Fashion

New York Fashion Week: Where Couture and Catwalks Meet Chaos

by Robert Anthony
Stocksy

“You either know fashion or you don’t,” according to Vogue Editor in Chief Anna Wintour. I, alternatively, would like to think fashion and I are neither friends nor foes – more along the lines of acquaintances that run in the same circles…like Facebook friends who may or may not wish each other a happy birthday.

As a fair-weather friend, this year I participated in my BFFSO’s (best friend for special occasions) bi-annual Manhattan milestone – Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Pulsating from Lincoln Center, the party kicked off September 5 (with Fashion’s Night Out) and concluded September 13 – with yours truly kicking sandal stilettos off her pulsating pedicured feet.

Fashion's Night Out (FNO) is like Halloween – lots of walking door-to-door, elaborate costumes and crazy people – except no one eats the candy. Furthermore, when picking a neighborhood (SoHo, Meatpacking, Midtown and so forth) – like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get. The odds of catching a cab on this night of tricks and treats is less likely than a reasonably priced TriBeCa apartment. With that being said, a) it’s best to stick to one geographic area, b) public transportation becomes very en vogue, c) if one does catch a four-wheeled golden chariot – to laminate one’s luck – purchasing a lotto ticket upon destination arrival is especially advised. At the end of the night, instead of a sweets-filled satchel (or haute handbag, for that matter), the sugar swap consists of exchanging images and comparing which on-site celebrity sighting sways supreme (Rev Run DJing at the Piperlime store opening, duh).

Following FNO, between a forecast of full-day fashion shows and a tsunami-style storm outside Saturday, I couldn’t help but wonder: is this an America's Next Top Model challenge, or something?

Thankfully, a nearby Urban Decay Mudtruck lifted my mood with a much-needed Mochaccino while miraculously matching my makeup. It wasn’t long before I bounced to Birchbox’s pop-up shop to stock up on stylish samples, like Cynthia Rowley band-aids. My feet rejoice.

The week wasn’t just about Fashion, of course. Backstage at the Alice + Olivia show, Stila’s celebrity makeup artist Sara Lucero explained her choice of white and periwinkle eyeliner, and false lashes, to create a timeless, optimistic look that matched the vision of the brand. My mind was exploding with information.

Hopped up on coffee and sugar (thank you Baked by Melissa), as I filed my reports in the wee hours of the morning, I realized how lucky I am to participate in such a fun, exciting – sometimes crazy – event.

The highlight of my week may have been sitting front row, but this bucket list item was soon secondary to seeing Ms. Wintour, The September Issue star herself, at a show.

After sleeping off my exhaustion, catching up on emails and dropping off my dry-cleaning, I’m excited to engage in Manhattan’s other upcoming milestone moments (within and outside of couture culture)…until Fashion Week and I meet again. See you in February…I’ll be the girl in the flats.

Hilary Sheinbaum | Elite.