Kate at Fashion Week Tents

Day Before

2pm: Shop, shop, shop. Clothes, make-up, shoes. Need options.

8pm: Evaluate options. Have help from two fashion conscious friends. Decide comfort is important, but heels are too. Choose: royal blue silk Zara tank dress with tiered ruffles; black opaque tights; sky high gladiator strappy heels; Rachel Abrom necklace; black Chloe coat.

FEBRUARY 13th, 2009: DAY ONE, FASHION WEEK

5am: Alarm goes off. Jump out of bed while trying not to wake husband. Decide on hair— loose curls, and make-up— black eyeliner, peach cream blush clear glossed lips.

6am: Begin 30 minute drive to NYC, cruise through Holland tunnel (yay! no traffic!), park, and attempt to walk for the first time in prior mentioned sky high heels. Grab egg whites on a roll and a triple espresso.

7:45am: Arrive backstage at NY Public Library at Bryant Park for the celebrity Red Dress Event, the first show of the 2009 season. Get escorted into hair and make-up room. Inspect the circus. Take deep breath and ask lots of questions.

8:00am: Scope out scene: huge room with cathedral ceilings, celebs scattered throughout getting hair and make-up done, tables of accessories, jewelry, hair pieces, and shoes. Walk around and speak with celebrity handlers. Beg for interviews.

8:15am: Interview Bobbi Brown, Hillary Duff, Susan Lucci, and Kristi Yamaguchi. Yes!

9:00am: Head over to main tent. Shiver in the cold until let in. Secure press pass and gift bag voucher.

B is for Barbie!

9:30am: Enter lobby tent and take in atmosphere: Sponsors like MAC, Havanias, and American Express line the room. Big sponsor, Barbie, has set up huge showcase with thousands of Barbie dolls on center turn table. Shiny, new Mercedes-Benz cars are parked in corners. Press and photogs run around trying to get shots of semi-celebs and socialites.

10:00: Wait in line for Red Heart Event, notice feet already hurt. Get ticket to show and follow the wave of crowd that’s ushered in. Chat with other editors and acquire small amount of knowledge (i.e. “hide press pass!” Celebs like talking to “guests.”)

10:15: Enter Red Heart Event in main tent. Gasp when see how extravagant the show is: gorgeous red runway, big screen TVs everywhere, hundreds of seats, lots of sparkly red hearts decorating room and hanging from ceiling.

10:30: Walk up and down runway to spy on front row guests. Get pic of Jennie Garth’s husband Peter Facillini, meet and interview the adorable Mark Indelicato from Ugly Betty, rub shoulders with Christian Serrano from Project Runway.

America's Next Top Model's Miss Jay and Kate Monahan

11:15: Score seat! Look around at the sea of red; everyone is dressed to support this important cause which educates women on heart disease. Lights dim. Tim Gunn from Project Runway gives special welcome message. “Audience, this show is your Valentine,” he says.

11:20: Show begins with Amanda Bynes rocking Swarovski dress and strutting down runway to Beyonce’s “All the Single Ladies.” Show is amazing! Celebs like Tori Spelling, Vivica A. Fox, and Katie Couric own the runway.

11:45: Exit show and get in line for next designer’s show: Yigal Azrouel.

12:30: Yigal’s show is more subdued. Clothes are dark and romantic. Lean, linear shapes with romantic details. Take pics of Katie Lee Joel who looks gorgeous. Interview Miss Jay from America’s Next Top Model.

1:00: Barely time to breathe. Ushered into next show: Duckie Brown, Men’s Wear. Show’s intense with lots of unique details like oversized scarves and big pom pom hats. Backstage interview with one half of the Ducki Brown design team, Steven Cox.

1:45: Take Break. Head over to Bryant Park Hotel for glass of white wine. Friend from Daily Mirror comes with.

2:30pm: Charlotte Ronson show. Samantha Ronson DJs, playing music from forties. Scream: “That’s Lindsay!” when I see Miss Lohan who’s sporting a low, messy ponytail and is dressed in one of Charlotte’s designs. She keeps a low profile up in the DJ booth with girlfriend Samantha.

Solange Knowles, Beyonce's sister

3:00pm: Get pics and interview with Joy Bryant. Go backstage and get pics of Charlotte, her mother, Ann Dexter-Jones, and brother, Mark.

3:30pm: Break again. Walk (aka-limp) to restaurant. Transcribe interviews. Sip more white wine and eat some food.

6:00pm: Back at Main Tent. Get pics of celebrity photographer Patrick McMullan as he is interviewed for NBC. Score seats to Nicole Miller show. High energy! Lots of color and prints. Go backstage and meet Solange Knowles who looks gorgeous in a black petal skirt. Chat with models. Think: this was amazing, but I’m done for the day!

7:00pm: Meet up with BBB founder Paul at Time Out New York’s Haute Hippie Event. Attempt to socialize as models hang out in tightly packed Pent House Suite. Day dream about wearing flats. Finally say goodbye, change into said flats, and head towards home.

9:00pm: Home and happy. View pics and watch video from all the shows. Think: this day pretty much rocked. Can’t wait to do it all again on Sunday.

Check out the Fashion Week interviews with some of your favorite celebrities and designers this week on Beyond Beauty Basics!

Continue reading about Fashion Week: Charlotte Ronson, Yigal Azrouel, Heart Truth Red Dress Show, and more!

Photos: Kate Monahan