Fashion Week Day 1: Academy of Art (and parties!)

What can I say – I’m exhausted! Last night was my first show ever at the actual Tent at Bryant Park and I broke myself in by going backstage to check out the designers and their collections up close and personal. I loved this show because it’s actual students showing their very own collections – they’re just starting out and who knows what they’ll become some day! Cat Janky, just one of the eight designers, is pictured here. Her textile design was amazing! Based on photos of American life in the late 1800s, her collection was a mix of traditional silkscreen prints of stripes, checks and polka dots (loved it!). And one of the coolest parts of the evening? Check out me (dorky fake glasses and all!) with Leanne Marshall, winner of last season’s Project Runway. She was so, so sweet and looked just as we’ve seen her on TV (and perched in her front-row seat, of course). There’s also a runway shot of a beautiful ivory coat. My seat was only 6 rows back, but it’s amazing how hard it is to shoot around people’s heads and with all of the runway lights screaming back at you! Better photos to come of these collections.

P.S. Last night was the Ottavia et Emma party at Cellar Bar AND the Artistry party at Marquee in celebration of the 20th anniversary of Next Models (aka Molly Sims, Petra Nemcova). Both parties were packed (the line snaked out the door with people waiting in the cold just to get in. Thankfully, I Heart Heels was on the list and we waltzed on in (and even got a swag bag on the way out!). Cellar Bar is actually IN our hotel, so we took the hip-hop music-laced elevator right on down and there we were! I almost spilled my drink when I caught a glimpse of what I thought might be a Jonas Brother (he was taking a promo photo at the front and then left soon after).

Needless to say, I was not able to get out of bed for the Georges Chakra show, but I hope to get images and post later on. For now? Heading to grab a bite to eat (there’s no time to eat around here!) and on the ADAM by Adam Lippes show – yea!! Until then…