My CFW Style Diary: Day 3

Day 3: Baker Motor Company Charleston Fashion Week

10:30 a.m. I am now waking up later and later! Oh sleep... who are you? Time to blog in bed!!! Which I love because it gives me a reason to go back through all of my pics from the day before! Good memories. 

11 a.m. The agents from Ford, Elite, and Karen Lee arrive to scout models. So exciting to see the models get their shot at breaking into the industry. They work extremely hard for months for this opportunity and they deliver! 

1 p.m. Naptime! Today I really get a good one in. Honestly, it's the only way to survive this Fashion Week marathon. 

3 p.m. Walk over to the Fashion Village for the Belk Press Party in their tent. It's wonderfully set up with fashion and refreshments. Cynthia Rowley arrives and goes straight into an interview. I'm coveting her floral pants! Arlene Goldstein, vice president of trend merchandising and fashion direction for Belk, greets me with excitement for the show!

3:45 p.m. I go backstage and congratulate the models for an awesome presentation to the agents! Many of them are passed out in the Smartwater Blue Lounge, stretched out every which way like a narcoleptic game of twister. The model kids are beat!

4 p.m. Today I have to get dressed a bit earlier in preparation for Cynthia Rowley's party. At this point in the week I can barely keep my eyes open long enough to actually make sense of an outfit. I layer a leather peplum top over a vivid floral French Connection dress with tights and neon shoes. Even as I'm writing this, I'm second guessing that outfit. But hey... at least I wore a smile on my face! 

5:50 p.m. We pick up Fern Mallis and head over to the Cynthia Rowley store for an intimate gathering. I adore Fern! We chat about the fashion life on the ride there. She is the reason for the season in my book! 

6 p.m. The party is lovely. All of the fashion girls, stylists, and bloggers are there. Cynthia comments on my hair and how I've changed it again! In my head I'm thinking, 'Wow, she is so amazingly observant' and 'Oh boy! Why am I not dressed in Cynthia Rowley!' I'm too tired to process it all and before long, Fern and I are back in the van headed to the tents. As soon as we arrive, Fern hits up the Roti Rolls food truck! How cool is that?

6:30 p.m. I now am in full realization of what I'm wearing and rush back to my hotel room for a new look. I'm aiming for comfort chic at this point. I throw on an ensemble styled by designer Sarah Parrott. I finish my look with gold bracelet and matching earrings from the brand spanking new Candy Shop Vintage collection! 

6:45 p.m. All Fashion Panel judges are backstage including Cynthia and Fern. You can see the designers are beside themselves with nerves as they greet them. 

7 p.m. Film the intro for "Behind The Style" with PDA and then wander off into the Charleston Grit and Yelp Video Confessional. I totally crash Emerging Designer Roz Morris' interview. Hey, I'm on a schedule! 

7:30 p.m. Belk takes the stage! So amazing that the Belk family is actually at the show celebrating 125 years on the runway!  Shortly after, the Emerging Designer competition kicks off and Afriyie Poku gets the first standing ovation of the night and goes on to both win People's Choice and the finalist spot in the competition. Can't wait to see his full collection on Saturday! Felt like I witnessed the emergence of the next big menswear designer. The night ends with models dancing on the runway for the Libertine Featured Designer presentation. Inspires us to dress well and dance hard. 

10:30 p.m. Change shoes. Eat at Basil. Dance at Macintosh where I see Cynthia Bailey for the first time since arriving. We hug and she comments on my blonde hair! So at least I know if all else fails... the blonde hair was a hit! My night ends with two more parties followed by a very un-glam moment of devouring a meal late-night with CFW-ers at Butcher and Bee! Yum!

Next... Day 4! 

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

I cracked. Not in some crazy “I am Courtney Love” way, but in an I’m-desperate-and-need-energy way. I opened a Red Bull, then another. I told myself, “Loren you have to limit the Red Bull consumption this year.” Did I listen to myself? Well, of course not. There it stood, sugar-free and cold in the fridge. I reached in, cracked it open, and never looked back. I needed a boost, and no, alcohol wouldn’t be helpful. Can you imagine what I would say on headset during the shows after a few cocktails? I can only imagine. I have hit a mental wall. I am beginning to speak in fragmented sentences and when people try to make conversation my eyes glaze over and can’t focus. A miracle I am typing this in English. Seems to be a problem big enough to see a doctor about, right? It’s really a self-diagnosed case of the “Charleston Fashion Week Virus,” where you start going delusional from lack of sleep and you can’t think straight. Ayoka asked me a question about one of the style interns, and I could not think of her name for the life of me. We have been working together for months! Scary, I know.

During the after-party at Macintosh and Cocktail Club, I sat upstairs with the production crew enjoying a glass of champagne. I was seated on one of those big comfy couches they have and I had an image flash in my mind. Me getting way to comfortable on this couch and being “that girl” who passes out asleep at a bar. I have seen it before (aka later that night at another after-party). I gave myself a mental slap to wake up and went downstairs to a full-blown dance party at the back of Macintosh. DJ Forge delivered once again! As I got into bed at 3 a.m., I noticed my symptoms for the Charleston Fashion Week Virus were at an all-time high and sleep was much needed. It was time to ditch the eyelashes and get real. Today I am still a bit sleepy but the glazed eyes have subdued.... for now.

Me unsuccessfully trying to follow my own Survival Guide.