Fashion Week Through The Eyes of a Newbie Editor…

Put yourself in my pumps. Imagine you’re a brand new contributing editor for Beyond Beauty Basics. The closest you’ve ever come to the Fashion Week tent is when you passed through Bryant Park last season and bought a turkey wrap from ‘Wich Craft. You sat at a table nearby and ate your wrap to the sound of the booming bass of hot runway music emanating from the tent. Oh, if you could see even a little bit of what goes on in there!

The Fashion gods answer your prayers. This season, your life is suddenly graced with a press pass. Now it’s not a tremendous deal like front row seats to a show, but it’s certainly something. It gets you into the lobby and that lobby is alive with activity. But before getting in there, you have to push through the crowd gathered at the main entrance and clamber up the steps. You flash your press pass at security a la Lloyd Christmas in Dumb & Dumber when he was all, “It’s okay! I’m a limo driver.” *flash badge* And then… you’re in.

You’re greeted by a blonde bombshell all in black — chic, stylish, pretty. And most importantly, she’s holding a tray of beverages. “Red wine or white?” You smile and politely take a glass of red. “There’s more at the bar,” she nasals and tilts her head in the direction of the open bar. Sweet, you think.

It’s gorgeous in there. You’re flanked on either side by a Mercedes Benz – the CLS63 AMG on one side and the S550 Sedan on the other. The perimeter of this makeshift lobby is also surrounded by booths. Verizon, Judith Ripka, Havaianas and other goodies. You decide you desperately need to check out Havaianas because flip flops that combine functionality and cuteness is where it’s at. The booth is closed for 9/11, understandably. They weren’t talking with the press, but there was some sort of hub-bub in there.

It’s then you notice the platinum blonde spiky head – and you think, what a pretty man. There’s a tailored jacket and a hint of eyeliner. Someone definitely got his hands on some L’Homme by YSL products. Man-scara was all up in there. When you re-adjust your newbie eyes, you realize just who you are looking at, and your inner Top Model lets out a dramatic gasp.

It’s JAY MANUEL, the art director of America’s Next Top Model photo shoots. Tyra’s right-hand man. And he is beautiful. Beautiful! Suddenly, you become very aware of his presence. What do you do? Do you smile with your eyes? Do you arrange yourself in a fierce pose? Do you snap your fingers in Z-formation? Do you vogue?! You’re just about to bow at his feet when your eyes go past that tailored jacket, over the a bright skull imprinted on the back, and fall to his… skirt. Yes, a skirt. Fine, it’s probably a kilt. But nonetheless, he’s not wearing pants! But this is JAY MANUEL. He lives and breathes hotness. And you know what? He owned that little kilt!

So what’s next? You raise your little point-and-shoot (because you’re a newbie and you don’t have an digital SLR just yet) and you start to take photos of him. You pray that he’s ok with it because the last thing you want is a fight with Jay Manuel while he is a about an inch away from a wardrobe malfunction. You admire him for just a few more moments before leaving.

There are screens arranged in a circle playing live shows from inside the Tent or Promenade or Salon. But just before the TVs, you also notice that they are surrounded by red artificial posies which serve as the foreground to an abundance of delicious eye candy. No, not David Beckham photos. Better. Red shoes from every hot designer you can think of! Manolo Blahnik. Betsey Johnson. Oscar De La Renta. They were all there, each encased in a glass dome so you can see but not touch. You look and you drool without shame or conscience.

 

Before you know it, the line of fashionistas in their flashiest Louboutins and cocktail dresses are ushered into the tent. The show you’re there to watch (via TVs behind the red hot shoes) is about to begin.

The Zac Posen show is high-energy from start to finish. His ready-to-wear is enticing and sexy, starting with nude shades and transitioning into light pinks. The fabrics are layered: soft, flowy and flirty. The models are all rocking faux-hawks with ultra long extensions. Their faces aren’t heavy with color but there’s definitely a look of glam. In accessories, they are wearing shoulder-brushing earrings with long necklaces that are just as bold. When the tone of the clothes change, you realize that the hair/face/accessories stay the same, giving them a versatile twist. Soon the clothes take on a more avant-guarde shape into creations are worthy of any red carpet. The models strut just a little sexier and their lips are now different shades of violet. Deep purples. And you fall immediately in love with this look. You wonder: Where can I get the hottest violet lip color?

And you realize, there’s no need to ask because Beyond Beauty Basics is so on top of this game that it won’t be long before you know exactly where to get it.

After the show, the free drinks, the Jay Manuel skirt surprise and the man with glittery red shoes, it’s time for you to make a graceful exit. It was an eventful first time at Fashion Week and you look forward to future visits. So back through the crowd you go. Down the stairs, past the crowd and into —some protesters.

… not the happiest of crowds. Yikes. You snap a quick photo and bounce.

Photos: Trina Poon, Victoria Stiles, Getty Images