After a morning of writing and drinking NYC coffee, the cold was biting, my calves ached, and my stomach growled. It didn’t matter. This was New York Fashion Week…
Exclusive reports live from New York Fashion Week AW13 with Thread’s correspondent, Iris Chan.
Read day 1 here and day 2 here and diary day 3 below…
After a morning of writing, photo editing and drinking NYC deli coffee (blech), off I went to the first show of the day: Alice and Olivia backstage with Moroccanoil. Highline Studios was over compensating for the dreary cold. It was hot. I longed for one of the cold seltzers they had just lying around.
Dena, the amazing PR guru for Moroccanoil, was trying to snag Antonio for an interview. Tic-toc-tic-toc. Eek. I had Karen Walker soon. Dena was apologetic even though it wasn’t her fault, but soon Antonio was free and gave a charming interview.
That’s me with the camera in the mirror.
Below: fans walking to Pier 59 for Karen Walker.
Up to Pier 59 I went. After an easy check in (thanks Jiali!), I found my seat, close to the runway entrance, but third row back. This was not an easy spot to take photos. I’m too short and everyone else is too tall. ARGH.
While I struggled with my camera, a familiar accent sat next to me. Kiwi! I opened the conversation by asking her if they were press. Nope, just very good customers. She introduced herself as Katrina, an expat living in NYC and a Thread reader! And thank goodness for her.
She spotted all of the modern day fashion elite: Rumi Neely (Fashiontoast), Tommy Ton (Jak and Jil), Leandra Medine (Man Repeller), Isaac Hindin-Miller (Isaac Likes), Bryan Yambao (Bryanboy), just to name a few. Oh and hey, Jack Tame!
Below: Katrina and Diane.
The show was late, but well worth it. And I snuck over to stand so I could get a clear shot of the Karen Walker show models.
And… then back to Alice and Olivia. While queuing for the presentation, I chatted with fashion blogger Monroe Steele and a Life & Style reporter whose name I’ve forgotten. We shared gossip and war stories about our NYFW experience. Note: any wannabe celebs out there, the L&S reporter said, “If you’re normal, we’ll be normal. If you act weird and standoffish, of course we’re going to treat you differently.” It was possibly one of the most fascinating conversations I’ve had at NYFW.
Inside the Alice and Olivia presentation was sheer opulence and fun. As I snapped away at the clothes, I thought I spotted Jessica Chastain (above). But according to many of the tabloid writers, this wasn’t her. Darn. Oh well, I was compensated by the universe with one of those seltzers I coveted earlier.
Then it was off to Marc by Marc Jacobs backstage at the Lincoln Center, the home of the official Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.
But the space at this location is cramped and therefore stifling to the stylists. Katie, Redken’s PR rep, was very polite and apologetic for having to be firm about our time backstage (15 minutes). Her job isn’t easy, especially with such a high profile client. It was difficult to move through there and I was so afraid I’d knock someone over. Could you imagine? A domino effect of hair and make up artists cascading over… Eek.
When Guido (above centre) could give us some time, there was a mad rush. I’m not a media scrum, elbowing, stomping over people kind of person. My zoom lenses are my legs and my iPhone is an awesome mic. It was tense in there, like how it always looks on Fashion Television. Still, exhilarating to be at one of the most coveted backstages at NYFW. My only regret is not having seen the man himself, Marc Jacobs. I probably would have tripped over myself. And knocked over aforementioned stylists.
I left the hotbox and breathed in the crisp air of the New York City night. There were so many amazing collections I wish I could have seen:
• Moncler’s epic 365 degree room full of models standing at attention with strobe lights.
• Wes Gordon. His collections are my new obsession.
• Proenza Schouler. JUST. ABSOLUTELY. STUNNING.
• Rag and Bone. This design house is becoming my coveted staples.
• Jason Wu. I want to be a Jason Wu fierce woman.
This was my last night at NYFW. I thought about the people I met, the amazing PR teams and all of the pageantry of this great city during fashion week.
There were so many people that made this happen: Jiali from Karen Walker, Amy-Louise from Lily and Louis, Kristen from Pead PR, Dena and Alexis from Moroccanoil, Katie from L’Oreal NZ, Lea from Redken (also Lauren and Katie onsite) and of course Megan, fantastic Editor of Thread.co.nz.
As I walked away, the cold was biting, my calves ached, sleep wasn’t easy and my stomach growled. It didn’t matter; I was having a blast. This was New York Fashion Week.
Words and photos by Iris Chan
15 February 2013
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