URBANE TIMES: fashion public relations

Now that I’ve had time to decompress from NYFW, I can finally get to blogging my experience. This was my second season volunteering with a great PR firm that worked on 11 events (shows, presentations, parties). It definitely was easier this time around. The lack of blinding BLIZZARDS and freezing temperatures made it much more enjoyable! So much happened, so I'm breaking it down in a couple of blogs that I am calling: NYFW: Spring! (Original, I know!)

After waking up at 3am to catch my 6am flight, and after traveling for almost 2 hours to get to Brooklyn to meet up with my friend Chantelle, I had the biggest celebrity sighting of my life so far: MADONNA. IN BROOKLYN of all places. My friend Christian and I were getting off the train and looking for a street to turn on and there she was, in all her incognito glory. I freaked out and screamed at Christian “THAT WAS MADONNA!” and the 15 people that were following her (her entourage) seemed unphased that I recognized her. At that point, I was too tired and famished to run after her! (Plus, I had my huge suitcase with me)

Then we met up at my friend’s cute apartment in Williamsburg and headed to this restaurant called Lodge where we had the juiciest hamburgers ever! But getting back to the fashion. The first show that I worked this season was Jen Kao. Last year, her show was the first live fashion show that I had ever seen in New York and it was amazing. This show was definitely a great one. I was assigned to assist with check-in (one of the most important roles of a PR company)and some of the celebrities I saw: Kelly Rowland, Jessica White (who sat front row, and looked STUNNING in her Jen Kao dress) and Elle senior editor, Kate Lanphear!The runway was covered in sand and had elaborate designs drawn onto them. A lot of work was done just so the models could walk through it!

The collection featured a lot of muted colors – sand (haha), light olive green and featured a lot of crochet, including these really cool crochet gladiator “sandals”. Below are some of the favorite looks, and some video I took of the runway show. Enjoy!

This February, I had the amazing chance to volunteer with two PR firms for Fall 2010 fashion week in New York.

Instead of going with a group of friends like I did in September, I went by myself and worked. I stayed for 9 days and it was way more challenging than I thought. I knew that it would be hard work and it definitely was. On one of my first days working, I worked from 9am-10:25pm.. it was insane.

With that said, I learned a lot, had fun and carried a heavy garment bag with a fur coat inside through the NY subway system. Oh, and I also delivered invitations to one of the shows in the BLIZZARD. I wouldn't change anything about the experience. It let me know that I am extremely dedicated to fashion public relations and that I do have a passion for it.

Even though I spent a lot of $$$ on the trip (when you work in Soho, its hard not to spend a lot of money!) , the experience was worth it. Hopefully, I'll be working in NY fashion public relations sooner than you think!

Now, onto the fashion. I worked about 4 fashion shows and 1 presentation. Here's some of the fashion from the shows that I worked: Jen Kao, Carlos Miele, Tadashi Shoji and Dennis Basso.

It was an incredible experience to actually do the work that you see people like Kelly Cutrone do on 'Kell on Earth' and Lauren Conrad/Whitney Port did on The City/The Hills

Jen Kao

Carlos Miele

This show had the most amazing music ever. I also saw Nigel Barker here.

This show was actually held at the Bryant Park tents and to get into the tents was one of the biggest feelings of excitement that I ever had in my life! The Bryant Park tents! Amazing! And it was also an honor to be a part of it when it was the final year for the NY fashion shows to be there.

Tadashi Shoji