand, maybe...my Doc Martins were no match for the towering heels of the bloggers I was surrounded by)

New York Fashion Week...

I kinda met Cara Delevingne....AHHHH (I wasn't creepy enough to ask for a pic, though)

....was crazy

at the Betsey show, internally freaking out

In all, I went to 10 shows and 2 presentations (and somehow ended up backstage at Anna Sui), which is pretty awesome considering that I wasn't really expecting any of this. I am only a student, after all, and this is the second fashion week I've really attempted to get involved in. Anyway, I'm hoping to make posts detailing my favorite parts of fashion week, but so far I'm just trying to recover.

Betsey Johnson!!

I can't believe the week is over but I'm very happy it is because now I can really relax before I jet to Milan in 15 days! (I feel so pretentious...I need school to start) Oh! AND this week, while I was not kissing my own ass and oogling beautiful clothes, I also applied for and received my Italian visa! I am SO prepared for this!