NYFW SS18 Recap
I have attended events at several previous fashion weeks since moving to New York City, but I'll let you in a a little secret: I did not directly get invites to most of those events. My first show was Carmen Marc Valvo and my second was a few days later at Pamella Roland, both of which I attended for the Washington Square News as press, both of which required that I crammed my way into the photographer pit. I also worked backstage at a couple shows that year. Since then, the events have been scattered, and I always try to keep an ear out for people with plus ones or invites they either can share or aren't using. Fashion Week is a big game of finesse and strategy. You do not necessarily have to have an invite yourself, you just need to know someone who does and be smart about how you get in the door. Every past event I have ever attended has been in this manner, through connections. This was actually an exciting fashion week because it was the first season that I was personally invited to shows, rather than attending as press or being given other people's invites.
This season, I was not even originally planning to go to many fashion shows or parties. But as the week loomed, one thing led to another, and I found myself entirely swept up in the experience. New York Fashion Week also tends to always fall on the same weekend as my birthday, so it's a nice way to celebrate with all of the most fabulous crowds. And celebrate I did with one of the most memorable weekends of my life...
I kicked off the week last Wednesday first at the Baublebar showroom, then headed to the Pamella Roland show at Chelsea Piers. Right upon walking in, I ran into my friend Allie and we hung out a bit before snagging some seats in the front row. The collection was gorgeous, one of my favorites of the week, with pastel tulle, pink feathers, and stunningly flattering silhouettes. It was one of the first shows I ever attended as press back in the day and it was now the first show I attended with an invite of my own, isn't it great how life comes full circle like that?
Thursday morning I had a photoshoot with the wonderful ladies of Crowns by Christy, then that evening was invited with some friends to an event at the Roxy hotel downtown. We did not get into that event but I ran into a friend in line and soon received an invite from our other friend for the John Varvatos afterparty, which is not necessarily my scene as I'm not edgy at all but wound up being so much fun. We rang in my birthday at the open bar then headed to the Boom Boom room where they gave me cake and more drinks!
Friday, my birthday, was by far the most jam-packed day. The morning began at Grand Central Oyster Bar for the Kate Spade presentation. My friend who we'd met up with the night before mentioned he had a ton of invites he wouldn't be using so he was happy to let me go to them. I was ecstatic and the Kate Spade show, apart from being hectic and lovely, was such an amazing networking experience. I met some of my favorite bloggers and Instagrammers including Blair Eadie, Ana Linares, and Amanda. They were all so incredibly sweet and I had the best time getting to know them. Alicia, who I'd met at the Pamella Roland show, found out it was my birthday and offered to buy me lunch. As I was sitting at lunch and we were engaging in a great conversation, I received a confirmation for the next show at Cushnie et Ochs, where another of my best friends, Gillian, works. I said hi to her and a her coworkers before taking my seat...in the front row! Somehow, of all the luck, I wound up sitting right between Miss J Alexander and Bryanboy, two fashion and social media icons. At one point a photographer even snapped a photo of Miss J and I because we were wearing the same color pink! My friends received a long stream of messages from me as I was freaking out internally...
After the Cushnie show, I headed back home to change for an impromptu birthday dinner with Caity, Kate, and Igee, and we had such a wonderful time eating Italian food and sipping champagne. We tried to get into a couple more fashion week parties unsuccessfully and eventually they all headed home and I made my way to the Boom Boom Room again to end the night.
Saturday during the day was spent mostly in bed after staying out way too late the night before. I finally dragged myself out of the stupor for a rewardStyle rooftop party with Kate, which was so much fun to mingle with some blogger friends and meet some of the girls we work with at the company. Immediately following that I met up with Marko and we headed to Philipp Plein, which was, in so many words, a sh** show. We arrived at 9 like the tickets said and finally made it to the front of the line around 10, eventually making it inside around 10:15. We were separated because he had a different ticket than I did so I pushed my way towards the front and wound up standing right at the stage. The show opened with Dita Von Teese performing an alluring burlesque show. Then Philipp Plein came out, thanked everyone for being there, and the models began to walk as the rapper Future took the stage. The whole ordeal was part fashion show, part concert, and entirely extravagant. Celebrities like Nicki Minaj were in attendance and infamous models like Adriana Lima walked the show. It was such a fun experience and possibly one of the best shows I've seen because of its unconventional nature.
Afterwards, Marko finally made his way to where I was standing, and we had a few drinks before deciding to head to the Alexander Wang afterparty in Brooklyn where several of our friends were already. A 45 minute cab ride later we finally arrived and the next thing I knew, we were in #Wangfest having the time of our lives. We grabbed some drinks just as Ja Rule and Ashanti took the stage and we made our way through the crowd to watch the performance. It was such an incredible night and between the dancing, bounce house, and general debauchery, did not make it home until well past 4am.
Monday I attended the Hakaan Akkaya show and felt fabulous as I was walking down Houston with all of the street style photographers snapping my photo. It was definitely a paparazzi moment to top of the great week. Tuesday evening Gillian organized a wonderful birthday dinner where all of my friends came to celebrate. It honestly makes me so thankful to have so many incredible people in my life. These are the highlights of what was a jam-packed and whirlwind week that I will be recovering from for the next month... Now I'm just looking forward to the next season and more experiences to be had!
