Fashion Week Recap: Day 2, 14 hours

Hello and happy Monday! I’m back with another update from New York Fashion Week.
Here’s an update on what went down for Day 2:

7:00 a.m. Alarm sounds. Instead of snoozing, I wake up in a panic, not knowing what time or day it is.

7:05 a.m. Still disoriented, I boil hot water for tea and crawl back into bed to scroll through e-mails, Twitter and Instagram… [Hand hits head] Shit, I forgot to charge my phone last night.

8:35 a.m. Bianca swoops me in a cab. We’re both seeing Zimmermann this morning, an Australian designer known for feminine swimwear pieces.

8:55 a.m. I hop in line to check-in as B goes off in search of coffee. Blaire Eadie is right in front of me. WAIT. Ohmigod. Do I look okay? I freak out, compose myself and say hello. That wasn’t so hard!

9:22 a.m. The show isn’t too packed (it’s early for the fashion crowd), so they ask us to move into the front row. Okay!

9:30 a.m. I’m awake now, and wow, what a gorgeous collection — artful cut-outs, romantic pleats and a few swimwear separates that had me seriously second-guessing my eagerness for today’s crisp fall weather. (More photos here.)

zimmerman, bathing suit, one-piece

10:00 a.m. We wander across the street to the Empire Hotel to charge our phones and hop on the wifi. Lots of coffee is had and I show no remorse in smothering an onion bagel in chive cream cheese (again).

11:10 a.m. Hail a cab downtown for Kate Spade. Bianca’s on the list; I’m not. Let’s just go and see what happens, shall we?

11:20 a.m. I smile, wave at the PR girls and speedily walk past the check-in table. I strategically position myself at the back of the elevator so that no one will be able to question me. I’m not sure what just happened, but I’m in. Boo yah!

kate spade spring 2014

11:35 a.m. The presentation is gorgeous. How the hell did they transform this Chelsea loft into a freakin’ garden? The models are poised with the designer’s signature quick-witted clutches in-hand, wearing grids and stripes, pencil skirts and tennis-style sweaters. I wonder if I could pull off that white cat-like eyeliner look? Maybe on Halloween. (A full photo album from the collection is here.)

11:50 a.m. Since we’re technically in a garden party, I decide that it’s not too early for rose. Right?

12:50 p.m. Quick pit stop home for productivity: I need to charge my electronics, write down this morning’s shenanigans and upload some photos.

1:45 p.m. Scratch that. I actually haven’t yet accomplished anything other than finishing two Vitamin Waters, a sleeve of rice cakes and the September Issue of Elle.

2:00 p.m. Although it required a herculean amount of effort, I change my outfit (here’s what I wore). This is mainly because I need to wear more comfortable shoes before my super-cute strappy sandals actually lacerate my feet.

2:15 p.m. Time to head back uptown for Rebecca Minkoff at 3:00. I’m proud of myself for leaving early — I will not be late like I was yesterday!

2:45 p.m. Hmm… I know I’m out of it, but we’ve been underground for quite some time.

2:50 p.m. Wait, we’re not actually moving.

2:55 p.m. God, this would happen. Apparently the train I’m on has derailed and we’re stuck until we can get to the next station (which happens to be hell aka Times Square). Tourists are panicking. I’m sweating. The guy next to me — no, ON TOP OF me — is a mouth breather. Should I punch him in the face or deplete my cell battery and put on my headphones? I can’t decide.

3:02 p.m. After what feels like hours, we arrive in the station. Hundreds of people are flooding out into the street, which means I’m royally f’ed on getting a cab. Once above ground, I take off like a bat out of hell (quite literally) in a full-on sprint in the direction I assume to be West. Good thing I put on wedges, I’m so late.

3:12 p.m. I’ve sweat through my blazer, but I’ve managed to poach a cab from another taxi hailer — snooze you lose, pal. This is New York.

3:25 p.m. I — again — am running up until I arrive at the stage door to Minkoff. I take a moment to compose myself, walk in, identify an empty chair and sit down, pretending as though I know what I’m doing.

3:30 p.m. Just in time — Janelle Monae is performing. I’ve never been to a show with live music! Kelly Osbourne is sitting front row — I think she’s the only person who could pull off lilac hair.

rebecca minkoff shoes

5:55 p.m. After loitering at Starbucks (on the ground and near a power outlet, natch), I head east to Schutz, a shoe brand known for their high-end designer footwear. It’s only a mile, that’s not too far.

6:20 p.m. Almost immediately, I regretted my decision. Do I keep walking? The next 20 minutes are spent debating whether or not I should get a cab. By now, though, I’ve arrived at Schutz and I’m fairly certain my feet are bleeding. Is there booze here?

6:40 p.m. Ah, yes. First order of business, champagne. Second, I spy Jessica Szohr, whom you may or may not know that, oh, I’M OBSESSED WITH. (You’ve seen my Gossip Girl posts, right?) I refrain from any and all mentions of Chuck Bass, and instead, compliment her on her new haircut. She asks “where she knows me from.” I die instantly.

jessica szhor, gossip girl, jessica szohr

7:05 p.m. A few girls I’ve met through blogging have filtered in by now, and after another round of champagne we decide that Mexican food and margaritas are a required course of action for the night. Onward, arriba!

11:00 p.m. I’ve requested the restaurant charge my phone (per usual), so I’ve just now gotten it back. I’m so exhausted that the only thing I can physically think about is crawling into bed. When was the last time I was sleeping before midnight? Am I really about to get two full REM cycles?! Day 3 is going to bring about a new person — stay tuned!

*Editor’s Note: If you missed my Day 1 recap, click here. In addition, I realize not everyone wants to see photos of the designers’ collections, so instead of placing them all in this post, I’ve created a Facebook album where you can browse them in-full.

Currently Coveting: Hawaiian-inspired Style

There was a resurgence of Hawaiian style on the runway last year, and it’s looking like designers aren’t quite ready to retire the motifs. Hate it or love it?

I’ve been particularly taken by H&M’s 10th Anniversary collection this season. There’s something about the ease of Hawaiian lifestyle — especially when it entails a veritable luau of palm prints, hibiscus blooms and tiki imagery. Alas, the inspiration for today’s post…

*Shop the trend (top row, from left): Topshop Tropical Garden Playsuit, Equipment blouse, Juicy Couture ‘Creatures of Paradise’ necklace, AX Paris blazer, Tropical Punch Escada perfume, Paige Novick “Tropical Brights” Cobalt Enamel Sliced Cuff Bracelet, Miss Selfridge maxi dress (+ similar) // Middle: Topshop Hawaii chiffon sandals, Free People floral denim shorts, Essie Action, Essie Navigate Her, Lacoste sunglasses, Nine West Letitgo sandals (on sale) // Bottom(‘ish): Mango Tahiti top, Betsey Johnson Orbital Luau ring, Oasis Tropical Cherry Crop Jeans, Dorothy Perkins cream tropical skirt, Juicy Couture tropical fish ring, Proenza Schouler PS1 satchel, BaubleBar Soludos Hawaii Beach necklace, River Island Erika Tropical Print Cut Out Platform Wedges, Betsey Johnson “Hawaii Luau” Toggle Bracelet, Zimmermann Hawaiian-print bandeau bikini, DVF+Current/Elliot printed skinny jeans