[Guest Post by KristinAnn Janishefski]
On a rainy Monday in Vancouver, my client Nicole Bridger gives me word that we will be going to New York during fashion week, as the prize for a recent award she’s won naming her Canada’s Top Eco Fashion Designer. This is great news, except for the fact that my PR Company, Vanguard PR, is in full on PR prep mode for the launch of Eco Fashion Week in Vancouver in just a few weeks! I feel like a hot mess of excitement and anxiety to be leaving the city for a full week to be thrown into NYFW madness, but hey that’s the life of a fashion PR right? I’d better start packing!
Monday, September 13th 9pm
My flight from Toronto to NYC left at the tail end of the celebrity filled Toronto International Film Festival. Quick story: while on the plane I sat two rows behind Hilary Swank. Dressed down in army green cargo pants and a black tee, she looked absolutely gorgeous – she’s so much prettier in person. Anyway, I stepped off the plane just as Ms. Swank was escorted to her awaiting car while 3 assistants fetched her luggage. Welcome to NYC!
Despite total film festival meets recycled air exhaustion, I manage met up with a good friend of mine (she runs a swanky hot spot in the Hampton’s during the summer), for a drink and Jay Z after party. No big deal right?
Tuesday, September 14 7am (a total of 2 hours of sleep)
Five words to describe NYFW: I can’t get no satisfaction sleep. Although I of course knew that media/prs/industry vets a like do not expect to get sleep during NYFW, it’s a different things altogether to experience it. Discussing this travesty with another good friend of mine who is editor in chief at a certain publication (rhymes with shmooture) she confesses that during NYFW she runs on coffee, cashews, and energy bars (plus her handy YSL concealer and lip stick) because she rarely has time for breakfast/lunch and sometimes not even dinner. Powerbar for one, please!
Despite two hours of beauty (yeah, right!) sleep, I run my fingers through my hair (bed head is still sexy right?), throw on a fresh pair of heels, dress and jacket and rally to attend Lavuk’s showcase at the Green Shows for 1pm. Unfortunately I only catch the tail end of the show because of that lovely NY constant – traffic. But hey – Ice T casually strolls by as we rush out of Lavuk so it’s not a total waste! Checking the time, I make a mad dash over to make the Nolcha Fashion Week 3pm runway show.
Nicole Bridger, Nolcha Fashion Week '10
3PM
Sitting front row at Nolcha while Nicole’s collection hits the runway and I think to myself, ya made it kid.
4 PM
I find it so refreshing that despite his success, my dear friend Gary Wood is still so humble. Case in point: While at Nolcha , we stop by the booth of a shoe designer with a Zink magazine open to an editorial featuring the collection. The shoe designer almost flips his lid when I tell him (Gary would have said nothing) that the guy standing next to me photographed the editorial featuring his shoes!
Evening Antics
Hop on the metro and grab dinner at a fab italian spot in Soho (I took the metro everywhere it was so easy) In between delicious mouthfuls of gnocci, I begin falling in love with NY. I love that people here dress up just to walk their dog, that the restaurants stay open until 2am and that on the way to dinner, Nicole, Gary and I found a “hip hop poetry club.”
Wednesday, Sept 15th (It’s WHAT time already?) 8am.
Nicole Bridger
2pm media interview
Despite another night of little sleep, I am really looking forward today’s afternoon meeting between Nicole and Greta Eagan, editor of fashion me green. Greta is a huge eco supporter and very active in the eco fashion community. We hop in a cab and head to the Mercer hotel for our 2pm and yet, despite our best efforts, we are late. Normally this would stress me out, but if I’ve learned one thing on this trip it’s that everyone in NY is always late and its acceptable. Phew.
Nicole does an interview with Greta on Greta’s flip cam and we sip mojitos. Hey – It’s fashion week, afternoon drinking is almost a requirement!
Verlaine Spring / Summer 2011 I Image: Social Vixen
6pm – Verlaine
I head back to the hotel to do a quick change and meet up with another friend of mine, a well-known stylist in the city. We score front row seats at the Verlaine show at the Met Pavilion. One thing I am taking away is how important it is to have high fashion models that know how to work the runway and work the clothes. After attending fashion week in Montreal and Toronto, there is a noticeable difference between the model talent in Canada. I take a mental note to keep this in mind when casting Eco Fashion Week.
Moving right along, we catch the men’s collection by J. Sabatino. The models stand bobbing their heads (50s inspired coifs all around) surrounded by flowers, while people snap their pictures. It was a cool way to showcase the collection without it being on a runway. Plus, there was plenty more style inspiration to take in just watching the uber hipster crowd hanging out.
Evening Antics
I head back to the hotel for dinner and dancing at this cute underground Cuban restaurant. We were lucky enough to have the escort of a seriously cool NYPD detective who for the best places for food + people watching. After that, we headed over to a little bar to do some Jay Z, Alicia Keys karaoke. I found it only appropriate we sing Empire State of Mind. Yup, I was that girl.
Thursday, Sept 16th (insomnia sets in) 11am
After grabbing an orange juice and NY street bagel, a friend and I head out to explore the shopping in Soho. Spotted: Miss J from Project Runway decked in all purple walking down the street. I love how unique each store is – it’s incredible how much creative thought is put into store design and merchandising.
On that being late thing…
We rush back to the hotel to change (from Soho it took us about an hour to get back to our place in the upper east side) because Nicole and I have a meeting with one of my most favorite people in the world (who just happens to be a top celeb stylist) at The Standard. I drop her an email saying we will be about an hour late for our meeting and she replies, “No worries. Me too.” Perfect!
The vibe in Chelsea is completely different. It’s in the fashion district and where a many companies, including DVF, have their showrooms. The crowd is like part Hampton chic meets art school and everyone is beautiful. The three of us spend the night noshing on amazing food, drinking great wine and chit chatting all about NY. We sneak in a little business too, discussing what client wardrobing opportunities there may be for Nicole. unities. My friend tells me I need to move to NY and that I would fit in perfectly. My eyes light up when she offers her place to me in case I need it when I come back to the city.
We head to the DVF train track…..I can’t believe that in a city with so many building and so much concrete they are able to find green space everywhere!
Friday, Sept 17th – I’ve lost all track of time
On the airplane - am sad to leave the city but know I’ll be back. Who knows – this time I just might make it permanent. NYC is the perfect place to take your PR career to new heights. I have to get back to oversee Vancouver’s Eco Fashion Week, but Nicole stays to meet with WWD, Instyle, People, and Lucky in the next few days. I can’t wait to hear how the rest of her week goes!
About KristinAnn
KristinAnn established the Vanguard PR as the premier PR agency in Canada specializing in sustainable sound North American fashion and lifestyle clients. She has an unwavering commitment to the eco-movement and has helped grow many “grassroots” eco/green companies into some of the top KristinAnn established the Vanguard PR as the premier PR agency in Canada specializing in sustainable sound North American fashion and lifestyle clients. She has an unwavering commitment to the eco-movement and has helped grow many “grassroots” eco/green companies into some of the top progressive brands shaping the future of this industry. Most recently, the Vanguard PR was selected as the AOR for Canada’s inaugural Eco Fashion Week. KristinAnn has worked with some of the top fashion photographers, creative directors, and stylists throughout North America and brings to the table a well-rounded knowledge base in public relations, event planning, fashion, and styling.
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