Like most NYU students, I found that the seemingly endless list of opportunities available by nature of simply being in New York City was one of the school’s greatest attractions. My first few weeks at NYU proved this to an extent far beyond what I could have ever dreamed of. At a Washington Square News “meet the editors” meeting during Welcome Week, I met fashion editor Carrie Courogen, who encouraged me to apply to cover New York Fashion Week for the newspaper. I jumped at the opportunity. After dashing off a few hundred words for my application, I found myself given press passes to attend five fashion shows. As a mere freshman journalism major with a strong interest in fashion, WSN provided me with total career nirvana.
 I covered Alice + Olivia, Tibi, Lyn Devon, Michael Angel, and Tim Hamilton. The shows were incredible! After getting sufficiently dolled up in Lincoln Center-worthy garb, I checked in up to an hour early to make sure I was one of the first people in line to see the presentation or runway show. Fashion shows are notorious for running late, so I spent a lot of time waiting in line while researching as much as I could about the designer and his or her previous collections. Once inside, I whipped out my notepad and took notes on the collection. With presentations, where models all stand still on a runway, I take my time and record my thoughts on each piece carefully; during shows, the entire collection can speed by in five minutes, so I had to scribble as quickly as humanly possible and decipher my notes later. At each show, I was accompanied by a WSN photographer. (At Tim Hamilton’s presentation, the photographer from a major women’s fashion magazine leaned over to look at the WSNphotographer’s shots and swore angrily and complained, “I can’t believe this kid is getting better photos than I am!”)
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Sometimes, I was fortunate enough to be able to have a brief interview with the designer. Hearing their voice definitely gave the collection more depth; I was intrigued by how the designers’ intended message compared to the message I took away from the collection. I loved hearing the designers’ passion and energy as they discussed their work. Michael Angel spoke extensively about his digital Egyptian-inspired prints, while Lyn Devon explained the thought process behind her chic picnic-inspired collection.
Once I had my fill of notes, I headed back to my dorm to transform my jumble of notes into a review. It was tough to find a balance between getting caught up in all the glamour and luxury and stepping back to find meaningful critiques. It’s easy to praise a collection or designer as “brilliantly innovative” or “absolutely gorgeous,” but gushing about how much you love something takes on new significance when you’re able to step back and recognize what could have been improved. I tried to write my reviews and send them off to my editor within an hour of making it back to my dorm so they could be posted online instantly. My reviews were usually up before NYMag‘s fashion blog “The Cut” or even Style.com. The pressure of such tight deadlines – not to mention the pay-off – was exhilarating!
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One of my favorite parts of the experience was people-watching; fashion insiders are given a bad rap, but seeing guests stride confidently into their front-row seats decked out in designer dresses and shoes (that cost more than our NYU tuition!!) took the term to a whole new level. It was tough paying attention to what was happening on the runway when the people off the runway were so fascinating. (Not to mention total fashion eye candy, too!) Throughout the course of the week, I spotted Olivia Palermo, Kourtney Kardashian, Michelle Trachtenberg, Miss J. (from ANTM fame), Emma Roberts, Tika Sumpter, Jordyn Sparks, Kelly Framel of “The Glamourai,” and Sophia Bush, in addition to some seriously fabulous non-celebs.
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By the end of Fashion Week, I was feeling a little worse for wear – between juggling classes, going to shows, and reporting, I needed a nap! But the experience was more than I could have ever asked for – if I wasn’t already sold as a journalism major, I sure am now. Cathy Horyn, if you’re ever looking for a replacement, you know where to find me.
Photos Courtesy of Kristina Bogos