The scent of coffee and the collective murmurs of at least one hundred people hit my senses simultaneously. It wasn't long before the mass of people responsible came pushing and shoving their way past me to find their designated seats. Demanding shouts like "Uncross your legs in the front row please!" and "Lights, Turn on the spotlights!" could be heard above the crowd - and then, suddenly, silence.
"I'm in New York City. I'm witnessing my first Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Runway Show." I whispered to myself, suppressing a goofy grin.
~~*~~
Backtrack 3 days. It's a Wednesday morning, my legs are cramping - and I just woke from a 12 hour bus ride. Glancing around during my feeble attempts at stretching revealed that many fellow passengers were waking as well. The sun was rising. The city skyline was visible in the distance. Love at first sight - I was a Goner.
Immediately after stepping off the bus I was bombarded by three or four men yelling "Taxi? Taxi?!?"... "I'll need a taxi." I mumbled, while stepping to the side to find my luggage. Before I could attempt to reach for it, my cab driver dove in front of me, eager to lend a hand. We soon made way to his.....unmarked mini van? Eh - you live, and you learn.
Fortunately I made it safely to my destination in Dumbo Brooklyn. Matt Lewis, owner of BAKED, greeted me at the door and showed me around assuring me that my cousin, Bret, would be home that evening. He politely waited for me to freshen up before walking me out the door to cruise me around a few blocks in the area before headed to the Bakery for a meeting. I immediately made my way to ONE GIRL for some delicious mini cookies and a much needed cup of coffee. After lounging there for a bit, I ventured out to check out a few other little shops and to see the sights. Despite the chill in the February air, I felt like I was starting to really warm up to my visit.
Bret and I had a chance to catch up that evening...about life, love, and my weekend's work schedule. You see, the whole purpose of my visit was to assist for the weekend at an event for DETAILS MAGAZINE. He works there and was able to put me in touch with Colin Stark - the man with the plan...the big plan.
"Collections," (this time,) was a 3 day event focused solely on menswear - a unique spotlight during the mainly women's oriented Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. Overall, the event featured 3 up-and-coming designers, as well as a First for Fashion Week - a 4 hour accessory show with multiple men's accessory designers in a "trunk show" style set up...and it was open to the public - cool right?
My first day was a lot of sitting, waiting, chatting, waiting, a few errands, more chatting, and a bit more waiting. It was neat to watch all the different crews play their part. A lighting crew constructed the neon "Collections" sign for the entrance of the building. A set design crew came to paint and build walls. A sound crew came to set up the DJ booth and focal lighting....a little bit of everything! Hence a lot of the waiting - had I bothered to try helping, I'd have just been in the way.
But fear not readers - my time certainly came. The rest of the weekend I was on the ready for whatever was needed. Grabbing bottled water. Lugging a tub of ice. Positioning platforms into model presentation stands. Mopping and touch-up painting said platforms.....I got a workout! But more importantly, I gained insight.
Being involved in a production of this scale was a truly amazing experience. To observe necessary roles, and learn how Colin was able to orchestrate everything start to finish is definitely something I'll carry with me into future events of my own.
Day Two of my working experience (Friday) was a short day - a one designer day. IAN VELARDI -nominated as Best New Menswear Designer in America 2012 by GQ Magazine, and a 2013 Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation Award Winner - had some amazing looks. His collection featured luxury sportswear, tailored clothing, accessories, and some of the hottest guys ever....just sayin'.
Day Three (Saturday) was a long day - a two designer day. First up was SECOND/LAYER , a design team made up of 3 long-standing friends: A Franco, Jacob Willis, and Joshua Willis. Deep in a basement studio, in Venice, CA, Second/Layer was born - spitting out sleek, androgynous looks that crave confidence, and innovation in their wearers.
The second designer of the day was RAIF ADELBERG , A Vancouver native who's work doesn't stop at fashion design. He is also an artist, gallerist, and magazine publisher. His show was the only Collections "runway" show of the weekend (The other designer's did Presentations) - which takes us back to my introduction. The smells. The sounds. and the overall anticipation.
No sooner than the lights went low and silence graced the room, had pulsing music began emanating from the speakers and images of wolves and woodlands glided across two ceiling-high screens at the far side of the runway. Slinking shadows crept up the back of the screens as the models began their line up just beyond the thin fabric.
On cue a first model moved into position in the doorway of the tall screens, standing guard at the side while a second began his walk down the aisle. The clothing was an amazing blend between preppy & tailored, woven & native, and had an all around bit of an edge...and the models were in full tribal war paint with feathers braided into long locks of hair and dark smokey eyes....beautiful savages.
One of the most beautiful components of this particular show was the presence of one 20 year old model. He was participating on behalf of the MAKE A WISH FOUNDATION . His dream was to walk in a New York runway show - and there he was walking in this one - for Raif Adelberg via Details Collections. Colin and I could simply NOT get over that all night.
Work Day number Four (Sunday) was the Accessories Show. There were 9 designers scheduled for this portion of the event: MAINSAI, LOGAN ZANE, -CHIEF, HERSCHEL SUPPLY CO. HOOK + ALBERT, DANIEL WELLINGTON, YUVI BY YUVI ALPERT, IN GOD WE TRUST, and BILLYKIRK. What I loved was that many of the designers themselves were the ones who showed up to promote their work - and all of them were really friendly! MIANSAI even sent each of us home with some swag! (whaaaaat!?!?).
Prepping for the day seemed easy enough....until the dreaded ice tub...good Lord...do not attempt to carry 12 bags of ice in a single tub with only one other skinny girl. Make trips okay?...just trust me on that MAKE TRIPS! For real though, other than that - which really if you think about it was a good thing because it was my cardio and strength training for the week! - it was a pretty relaxed day. The turnout was great too! When people caught wind that there was a Fashion Week event that was open to the public they came by! SUCCESS!
Day Five was the break down, so a bit more of that sit and wait from day 1. Well no I take that back... this time I had a book to keep me company while holding down the fort. Either way, it came and went in a flash and I was able to go back to the Conde' Nast cafeteria for a quick lunch and coffee with Bret before frantically scrambling to see friends for the rest of my visit.
The evening of my ride home came all too soon. Bret and I made our way down to dinner before my send-off and took a chance to recap everything about my stay. From the work, to the commuting experiences, to my love of the city - and my newly found the desire to commit to a move there. "I can't describe it very well," I told him "I just know that I'm home. And I really don't want to leave!"
Soon after, we were back in China Town bidding our farewell's, and making promises to see each other again soon. After climbing on the bus I also had to send Bret a quick assuring text that "There are mothers and children on board so it has to be safe!" to which he seemed satisfied, but also telling me to "stick with the moms."
As it happens, one mother and daughter sat right across the aisle from me. As we pulled out of the city and made our way out through the Holland tunnel, the girl suddenly became the most animated of tour guides. Pointing and talking about everything she could see. When she saw the Statue of Liberty lit up in the night sky, she squealed, begging, for her mom to look with her. "Look Mom. Look who I am." the girl said, raising her arm into the air as tall and proud as she could muster. "Ooh, Lady Liberty," answered her mother. Arm still raised, the girl turned back to the window until The Lady was out of sight.
"She's a Goner." I smiled to myself...
My first day was a lot of sitting, waiting, chatting, waiting, a few errands, more chatting, and a bit more waiting. It was neat to watch all the different crews play their part. A lighting crew constructed the neon "Collections" sign for the entrance of the building. A set design crew came to paint and build walls. A sound crew came to set up the DJ booth and focal lighting....a little bit of everything! Hence a lot of the waiting - had I bothered to try helping, I'd have just been in the way.
But fear not readers - my time certainly came. The rest of the weekend I was on the ready for whatever was needed. Grabbing bottled water. Lugging a tub of ice. Positioning platforms into model presentation stands. Mopping and touch-up painting said platforms.....I got a workout! But more importantly, I gained insight.
Being involved in a production of this scale was a truly amazing experience. To observe necessary roles, and learn how Colin was able to orchestrate everything start to finish is definitely something I'll carry with me into future events of my own.
Day Two of my working experience (Friday) was a short day - a one designer day. IAN VELARDI -nominated as Best New Menswear Designer in America 2012 by GQ Magazine, and a 2013 Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation Award Winner - had some amazing looks. His collection featured luxury sportswear, tailored clothing, accessories, and some of the hottest guys ever....just sayin'.
Day Three (Saturday) was a long day - a two designer day. First up was SECOND/LAYER , a design team made up of 3 long-standing friends: A Franco, Jacob Willis, and Joshua Willis. Deep in a basement studio, in Venice, CA, Second/Layer was born - spitting out sleek, androgynous looks that crave confidence, and innovation in their wearers.
The second designer of the day was RAIF ADELBERG , A Vancouver native who's work doesn't stop at fashion design. He is also an artist, gallerist, and magazine publisher. His show was the only Collections "runway" show of the weekend (The other designer's did Presentations) - which takes us back to my introduction. The smells. The sounds. and the overall anticipation.
No sooner than the lights went low and silence graced the room, had pulsing music began emanating from the speakers and images of wolves and woodlands glided across two ceiling-high screens at the far side of the runway. Slinking shadows crept up the back of the screens as the models began their line up just beyond the thin fabric.
On cue a first model moved into position in the doorway of the tall screens, standing guard at the side while a second began his walk down the aisle. The clothing was an amazing blend between preppy & tailored, woven & native, and had an all around bit of an edge...and the models were in full tribal war paint with feathers braided into long locks of hair and dark smokey eyes....beautiful savages.
One of the most beautiful components of this particular show was the presence of one 20 year old model. He was participating on behalf of the MAKE A WISH FOUNDATION . His dream was to walk in a New York runway show - and there he was walking in this one - for Raif Adelberg via Details Collections. Colin and I could simply NOT get over that all night.
Work Day number Four (Sunday) was the Accessories Show. There were 9 designers scheduled for this portion of the event: MAINSAI, LOGAN ZANE, -CHIEF, HERSCHEL SUPPLY CO. HOOK + ALBERT, DANIEL WELLINGTON, YUVI BY YUVI ALPERT, IN GOD WE TRUST, and BILLYKIRK. What I loved was that many of the designers themselves were the ones who showed up to promote their work - and all of them were really friendly! MIANSAI even sent each of us home with some swag! (whaaaaat!?!?).
Prepping for the day seemed easy enough....until the dreaded ice tub...good Lord...do not attempt to carry 12 bags of ice in a single tub with only one other skinny girl. Make trips okay?...just trust me on that MAKE TRIPS! For real though, other than that - which really if you think about it was a good thing because it was my cardio and strength training for the week! - it was a pretty relaxed day. The turnout was great too! When people caught wind that there was a Fashion Week event that was open to the public they came by! SUCCESS!
Day Five was the break down, so a bit more of that sit and wait from day 1. Well no I take that back... this time I had a book to keep me company while holding down the fort. Either way, it came and went in a flash and I was able to go back to the Conde' Nast cafeteria for a quick lunch and coffee with Bret before frantically scrambling to see friends for the rest of my visit.
The evening of my ride home came all too soon. Bret and I made our way down to dinner before my send-off and took a chance to recap everything about my stay. From the work, to the commuting experiences, to my love of the city - and my newly found the desire to commit to a move there. "I can't describe it very well," I told him "I just know that I'm home. And I really don't want to leave!"
Soon after, we were back in China Town bidding our farewell's, and making promises to see each other again soon. After climbing on the bus I also had to send Bret a quick assuring text that "There are mothers and children on board so it has to be safe!" to which he seemed satisfied, but also telling me to "stick with the moms."
As it happens, one mother and daughter sat right across the aisle from me. As we pulled out of the city and made our way out through the Holland tunnel, the girl suddenly became the most animated of tour guides. Pointing and talking about everything she could see. When she saw the Statue of Liberty lit up in the night sky, she squealed, begging, for her mom to look with her. "Look Mom. Look who I am." the girl said, raising her arm into the air as tall and proud as she could muster. "Ooh, Lady Liberty," answered her mother. Arm still raised, the girl turned back to the window until The Lady was out of sight.
"She's a Goner." I smiled to myself...
