Sneaking Backstage At Ashleigh Verrier
I arrive back at the tents an hour and a half early and now I have a dilemma.
Although I’ve been assured by Verrier’s press people that they did send me an invitation–in fact, according to them I even have a seat assignment– a rare treat at Fashion Week because bloggers are still considered second class press citizens–the paper invite never showed up. I’m armed with a press pass for the Abaeté show earlier today, and digging through the bottom of my purse reveals an invitation for Carolina Herrera’s show back in September that I’m still carrying around with me as a good luck charm.
I’m delighted for Ashleigh Verrier that she’s made it to the big time–her placement in the Salon signifies that–but the security outside the tent today is extra tight. Should I flash my press pass or old invitation and hope I’ll get past the guards, or should I try the backstage entrance when I never received clearance for backstage?
I decide on the latter strategy, and it’s the right move because the woman guarding the door there shrugs, says, “I don’t have my list yet,” and hands me a backstage pass. I guess most gatecrashers don’t have the nerve to try this approach, or maybe it’s just because I already have a legitimate pass from another show, but I’m relieved.
The MAC makeup for this show features pale matte skin, rosy cheeks and cherry red lip gloss, and the hair look is a girlish high ponytail with curled ends.
The PR people backstage are getting very upset about something, and I really don’t want to get kicked out before the show this time, so I decide to stay out of their way and go out to the lobby to see if I can spot any celebrities before the show starts.
Project Runway’s Laura Bennett is posing for photos with Robert Verdi, star stylist to Eva Longoria and host of Fashion Police, but before I can get my camera out for a shot of them, Robert runs off to another show.
Laura starts walking around the perimeter of the booths with Fern Mallis, the executive director of New York Fashion Week, and when they pass by I yell out, “Hey Laura, can I take your picture?” Her answer is, “Sure…do you want to get in it?” I’m amazed at how friendly she is in person, and how chic she looks in a black sequined cocktail dress of her own design.
Nancy with Laura Bennett from Project Runway Season 3–
I sneak back into the tent for the run-through, and I’m surprised that the music the models will be walking down the runway to is a dance version of Schubert’s “Ave Maria,” the same song I walked down the aisle to at my wedding — not what I’m expecting at a fashion show, but it’s original and it works.
Damien Fahey, Ashleigh Verrier, Grace Mercedes
The front row at Verrier features MTV VJ Damien Fahey, fashion talk show host Lauren Ezersky ( a live Lauren Ezersky video and ever so fabulous “fashionista + dandy about town” Patrick McDonald along with Nigel Barker!
Lauren Ezersky, Patrick McDonald, Nigel Barker
Although I manage to score a seat in spite of a mix-up in which the press and IMG sponsors are double-booked into the same chairs, the swag bag is distributed only to the front row. It’s a bronze satin evening purse designed by Verrier and stuffed with Dove chocolates. I admire it from afar and hope that someone decides to sell one on eBay.
Verrier’s Fall 2008 collection features brown, plum, mauve and midnight blue satin accented with fur hats, faux jewels and bows. It’s turn-of-the-last-century schoolgirl mixed with Dr. Zhivago, and though clearly vintage-inspired, the execution is perfectly modern. I go home to New Jersey with visions of Anastasia in my head that will make the long winter a little easier to bear.
Stevie Wilson
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I have the bronze satin evening purse designed by Verrier and stuffed with Dove chocolates. I won it thru a contest and im planning on selling it on ebay.