Countdown to Mercedes Benz Fashion Week

I've been covering Fashion Week for a number of seasons now (in fact I think I was one of the first online writers to receive press credentials from IMG, the great folks who put on this immense event). I think I know what to expect by now, but every season unfolds just like the real-like drama that is is, with the unexpected always turning up, and stories to dine out on for months, afterwards.

Today was press registration for the shows that begin in the Bryant Park tents, tomorrow. The first few seasons that I had press credentials, I simply walked into the tents and went to the press office, picked up a badge, and left with a schedule for the next 7 days. Last season, thinking it would be the same, I got there 45 minutes or so after the appointed time for press to start picking up their badges. The line stretched practically to the end of the block. It was hot. My feet hurt. I was thirsty..but I met some interesting people on line and we managed to pass the time, pleasantly.

This time, I was not going to be surprised. I knew the tides had changes, and the press would be waiting on a line to get their badges. I determined to be there early. It was cold and snow was forecast. I didn't want to end up standing in that line in a snowstorm! I had a launch event I really wanted to attend for Boots Cosmetics, the really good and very popular brand in England, no coming to the United States to a number of Target stores in March. I'll write about that, separately. Carrying a press bag with samples and information about the products, I placed myself on the press line outside of the tent. There were about 30 people in front of me (not that bad) and it was about 40 minutes before press registration was supposed to begin. I chatted with Lori, a lovely photographer coming to Fashion Week for the first time. We talked makeup. We talked fashion. We talked about Fashion Week.

At Noon, when registation was supposed to begin, it didn't. So we waited something like another 40 minutes to get in the door. I was literally, frozen. It took less than a minute for the cute girl with the red-tipped hair to find my name and hand me a badge (why they just don't send these with your registration acceptance in the mail or let you pick them up...I'll never know). I didn't really want to go outside in the cold again, but other people were waiting in the long, thin, hallway, and I knew there was really no way to linger. I took a quick look: the smell of metal and sulpher were in the air. The carpets were littered with dust and debris. Work crews were scurrying all over the tents, carrying large pieces of wood and even display tables for the sponsor booths. It looked like they'd never get this done in time for opening tomorrow morning--but I know they will. The guards will be stationed outside on the steps, the town cars will stack up nearby, and the press, celebs, models and guests will pour in. For 7 days those of us involved in Fashion Week will live in an altered reality. There will be memorable people to meet, and some who aren't so nice. There will be connections to make, and some that only last for the amount of time you are standing on the line to enter the show. We will know what's coming in fashion, but we can't know what's coming for the next 7 days until we live them.

Fashion is BIG business, and it's the greatest arena in Fashion in America. I feel honored to be part of it and I'll do my best to bring some of it to you. And, when the fashion shows are over and the tents are dismantled, I'll be creating photo-essays with hair and makeup "how-to" for some of the shows as well...so visit the Advice Sisters Web Site http://www.advicesisters.net and our Features page in the coming months. As I create them, you'll be able find them and get an idea of what will be in style, come Fall 2007.

Let the games, begin!

Alison Blackman Dunham aka. "Advice Sister Alison"