Fashion Week is finally here!

Yesterday around 1am I began writing a quick sweep of Day 1 at New York Fashion Week. Exhausted after a long day, I literally fell asleep with my laptop in my lap.

So here I am on Day 2, recapping Day 1. My feet hurt from running in stilettos all day, the heat has gotten the best of my hair which is now a frizzy mess, my makeup is running down my face and I am exhausted after 3 ½ hours of sleep. I did consume endless bottles of water in an attempt to beat the heat, but the only food that has entered my mouth today, other than gum, is a few crackers. Now I know how all these fashion types stay so skinny.

A day packed with constant running in heels coupled with endless waiting may sound like a nightmare to some. For me, I couldn’t be more elated. Fashion is what I live for and there is nothing in the world I would rather do than be here now surrounded by fashions finest. Heat, exhaustion, blistered feet, celebrities who are so gorgeous it makes you want to kill yourself. All that makes up the energy and excitement that is New York Fashion Week. The cover of my journal bears the famous British war slogan: Keep Calm and Carry On. Those words are very fitting for what it is to survive a packed day during fashion week. Let the games begin!

I intend to provide in-depth overviews of all the fashion shows and events I attend, but in the essence of time (and due to lack of sleep) here are the highlights Day 1 has brought:

Prabal Gurung: The One to Watch

You heard it here first, he is the next big thing and THE force to be reckon with. Presenting only his second collection at NY Fashion Week, this is one of the top shows I was most excited about since his debut collection at NY Fashion Week in February emerged full of high praises. Gurung most definetely did not suffer from the sophomore slump and presented a collection for Spring / Summer 2010 that was jaw-dropping. The line included glamorous dresses, edgy vests, sleek lines, cool colors and, my personal favorite, bow tie neck blouses.

Mixed in with the a neutral palette of gray and white were bursts of red and vibrant blues. I sat back and just stared at the presentation for a good 45 minutes, taken aback at how beautiful each garment was. Judging from the crowd of high-fashion magazine editors, high-end buyers and even an appearance by uber stylist Rachel Zoe, the word is out that Prabal is the real deal and one to watch. I envision a very long career for him. Bravo

Chillin at the Penthouse:

Online sample sale saviors HauteLook rented the penthouse suite at the Bryant Park Hotel and transformed it into a haven of peace and relaxation with comfy white couches, laptops, work stations, snacks and wellness services (professional makeup touch-ups, fragrance bar, etc). I arrived battered and beaten after a 25 block trek hoping for a moment of peace and a rare opportunity to check my email. What I got was smiling faces there to accommodate your fashion needs and maintain an air of tranquility. It was the only time throughout my day I had a break and plan to hit up the penthouse suite all week.

Also, they will be hosting events and on Thursday they invited Kelly Killoren Bensimon to preview her jewelry collection. First off, Kelly is smashing. Tall, dark and gorgeous. I could barely take my eyes off her long enough to preview the jewlery collection. The jewelry was eye-catching and bright, very much like Kelly herself. Swarovski crystals covered bold cuffs, necklaces and earrings. My personal favorite was a crystal ring with a clamper style design to it.

Anya Hindmarch:

You can’t mention Anya Hindmarch’s name without giving her props on the brilliant “I’m Not a Plastic Bag” frenzy that followed the handbag designer when she launched her eco-friendly bag to sell-out crowds. The bag has since been retired (even though endless clients still request it) but that iconic bag made Anya a household name.

Now, Anya is looking to launch the next eco-friendly “It” bag with a collection of cotton totes made for everyday. Using her cheeky British humor the bags are meant for everyday use and labelled for such necessaties as Ballerina Shoes, Toys, Dry Cleaning and Shopping Bag. The bags, which will retail for $95, are sure to be an instant success.

The pieces-des-resistnce of the collection were her luxurious leather, patent  and snakeskin bags in a range of stylish shapes and sizes. As a devoted handbag collector, I was taken aback with the detail of the new collection including jeweled clasps and chain straps which can be worn long or doubled up. The bags will hit stores in January and I am already pining for the “Audrey” bag , a stone luxe leather bag with patent flap-over top and double chain handles. Always on a quest for the perfect summer bag which evokes brightness in addition to style, the mix of patent and luxe leather are the perfect combination for the sensational summer bag. Sign me up!

Fashion Night Out:

Vogue must be happy with the turnout for this event because everywhere I went there were HUGE crowds, a party atmosphere and people were buying. Famespy Andee hit Bergdorf Goodman to see the Olsen twins bartend saying “they are soo teeny.” I started the night downtown instead.

Teen Vogue hosted a rockin block party on Bleeker Street which had so many people it looked like a parade. In addition to a customizable Keds station (free sneakers you customize), there was music, Barbie girls and model Bar Rafaeli. Teen Vogue sponsored a fashion show which featured fabulous designs from the local businesses in the area. Then Taylor Momsem (Jenny Humphrey from Gossip Girl) perfoemed with her band “The Pretty Reckless” and rocked the house. How I ended up front row I’ll never know, but I was able to snap some fantastic pics of the 16-year-old who reminded me of a young Debbie Harry. With platinum long blond messy locks and smouldering eyes, Momsen oozed ricker-chic and took the stage wearing a mens white button down shirt which coquettishly covered her black bra, black sequin panties and black garter belts. Hearing garter belts you mind automatically goes to trashy, but she looked young and hip and with her edgy rocker attitude she pulled it off. The biggest surprise, the girl can actually sing. And really good. Momsen had a stage presence that made you think she’d been doing this forever. The music was catchy, her voice was on point and the audience went for it.

While on Bleeker Street I also hit the Marc by Marc Jacobs shop to check out the new handbag collection and have my photo taken with a male model on a Marc Jacobs photo shoot. As I was handed the photo when I left the store I instructed the photographer that under no circumstances was Marc allowed to use my image in his next ad campaign. Yes, I am a model!

Beauty brand Fresh offered complimentary makeovers. Famespy Alise partook and got a makeup lesson to boot. When she was finished, they uploaded her newly Fresh and fabulous photo to her Facebook page.

RL Men: Nacho Figueros was the guest at the event. Polo player Nacho Figerous. Perhaps the most beautiful man on earth (ladies he’s straight, but married). I walked into the store and perched up against a shelf with an unobstructed view of the handsome Argentenian and did nothing but stare. No drinks, no movement, just stared. Hubba, hubba. Hubba.

Lord & Taylor: Vogue Magazine took over the department store with something for everyone. In addition to the free flowing cocktails there was fashion photographer Patrick McMullen, Joyce Azria signing shirts, henna tattoos, NYFD Calendar Boys signing their “month” and much more. Every floor provided a different experience and the huge crowd sipped on blueberry martinis, champagne and shopped.

Viva la Fashion!