Times Square
My 1rst New York Fashion Week 2023
By Kristina Christopher
Copa Style Magazine Events Correspondent
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It’s 9:55am on a Friday and I’m running down the train platform, rolling my large pink suitcase the size of a child behind me. I hop on one car ahead of my own, just to be safe. My husband and I have just sat down when the train pulls out of the station. Whew!
As if I weren’t already nervous enough. “Why am I so nervous?” I kept asking myself. And my husband. And my mom. “Because,” my mom ventured to answer, “you don’t know what to expect, and you’re trying to impress people.” That about sums it up. Not that I haven’t been to fashion weeks before, mind you….for the past few years I’ve been going to any show I can squeeze in between my business travel and my parenting duties. Gatsby Showcase, All Purple Gala, DCFW, you name it! However, this time feels different…like I’m moving into the major leagues! And Mom’s right, I don’t know what to expect. I know that a LOT of people will be there, people that I want to see – and yes, impress. But I have no idea *how* that is going to happen, since most of them are actually working – or walking – in the shows. Will I be allowed backstage? Will we all get together after the show? I’m invited to help cover the show for a friend, but I have no ticket….so how will that work? I have a media pass to Hi Tech Moda, the show that I’m especially eager to see, but then I also paid for tickets for another show (Rise) immediately after – will I be able to make them both? These are the questions running through my head as my husband and I run to make the Acela.
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New York City
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One the way to New York to cover Fashiion Week 2023
Things were quite different when I lived in this city 16 years ago. At that time, I had no idea that I’d ever be connected with the fashion industry. Back then, I barely knew how to apply makeup properly! I’m what you might call a “late bloomer,” it’s taken me a while to find my own voice, my own sense of style. I’m very proud of who I am now and how I got here – however long it’s taken.
A lot has changed since we lived here last. The fashion in the streets feels more conservative, not as eccentric as I remember…I used to see some crazy outfits on the subway and wonder if I would ever be brave enough to wear anything like that! Now I mostly saw cozy cashmere sweaters, teddy bear coats, jeans or lululemon pants, and sneakers (not even tall boots). Back in my day tall boots over skinny jeans was a thing, but I guess not anymore. Too bad, because “mom jeans” make my butt look like a pancake!
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As it turns out, I needn’t have worried, because that first night we didn’t see anybody connected with the show – not off the runway, at least. It was exciting to see my friends walk the runway, and even more exciting to see people that I actually know up on a billboard in Times Square! Crazy! I confess to being rather awestruck.
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I digress. Having lived here previously, we thought we’d text some old friends to let them know we were in town – mostly as a courtesy, we didn’t really think we’d get to see them. But guess what? Our first night in town (after Hi Tech Moda – I never did make it to Rise) we hung out all night with a former coworker of my husband’s. He was kind enough to meet us at our hotel 1st for a drink in the lobby bar (they were having a speed dating event at the time, it was very amusing) before we headed out into the Chelsea night. Funny, I remember when the Gansevoort first opened, and and now here we were, once again, at the Gansevoort rooftop bar (now called Plunge). We also spent some time in their lobby bar (a seemingly unescapable phenomenon when you work in the hotel industry is to visit lobby bars wherever you go). We weren’t going to end the evening without indulging in “a slice” – or two – to take back to the hotel. (We ended up grabbing “a slice” at least once if not twice a day while we were in town!)
The next day we woke up….hungover. I won’t lie. When you’re of a certain age (aka past your 20’s) it takes longer to recover. Thankfully, there were no shows until 3pm (Runway7), so we did something that as parents we never get to do – we relaxed. We also watched a movie all the way through from start to finish, which is also a rarity in our lives. Then a quick disco nap, and we were off to the races again! [Please see separate article on the Runway7 production.]
Between the show and dinner, I made a big mistake. We went back to the hotel to change and I decided to wear….heels. This was New York and Fashion Week to boot! So I wore my favorite Louboutin’s, only to regret it several hours later when the blisters started to form. The price we pay, am I right ladies?!
So, after getting off the subway in Times Square I found myself struggling to walk several *avenue* blocks to the restaurant to meet up with another pair of friends that we knew from the old days. The wonderful thing about good friends is being able to catch up like no time has passed. Sure, now we’re older, more established in our careers, and have kids…but who we are inside hasn’t changed much. It was a lovely evening! Also, if you’re ever in NYC I highly recommend you find Bea, tucked away between the theater district and Hells Kitchen. I’d call the ambiance “rustic chic,” with classic movies playing on the exposed brick walls; the food was excellent, without being pretentious.
On to the next stop…an after-party that one of my “fashion friends” (names have been omitted to protect the innocent) had recommended. OK, so it wasn’t exactly what either of us had expected, but fortunately we had plenty of other fun options available on the lower east side. We ended up at the KGB Bar, musing while waiting for our drinks whether the name was politically correct. But, with a fun, relaxed vibe and friendly people, we stayed anyway and had a great time.
We hit one more bar once we got back to Chelsea. The décor was a far cry from the avant-garde, almost beatnik vibe of the KGB Bar…this was more contemporary, with an upscale elegance. The drinks were good, and the owner/manager helped protect us from an annoying patron who greeted us when we first arrived and then would not cease talking. “Fashion Friend” and I discreetly excused ourselves to the restroom, but we really hid in a booth around the corner and then texted my husband where to find us. Shortly thereafter the gregarious patron was removed from the premises.
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Then it was back to the pizzeria on the corner for a slice! Yes, even after a full dinner….we just couldn’t help ourselves. No offense, DC, but there is no pizza here like New York style pizza.
The next day was Sunday and we had a train to catch, and a Superbowl party to attend back home. Fortunately, this time we’d learned our lesson and allowed plenty of time to make the train without running. I slept the entire trip back.
The next day was Sunday and we had a train to catch, and a Superbowl party to attend back home. Fortunately, this time we’d learned our lesson and allowed plenty of time to make the train without running. I slept the entire trip back.
So, the next time I am in New York for Fashion Week, I have learned….a) pack your heels or plan to Uber, b) allow plenty of time to catch the train, c) do not pay for your tickets, get invited or get a media pass d) be prepared to wait in line outside for an hour, and, most importantly, e) JUST HAVE FUN!
