The best piece of advice I got before heading off to the shows last night was to get their early to get my seat. Yes, I had an assignment, but apparently people can and do take seats when no one is sitting in them. This was not a problem at the Nanette Lepore show, but Michael Kors was in the big tent and it seemed as if the entire world showed up for it.
I had a pretty good aisle seat wedged between a sea of fashionistas from Elle magazine. At first I was stoked, since I interned at Elle when I was in college. However, the girls didn't seem all that bright and totally weren't into making small talk. Apparently they were more interested in text messagng each other from across the aisles and determining if one girl was actually wearing another girls' shirt.
I was perched pretty high up so once again I could see everyone coming in. Vogue's Andre Leon Talley was the first one I saw, probably because he's so big. Cameras and flashes were everywhere, and sometimes I couldn't see exactly what was going on, especially once I realized the show was standing room only. (There must have been, easily 300 people there.)
I noticed that most of the celebs were coming in through backstage. Serena Williams was one of the first. I have to admit I saw her because I wondered who had such big arms and shoulders. She has a really pretty face, very calm and soft. As people lingered and chatted I thought it was going to be one of those shows that ran really late, but miraculously everyone filed inton their seats, the paparazzi settled down and the show started.
Michael Kors' clothes are amazing. This collection had a casual, collegiate feel to it. There were lots of skinny jeans tucked into boots ans his final gown, worn by Russian model Karolina Kurkova was black, long, flowy and sparkly.
After Kors came out and gave a final wave, everyone raced to the door, which seems to be par for the course at these fashion things. (What's the rush, people?) As I followed the crowd out the door I practically banged into Nicole Richie, who is so skinny she's practically a twig. However, she is really pretty and seemed nice, despite being shoved around by a pack of plebeians. Along the way I saw Andre Leon Talley again, shouting on a cell phone, looking frazzled and waiting for everyone else to leave. Debra Messing was also there, talking to a pack of reporters and cameras.
I got outside and regrouped. I had all my bags and had to go back to work. On the way out, I grabbed a handful or so of more Atkins bars. Hey, you never know.
