Adventures In Fashion: That One Cool Time I Met Glenda Bailey And Elie Tahari

This actually happened.

Sorry for my blogging hiatus! I had a crazy week with Thanksgiving and college applications. I hope you had a lovely holiday! Today, I thought I'd share a really special experience I had during fashion week. Enjoy!

I'm a huge fan of Ammara and her brand (I've posted about her collections here), and I was so excited when she told me that she would be speaking at Saks Fifth Avenue. The event was held to celebrate the anniversary of Sak's Wear Now floor, and I was so excited to attend! My excitement grew even more when I found out that Harper's Bazaar's editor-in-chief Glenda Bailey, fashion stylist Mary Alice Stephenson, and fashion designers Elie Tahari, and Alice Temperley would also be in attendance. 

Harper's Bazaar really means a lot to me. HB was the first fashion magazine I subscribed to in middle school. I eagerly anticipated its arrival each month. Because of HB, I experienced for the first time what it's like to feel like you're in another world because of fashion. It didn't matter that I was 13 and living in upstate NY because I had fashion at my fingertips. The magazine helped me to realize my love of trends, and the editorials helped me develop my eye for photography.

To me, Glenda Bailey is on the same level of awesomeness as Super Man. I was determined to meet Glenda and thank her for the contribution she's made to my fashion career.

I hurt a bit to RSVP 'no' to several fashion shows in order to attend the event, but I decided that this was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The first designer piece I ever owned was a black Elie Tahari pencil skirt (purchased at the Poughkeepsie Salvation Army- I'm a sucker for thrift stores), and to this day it continues to be one of my favorite pieces. The possibility of being able to meet Glenda and Elie was just too amazing to pass up.

When I arrived at Saks, I instantly felt totally out of my league. I look forward to the day when I can attend a fashion event and not feel like a dorky 17 year-old. Fashion people started filling into the 5th floor, and I grabbed a seat and started reading the latest Issue of Harper's Bazaar to keep myself occupied. 

At long last, the panel began. Nothing too groundbreaking was said (questions from the audience to the panel included "What are the top trends for fall?" Answer: red and pointy-toed heels and "What are the benefits of shopping online?" Answer: not having to deal with rude store assistants). I loved hearing Glenda's stories about her work at the magazine. She was really straight forward and genuine, and it's easy to see that she's a very loved and respected editor. Mary Alice Stephenson even got emotional when she was talking about her work with Glenda and the kindness that Glenda showed her when she was getting her start.

My heart started pounding fast when the panel ended. Would I be able to meet Glenda? What would I say? I started chatting with one of Elie Tahari's PR girls and we agreed to take photos of each other with Glenda. I waited (nervously) nearby while Glenda chatted with other attendees. Suddenly, she was free. 'Here we go..." I thought. 

 "... Miss Bailey?"

I earnestly told Glenda how much Harper's inspired me growing up and how it helped me become who I am today, and I thanked her for how she has influenced me. She listened intently and thanked me, saying how grateful she was to hear my words. Then it happened. "Thank you so much for telling me!" Said Glenda. "Also, you're very Bazaar to me." "DID THAT JUST HAPPEN?" Screamed the voice in my head, and I almost toppled off my heels. "Thank you! ... You have no idea how much that means to me!" 

Having Glenda say that I was Bazzar is the equivalent to Shaq tell you you're good at basketball or Einstein tell you that you're smart. It was like she had given me a Harper's Bazaar stamp of approval, and that meant the world to me. 

I thanked my found new friend Katya (Elie Tahari's PR girl) for helping me get photos with Glenda. Just when I thought life couldn't be any better, she said "Would you like to meet Elie?" I think my response was "Seriously? That'd be great!" but what I was thinking was "Is this real life?" Elie was a really hilarious, really nice man. It was so awesome to speak with him. 

I walked from Saks to Grand Central feeling like I was on Cloud 9. I just kept playing the night over and over again in my mind. Meeting Glenda and Elie has been one of the highlights of my year, and I don't think I'll ever forget it.

This is me, taken in the Saks elevator when I was leaving. I didn't make this face. It was just sort of frozen that way.

Jewel Tones, Leather And Red Carpet Gowns at Sachin + Babi Fall 2012

It was Valentines Day in the big apple, and I was busy freezing my toes off and hurriedly making my way to Cedar Lake for the Sachin + Babi show.  It was an incredibly intimate affair- there were four or five rows for seating on either side of he runway and several dozen people standing. The collection was drop dead gorgeous- leather pieces and gem stone colors paraded down the runway while a thumping beat paced the models. 
I love that they decided to do a feminine, sophisticated take on leather- it was everywhere! It really gave the collection a rocker edge. There were many dresses done in leather that would have been terribly sweet and girly in any other material. They also showed some incredibly beautiful red carpet-ready gowns which had breathtaking movement and striking color.The styling was wonderful because it was easily achievable without being boring, which is something I really appreciate.
I love it when I can see each piece in a collection instead of designers piling a million things on a model at the same time There were several vibes going on in the collection, but they were all very cohesive. It all reminded me of a ladylike fashion 'it' girl who got dipped in a vat of goth style and who went on her merry way. There was many contrasts throughout the collection such as ostrich feathers and crocodile, strict pencil skirts and and maxi skirts, and leggy gowns and conservative day wear. Another collection highlight was the seriously amazing coats and some sweet ladylike skirts- some done in leather pieces and some featuring ostrich feathers. Hands down one of my favorite collections from New York Fashion Week! 

My pictures from the show aren't too stellar, but I picked some of my favorite looks from Style.com to show you. 

Big thanks to Sachin + Babi for letting me attend the show. You can check them out on the web here and show them some love on twitter here!

*Photos by myself and style.com

Prete and Bruno Fall 2012

Here's some of my favorite shots from the Prete & Bruno show back in February. The brand's debut collection was bursting with velvet, gold, green, sheer, and feathery looks. Trend-wise they were spot on; green, black and gold were very prominent on the fall runways. Although there were pieces that apply to every consumer age, I would have really loved to see more of a focus. Who is the Prete and Bruno woman? It would appear that she's a schizophrenic Italian woman who can't decide if she's clubbing or having tea, and she's not sure if she is 18 or 60. The inspiration was classic Hollywood glamour, but it was taken rather literally. I would have liked to see more of a modern take on the theme. I call collections like this '-esque' collections The green tweed suit was Chanel-esque, the tight sparkle mini dresses were Versace-esque, etc. Nothing was terribly new, and unfortunately doing so much gold makes things look rather cheap and gaudy. My favorite pieces were the green and black fly-away skirt (seen in picture four) and the tweed coat in picture eight. Don't get me wrong- I'm a really big fan of these boys. Their passion and hard work was really evident in their presentation. I just hope that in time they will be able to present collections that are more relevant to fashion now.

CrOp by David Peck Fall 2012

I briefly met David Peck during New York Fashion Week while we were waiting for the WHIT show to start. (Review on the way, I promise!) A few days later, the amazing look book for CrOp by David Peck fall 2012 landed in my email inbox, and I was smitten! The colors are so rich and the cuts and fabric combinations are wonderful. I really enjoyed the original prints! My favorite pieces by far were the gorgeous, whimsical evening gowns. I remember seeing the collection for the first time and I just kept saying "oh my goodness... amazing..."  I love his silhouettes and use color blocking. Take a look for yourself! 

The original prints featured in the collection were inspired by autumn leaves, geography, harbors and lace. CrOp isn't only gorgeous, but it's a line committed to giving back. A portion of sales from each collection are donated to the inspiration associated with that season. They also manufacture in the US! I always have so much respect for brands where all operations are based in the US because it creates jobs and keeps things local. CrOp is still quite new (the line's first collection was spring 2011) but I'm already excited to see what they come up with each season. Also, be sure to follow their blog!

ODILON by Stacey Clark

I got to check out Odilon shortly after Fashion Week, and I instantly fell in love with the the collection's sleek cuts, fresh citrus colors and cool-girl vibe. The pieces are minimalist (Which is 100% me!) but totally not boring, and the collection features everything from evening dresses to separates. One of my favorite things about the collection is the blouses. The cut is perfect and I fell in love the moment I laid eyes on them! I really like the blue/black/green/yellow print used throughout. It reminds me of zippers! The Spring 2012 collection was inspired by 90s era Venice Beach, CA; "Tomboys" in love: Francoise Hardy, Kim Gordon, Courtney Love and Kurt Cobain; skate parks; & contemporary artist Cheryl Dunn's 1998 film of Mark Gonzales' "skate ballet" performance in a German art museum. The shark tooth jewelry was a Fauxtale x Odilon collaboration consisting of silver cast shark teeth. (Which you can see more of here.)

Here's a better view of the awesome print. 

Also, how chic is Odilon's designer Stacey Clark? She was kind enough to pose for me. I was saying how the line almost reminded me of Celine when it comes to the cuts, and replied "Oh, I love Celine. I'm actually wearing it right now." Please take note of that incredible Celine Bag. 

For more Odilon, check 'em out on twitter and tumblr.