The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Have you heard the buzz? Needles are sewing, homos are hopping, and models stopped eating three weeks ago: all signs that New York’s Spring Fashion Week is in full swing. It seems to be a Manhattan-specific holiday, with people on the street kissing cheeks and bidding each other “Happy Fashion Week”. You think I’m kidding - I’m not.

A friend of mine has a friend who has a friend (this is how all transactions in Manhattan take place) who was working the event, so we ventured to Bryant Park at 8:30 this morning for the very first show of the day. I had my doubts that we’d get in, but it wasn’t long until we were runway-adjacent listening to a dance remix of Amy Winehouse’s latest hit. Not a bad start to the morning.

The tent was full of New York’s most fashionable, including a couple of stars. The first one I spotted was Martha Plimpton, made famous as the blonde girl in the Goonies and also as the girl who threw the party in 200 Cigarettes. Sitting next to her was some older woman who was wearing the most atrocious black boa. She must have been famous too, because everyone kept taking her picture (poor Martha – she didn’t get much attention). I have no clue who she was, though – at first I thought it was Liza, but closer inspection proved that initial conclusion incorrect (sad times). If I figure it out I’ll let you know.

The show was for Malan Breton’s spring line. (It’s okay, I didn’t know who he was either). His bio says he was on Project Runway Season 3 - he must have gotten kicked off early, because I don’t remember him - and apparently he’s made dresses for all sorts of famous women.

The show, which was the culmination of months of hard work, was over faster than a Cambodian kid can make a Nike. But what a fabulous 13 minutes it was! His designs were not incredibly inspiring, and I did take issue with his patent leather shawl, but I found the whole process fascinating and entertaining. It made me want to be the next Nina Garcia (but, you know, likeable). I figure if I can’t find a job in advertising, interning in fashion is the next stop.