GRAPHIC WARRIOR

Peter Pilotto skirt // Kate Spade bag // Jessica Simpson booties // Betsey Johnson socks // UNIQLO tights // Topshop necklace and moto jacket // Zara crop top // Ralph Lauren gloves // F21 rings // Brandy Melville bar ring 

New York Fashion Week has S-T-A-R-T-E-D!!! After an extremely exhausting and craze-filled adventure of a day, yesterday, let me just tell you that I am still shaking from all the excitement and the nerves. Just thinking about it makes my heart beat faster than Usain Bolt! So after slapping myself awake with my intensely-caffeinated Blonde Roast soy coffee I rushed out in the thawing weather only to dunk my Shoecult booties an ankle deep in slush! (WARNING: You're probably going to have to learn a few ice-skating tricks or embrace yourself in tacky, stuffed snow boots) So after trekking my way over to Chelsea's High Line Hotel which I may add is tear-jerkingly beautiful, I gleefully announced "Katie Gallagher Show" only to find out that I THOUGHT IT WAS A THURSDAY! So much for my first, confident odyssey to a New York Fashion Week show, am I right? 

After some much-needed retail therapy to Topshop & Zara I came back to the Hotel with a vengeance for redemption. Except the fact that I came 30 minutes early and traipsed up the ancient wooden stairs to find myself backstage where frantic interns and hotheaded photographers were shooting last-minute model shots and laying out name cards on seats! When people use the term "deer caught in the headlights" they definitely aren't using the term loosely because I thought that any second, I would get hit by an truckload of embarrassment. Luckily, I coolly exited the monastery-esque setting and waited. 

After bobbing my head (hello, head trauma!) to snap some pics of the slicked back hair and oxblood, structured jackets, I rushed over to my internship 2 blocks over.

I then got a last-minute text from my fashion show-partner-in-crime to go to the Erin Fetherston show at 6. No problem, right? NOT! After humiliatingly flailing our arms for a taxi during rush hour, we decided to run in the winter-weather as my newly-purchased pants were slipping off every other block. We arrived at the W Hotel with our cheeks flushed and frosty to the touch only to find out it was a presentation and not a show! Erin's clothes are absolutely charming and so retro chic--think blush pink cashmere sweaters and chiffon gloves delicately dotted with effervescent pearls as finishing touches. My favorite piece? The "Charmed..I'm sure" forefront sweater of the presentation and the glittering pleated emerald sweater that twinkled beautifully in the Grand Room. 

After being introduced to an exceedingly handsome man that Jess knew personally, she slyly whispered "That's Erin's husband--he's the lead singer of Cobra Starship" (GOOD GIRLS GO BAD, anyone?). I almost died of being Star-struck and thought it was incredibly adorable how this beautifully reserved and poised platinum-blonde designer is married to this edgy and outspoken rock singer. They were both so sweet & I was so lucky to meet them both--thanks, Jess! I even saw Erin talking to Andrew Bevan from Teen Vogue! I was so tempted to take a bazillion pictures but I knew it'd be a definite no-no. 

As we were ready to leave with Skyn goodie bags in hand, I got an unplanned e-mail from my instructor, Fashion Pulse Daily editor and co-founder, Julia Dinardo who I honestly admire so much about the Peter Pilotto Shopping Preview at Gotham Hall! I knew I couldn't pass it up so I hailed a cab in record-breaking time with Jess and lingered patiently in a block-long line that was especially worth it. The second I walked in, we were bombarded by a melange of dapper individuals cloaked in mink coats while I blindly tiptoed my way to the psychedelic-lit space. After eye-ing the space, I miraculously stole a glimpse of both Peter Pilotto and Christopher De Vos! I was so deeply immersed in my fashion heaven when I almost tripped and made a complete fool of myself. Smooth. 

Their Target collection is nothing short of fashionable--such punchy prints that any daring fashionista would love to slip in. So with that in mind, we both dared to challenge the lengthy duration of the line filled with hopeful customers to get the first-pick of the collection before it hits stores. Luckily, we kept ourselves busy by taking more shots of the chic area featuring cat-walk worthy beats and even saw a girl casually sipping on champagne in Google glasses. (I have no idea what they do--I just watched a recent episode of The Simpsons on it via Hulu but I'm still so baffled!) Once we entered the cramped shopping room without a changing room and unknowingly elbowed our ways to get our dream items, we both knew this was going to be the ultimate test of our shopping skills. Thank the style heavens for having the skirt I've been eye-ing for the longest time in my size! It was the last one too! A match made in heaven. 

We blissfully closed the night in a calming subway ride back to the W 4 station while I firmly clutched my shopping & goodie bag--I was definitely paranoid someone would steal my coveted skirt! So happy (to say the least) that I got to wear this graphic-saturated pencil skirt before it hits stores in a few days to the Rebecca Vallance show! Now I can catch myself and breathe a sigh of well-deserved relief--well for another hour and a half before I aboard the train to Chelsea for my internship & the Charlotte Ronson show back at the Hub at Hudson! Wish me luck! 

P.S. I wrote a post on Peter Pilotto for Target days before that I will upload very soon for more insight on their work & of course, my love for their work!