My Style: NYFW Flashback

Aaah the memories. Fashion Week has once again decended on New York, but this time I'm not there. I keep seeing all the photos and updates from the runway, and it makes me sad. Why am I not there too?! But when I see other style mavens all bundled up that's when I'm glad that I passed on this trip. How can you be cute in the cold? I digress. For this edition of My Style, I dug up on an oldie-but-goodie from my past days at Lincoln Center.

This look was something that I threw together at the last minute. You know when you went out partying the night before and you're running late for a morning fashion show. Well, that's this. The truth is, it's actually a repeat. Shhh, don't tell. I slipped it on briefly for a party but didn't funk it up. Besides, I didn't get photographed wearing it... I don't think. Geez.

Every fashion blogger has her NYFW outfits planned out in advance. We lay everything out and sometimes even take pictures of our looks so that we're organized for the trip. But you also have to pack some extra separates just in case you pull something from a showroom. I grabbed this dress from BCBG the night before the company's show when they were still finalizing all the runway looks. I'm usually not a girly girl, but for some reason the lace was just calling me.

So I didn't have time to straighten my hair from a job that I'd done the day before. I woke up in the morning and I looked like I'd gotten into a fight with a flat iron. My edges were already starting to curl back up. There was no way that I was going to straighten my hair all over again, just to have it attacked by humidity once I went outside. In a frenzy, I threw on a hat I borrowed from my girl Taye and off we went to Lincoln Center.

Beauty is pain. I got these Giuseppe Zanotti sandals on super sale and knew they'd be perfect for fashion week. The problem is I forgot to break them in beforehand. They may look good, but talk about uncomfortable. These babies only feel good when you're walking on thick carpet and rose petals, not when you're trekking around the city.

The Look
Dress: BCBG Max Azria
Jacket: L'Agence
Hat: H & M
Shoes: Giuseppe Zanotti
Clutch: Mano
Necklace: Stella & Dot
Despite the hilarious circumstances surrounding this outfit, it was a hit. When Taye and I finally got to Lincoln Center photographers swarmed us. We had to politely fight our way through the frenzy to make whatever show we were going to. Afterwards I graciously posed for the cameras. I miss those flashing lights. Thanks to Taye and photographer Aristide Loua for snapping these shots.

xoxo

NYFW Day 5/6

Lunch break with Blake Scott, Taye Hansberry, Ash Tianah, Jae Joseph and Jovan Ali

It's been a couple of weeks since I said farewell to the Big Apple, but the memories are still alive in my heart. The energy of that city is so intoxicating and you're hooked on it everytime you're there. My last days at Fashion Week were the icing on the cake. Alice & Olivia, Maki Oh, and a party for Marcelo Burlon at Opening Ceremony. Oh my! Let's relive all that deliciousness together.

Good morning, Monday! Taye and I had no time to spare as we woke up a bit late. Typical. After days of wearing heels and dressing to the nines, we decided to have an off-day and be a bit relaxed. So shorts and an Eric Clapton T for me as we headed to Lincoln Center for the Mathieu Mirano presentation. He'd designed costumes for Lady Gaga, so his collection wouldn't disappoint. A simple color palette of white, red, and gold with a hint of black in sophisticated shapes and fabrics. For some reason I was expecting latex and plastic, but it was great. After that we needed a pick me up, so we stopped by the HSN Lounge at the Empire Hotel. The new darlings of fall for HSN were on display including OH by Joy Gryson, Iris Apfel accessories, and the new shoe line by June Ambrose. Taye and I also got our makeup touched up with Trish McEvoy cosmetics.

After a bite to eat and a quick change, we headed to one of my favorite events of Fashion Week, the Alice & Olivia presentation. The clothes were fantastic and the little accents were just perfect. I was drooling over this jeweled clutch and the sparkly evening shoes while I sipped cocktails and chit-chatted with fashionie folks. But time was not on my side and I had to rush out to the Maki Oh presentation down the street. The event sponsored by Free Your Mane was simple yet beautiful. Designer Amaka Osakwe kept true to her Nigerian roots with fabrics and patterns reflective of Lagos flavor. Loved it! Ok, now for the really good stuff. My friend Steph and I hightailed it over to the County of Milan x Opening Ceremony party. If you don't already know, I'm absolutely crazy about designer Marcelo Burlon and everything he creates. His new collection is so freaking awesome... of course. Obviously the party was off the hook. My Instagram video will prove that for you.

The next day would be my last in New York. In true Mercedes Benz fashion, we unsuccessfully attempted to make it in to the Carolina Herrerra show. But we got the best seats anyway, and watched from the comforts of the Samsung Lounge as we sipped on lattes. My trip wasn't complete until I ran into Andrew Bevan, Teen Vogue's style features director. I kept seeing him dashing off to shows and sitting front row when I couldn't get in. Sigh. Andrew and the whole team at Teen Vogue looked so fresh the entire week as they hopped around from event to event. And New York was just their first stop for the Spring/Summer 2014 season. Oh the life of a jet-setting fashion insider must be gorgeously exhausting, and I envy it.

New York, once again you captured my heart on this trip. Your grace, your grit, your style. There are no other cities quite like you. Thanks for another wonderful Fashion Week... until next time.

xoxo

NYFW Day 2

Photograph by Pavel Denisenko

Have you ever woken up one morning, you start going through your day and suddenly you're like "Whoa, déjà vu"? Day two would be the first of many days just like that. We woke up late and realized that we only had a few moments to catch the show we wanted to see. We pulled a huge fashion don't and just threw on the same thing we were wore the night before. We'd only be at Lincoln Center for a second. Besides we didn't have enough photos in those outfits. Needless to say, we didn't make the show.

After missing out on that and having run out the apartment without being properly caffeinated, Taye and I went upstairs to the Samsung lounge for some Illy coffee. Totally quenched my thirst. Next stop, we decided to go outside and people watch. Mercedes Benz Fashion Week is always good for this. I mean, the characters really come out. You've got your style elite that only wear Carolina Herrera or something similar, pearl necklaces, and delicate pumps. Think Park Avenue socialite. Then there's the In Crowd that looks cool no matter what they're wearing but they're never photographed without shades. And finally there's that other group that looks "avant-garde" but it's almost as if they are begging for attention. You know the ones I'm talking about.

Anyway... in the courtyard area of the Lincoln Center we ran into Hallie Swanson of Hallie Daily. This adorable blogger managed to score big on Vanity Fair's Best Dressed list this year. Love her style. As we were standing there chatting it up, photographers began to swarm. Was it Hallie? Was it me? Or maybe they were attracted to the black cape Taye was wearing. Who knows, but we had to get out of there. After a quick outfit change, Taye and I went to the GBK Lounge at the Empire Hotel and scored some sweet stuff from Hard Candy and a few other vendors. The next up for me was Milk Studios for Cushnie et Ochs. Just like the show that morning, I never made it inside. This would be the story of my fashion week. Oh well, at least I ran into some familiar faces from LA.

Day three coming up next.

xoxo