My CFW Style Diary: Day 1

DAY 1: Baker Motor Company Charleston Fashion Week

9 a.m. Tweeting my style tips for the Smartwater "Ask Ayoka" Haute Hydration campaign. Hot tea in hand because I'm determined NOT to lose my voice. which seems to have become a tradition.

9:30 a.m. At the tents shooting an intro interview with Fox 24. Somehow felt odd putting on bright red 'Ruby Woo' lips before 10 a.m.! 

9:50 a.m. Threw on the vintage polka dot dress (Lori Wyatt collection) and filmed for Fox 24 with featured designer Hannah Goff. But I'm distracted because the camera guy, Hunter Boone, is rockin' an incredible cassette tape belt! It's the little things.... 

10 a.m. Checked into hotel (I practically move into the tents for CFW). Run to East Bay for a nail salon quickie, where I run into the Cynthia Rowley girls having a creative meeting over manicures. Also, see one of my editors pounding away on laptop mid-pedicure. New Trend: Conducting your business from a nail salon. The ultimate beauty-and-biz multi-tasking power move that totally gets the job done!

1:30 p.m. Back at runway tent to review fashion movie trailers... a new creative element I added this year. Technical Events has an amazing light show going on. As I go through the list, I'm stoked about all of the fashion elements and feel anxiously ready to roll. 

2 p.m. Sit with all of the personal assistants to discuss their hi-profile guests and their needs. We talk about everything from late-night eats to booking carriage rides. Our Fashion Panel loves to explore, and who can blame them! It's Charleston! 

NAPTIME!!!

6 p.m. Dressed (LulaKate shift,  and Croghans, Van H., Christina Jervey accessories). Walk to the tents in six-inch platforms. As I walk, I question my sanity for wearing these! Shoe-icide! I quickly film opener for "Behind The Style" vlog series with Tim from PDA (who does all official CFW videos) and then it's picture time with all the guests! Love the fashion paparazzi! 

6:30 p.m. Backstage with Fashion Panel to review Emerging Designers' one look. This is where we learn what these collections are really made of. I look at the designers and can see their dreams on their faces! This competition means a break in this industry, and you can physically see that they want this badly.

7 p.m. Browse and mingle in Style Lounge. More photo fun here and DJ Y-Not is giving us good beats! Pop into the Belk Tent for a beauty touch-up.

7:30 p.m. Backstage waiting with Tommy Baker. Mic in hand and dancing to "We Roll Like Mad Men!" Then out onstage to welcome the crowd. I get everyone in the audience to yell "Hot" and then thank them for the compliment. Wonder if they know they were tricked into this impromptu praise. 

7:45 p.m. The shows begin! It's a fashion marathon! We start with our first-ever lingerie show (Bits of Lace/Croghans/Bob Ellis) and go into Emerging and then Feature Designers. Fashion coma ensues!

10 p.m. Wrap up the "Behind The Style" segment for the night with PDA and run back to the room because my two-hour shoes have expired! Put on my dancing shoes and float to the Mercury after party. 

12 a.m. Surrounded by beautiful people and every single one of them is dancing! It's like a fashion high! DJ Rdot's music selection has the room dancing like no one is watching and, in passing, I can see people in the crowd reminding each other it's just the first night! 

Now to do it all over again...

Bonus! Tuesday After-Party Notes from Loren Springsteen, Style Assistant

Last night I found myself a booth and sat back with photographer Jonathan Baillet and people watched (it should be considered a sport!) at the after party. Let me give you a bit of a recap on last nights’ after party activities:

* Witnessed a woman stuffing her face with a taco in the middle of Mercury Bar... I guess fashion people do eat, and apparently the middle of a bar is the place to do it (?)

* I cringed as I saw many women almost sprain their ankles. Careful in those heels, about to give me a heart attack!

* Dancing machines. No joke, it was incredible the way people were getting down on a Tuesday night. One mishap being a man dancing with his girl while sitting on a barstool. Men, get up and properly dance with the ladies. You are not wearing heels so no excuse to be “sit-dancing” as I like to call it.

My night ended with ordering Gilroy’s pizza for a special guest. I would call Night 1 successful. Today I woke up and put on my slippers and headed to meet Ayoka Lucas at the hotel to review today’s schedule. I think I wasn’t the only one with achy feet...

These slippers are amazing. “It’s like walking on pillows, butter,” Ayoka said this morning over breakfast. The brand is Daniel Green, who contributed these fab slippers to the VIP gift bags. Lucky for us there was extra pairs for our aching feet.

Get ready for night 2 and I will see you all under the tents!