After
spending seven days in the Big Apple, I now know why New York City is
deemed the city that never sleeps—I was lucky if I managed a mere
five hours each night, but come on, who would want to miss out on a
Betsy Johnson after-party? Working behind the scenes during New York
Fashion Week was an opportunity of a lifetime; while there was plenty
of glitz and glamour, there were also some major life lessons to be
learned.
Life
Lesson No. 1: Kindness will take you a long way
When
I moved a grateful guest from the back row to a swoon-worthy front
row seat, she invited me out to lunch afterwards.
The
woman was so surprised by my act of kindness that she insisted on
returning the favor.
We
talked for over an hour, and she even introduced me to her sister—the
CEO of a modeling company!
Life
Lesson No. 2: Don’t be afraid to wear a tutu
…Or
any other item in your closet that could double as a Halloween
costume. Fashionistas put their best foot forward (in sky-high heels,
no less) during Fashion Week and fully embrace the idea that fashion
is a form of self-expression. Rock the outfits that make you who you
are. (And for the record, there was a guy sporting a tutu all week!)
Life
Lesson No. 3: Hard work pays off
I
volunteered for Fashion Week last season, so this was my second time
working the shows. Because I made a memorable impression by staying
later than needed and going above my duties as a volunteer, I was
promoted to a more authoritative position this season. The perks were
totally worth the longer hours!
Life
Lesson No. 4: Assertiveness is key
I’m
completely embarrassed to admit it, but I cried before one of the
shows. The head of security wrongly accused me of causing a mishap,
so I tried explaining the situation to her. She was unwilling to hear
my side of the story, though I knew I was simply doing my job. After
realizing she had made a mistake, she apologized to me—but not
until after I had already burst into tears!
Life
Lesson No. 5: Don’t freak out if you spot a celeb
Okay,
so it was
pretty cool when the star of my favorite TV show was standing next to
me in the elevator. As much as I wanted to ask Shay Mitchell for the
scoop on Pretty Little Liars (when will we finally find out who A
is?!), I realized that it would be overwhelming to have paparazzi and
fans swarming you 24/7. Gushing to your BFFs is totally acceptable,
though!
BY COLLEEN KOCHESFAHANI ON 2/22/2012 12:00:00 PM
POSTED IN fashion, trend, fall, Goal Getter