I meant to post this diary all in one go, but in all honesty? I got NYFW’d OUT. The coverage on my blog and every other blog felt overwhelming and life came calling…so I took a break. But now I’m back to recap those last two whirlwind days of my first Fashion Week. Y’all ready? Let’s do this!

CVS Lounge

I knew my last two days of NYFW would wrap up fast, so I didn’t want to push myself. Already in my head, I was making plans for next Fashion Week. I don’t want to be caught not RSVP’d for such chic events ever again! Better to be safe than sorry I missed something amazing.

Sunday began with a fabulicious brunch with my friend Jenny and her boyfriend Shawn at Cowgirl — a Western themed brunch spot that is just BEYOND delicious. I am SO going there every time I’m in NYC! The cheese grits and poached eggs were so delicious I’m salivating even now, weeks after my meal there. If you live in NYC, make a trek to Cowgirl. Trust me!

After that, it was off to experience the CVS Reinventing Beauty Lounge. What’s that? Basically CVS hosted a gorgeous experience for writers, beauty bloggers, and other Fashion Week attendees at Robert Verdi’s amazing LuxeLaboratory. (photo courtesy of the fab Mischo Beauty).

OMG, you guys.
This place is gorge-ous. Lushly decorated, welcoming staff, delicious food (quinoa salad to die for! And let’s not even talk about the tower of cupcakes and other desserts), and delicious beverages courtesy of Blueprint Cleanse. Their juices are incredibly delicious. I could seriously go for one of their pineapple apple mint juices right now! AND I met Robert Verdi, and he was sweet as pie!

In the CVS Lounge, it was all about beauty. A manicurist was on hand, so you know I had to get my nails done. And I can tell you this — you’re going to hear a whole lot about Opulent Cloud, Tracy Reese’s exclusive shade for Sally Hansen HD. All Lacquered Up reviewed it earlier this year, but it’s about to make a big splash. Literally every blogger I met there was getting this gunmetal-grey-but-gold-in-the-light shade painted on their nails.

Sally Hansen HD Opulent Cloud by Tracy Reese

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After my exciting evening at the tents and tour of the city via pedicab, I was exhausted. But I had to get my butt in gear for the next day. I had a trek out to Brooklyn in store!

I ended Day 2 with a delicious Indian dinner in the Village with my best friend Jenny. Day 3, we got out early and had breakfast at the Waverly Restaurant, as classic a New York diner as you could want. Bagel all the way? Yes please.

After that I strolled along Sixth Avenue and stumbled across a sneaker store on 6th and Washington — the sign looks like this and I got a sick pair of silver high top Adidas for $35! And I NEEDED them because my feet were absolutely killing me pounding the pavement all over NYC. And I was in flats! Even flats can hurt, especially if they’re trying to be cute flats. Those sneaks were just what the podiatrist would have ordered.

After that I took the subway to Brooklyn — for the first time, by myself. Dun dun dunnnn! But it was generally an uneventful journey, and a friendly Brooklyn native set me straight on my path once I got off the train. On my way to Redress NYC!

I think every full figured fashionista owes herself at least one visit out to this crazy, wonderful, only in NYC boutique. Redress makes for a welcoming, kitschy, edgy, unconventional, great shopping experience. Customers are encouraged to share dressing rooms (which are named after full figured celebs like Mama Cass and Nell Carter). Clothes are arranged by type and size, and I found some excellent items on the dress rack in my size, and much, much larger. There are pants and jackets and shoes and skirts and on this special trunk show day, original garments and inspired remixes by designers from around the country. The crowd was extremely diverse in terms of sizes, ethnicity, sexual orientation, hair color… it was funky and fun and I was loving it! I must’ve tried on twelve dresses and four jackets before I settled on three must-have items — a chic long sleeved black minidress from Silhouettes that will last and look cute into the winter months, a cute peasant style embroidered blouse by Abby Z that is SO up my bohemian alley and I know I’ll wear season after season, and this adorable hooded pinstriped denim dress by Size Queen Clothing. So funky, so cute, so comfortable! LOVE it!

Then there was a fashion show by the designers, which can only be described as very bold.

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Hey bellas!
Computer issues and being on the go kept me away from blogging this weekend. But now I’m back (and still in NYC for the moment) to recap my last few days of Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week. On to day 2!

I had heard horror stories about picking up credentials at the Bryant Park tents, legends of hour long lines of annoyed fashionistas standing in the rain in their Louboutins. I didn’t encounter anything like that on Friday. I was in and out within 30 seconds, shiny Fashion Week credentials lanyard in hand. Maybe it was because the gift bags were gone? or because it was such a bleak, cold, rainy day? Either way, yay!

After picking up my credentials I decided to check out the lush lounge at the Bryant Park Hotel, sponsored by the wonderful people at Hautelook. An entire floor was transformed into a respite for bloggers and writers, stocked with brand new Sony Vaio computers, makeup and beauty brands, and all afternoon long bloggers I’d been dying to meet trickled in and out of the luxe space. I was psyched to meet many of my online friends, including the beauties behind Palacinka, Luxetips, Glambr of Beauty Blogging Junkie, and my sista over at Black Voices, Zandile Blay! That’s us, soaking up the Hautelook luxury. Loved it!

The lounge was such a great respite from the rain, I didn’t want to leave! But I had to — I was expected backstage at Jason Wu, to cover manicure trends for CND. I managed to finally flag down a cab after 20 minutes in the ceaseless rain, and made it over to the uber luxe St. Regis Hotel in time for 1 p.m. (the time I thought I was scheduled to arrive). No dice! This was the Devil Wears Prada moment that I feared.
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Wow, bellas! It’s been a long, crazy, wonderful day. I’m writing this from a cushy air mattress at my friend Jenny’s apartment… (you might recall, the one with all the stairs. Whew!)

Today was the official beginning of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week New York, and the city was absolutely electric. I got here this afternoon, and made myself fabulous for a big evening — tonight was Fashion’s Night Out! I understand this event took place around the world, but I’m willing to bet money that nowhere else was as happenin’ as New York City.

I kicked off the evening at the Bloomingdales in Soho — the Lancome counter was hosting a special event, and every counter was hopping with beauty lovers scooping up freebies and — gasp — shopping! Yup, from what I witnessed, Fashion’s Night Out was a great success. I was excited to be recognized and warmly greeted by fellow bloggers like Erika of the Makeup Bag, Lianne The Makeup Girl, and Nadine Jolie, among several other bloggers and twitter friends I was dying to meet!

The highlight of the evening was meeting stunning Dominican model Arlenis Sosa. She was so sweet and friendly and down to earth, it was a breath of fresh air. I had to ask her beauty secrets, and admittedly it was loud and I couldn’t hear everything she said, but she told me she uses tea tree oil in her hair, and doesn’t like to use much foundation or concealer. Instead she takes really great care of her skin and drinks a lot of water. Good to know!

After Bloomies and cocktails with Lianne, Nadine, The Sassy Peach, and Soul Afrodisiac, we headed to the Meatpacking District which was off. the. CHAIN. Crowded beyond belief. Paparazzi were posted in front of the high end stores — DVF, Alexander McQueen and Stella McCartney –but we found free drinks and the fabulous Karen Rabinovitz of Purple Lab. Karen is the petite dynamo behind killer lipgloss Huge Lips, Skinny Hips. And she secretly told us about her upcoming mascara which I predict will be a MAJOR hit. Amazing!

I had a blast tonight. NYFW kicked off with a bang. Tomorrow, I go to the tents at Bryant Park for the first time. And of course I’m gonna keep you all in the loop, so expect a post every night while I’m here!

Even though I’m far away, Trinidad will always be my home. And on days like today I miss the simple pleasures.

Like spending time with my family, going to visit my friends, eating good food like roti and doubles, shark and bake, pholourie, and pelau. I miss drinking Shandy and having the best rum available at the ready. I miss hearing the lapping waters of the ocean while looking back at verdant mountain ranges.

To my friends, family, and fans at home in Trinidad and Tobago, and my Trinis scattered around the world — Happy Independence Day!

Portrait of Trinidad – Mighty Sniper

New York, New York!

I have a love/hate relationship with the city, I can’t deny. I love it because there’s so much to see and do and experience! It’s the epicenter of absolutely everything I’m into – writing, blogging, beauty, style, good food, fun…

I hate it because I don’t live there.

Don’t get me wrong, I just moved to the Chi and I’m happy to be here! But I’ll be damned – doesn’t it seem like EVERY hot event is in NYC? What’s with that?

Every time I visit New York, it’s hard for me to leave. I always leave with a feeling of loss, of imcompleteness, of wait – there’s SO much more I wanted to do here! But I reassure myself with the knowledge that I’ll be back. I just visited in March, and I’m already plotting my return. Did someone say Fashion Week? Hell yeah! Next time I visit NYC, I’ve got 5 places I need to spend more time at. Here they are, in no particular order.

1. The East Village. Every time I come visit, I stay with my homegirl Jenny in the West Village. And it’s super fun for sure… but I’m new to the East Village. And it just has a flavor to it that I LOVE. Mohawked punk rockers strolling alongside silver haired abuelitas dragging little suitcases on wheels, hair colors, piercings, and tattoos the likes of which you don’t see regularly anyplace else, and a plethora — PLETHORA of funky restaurants, boutiques, and bars to check out. I darted in and out of Max Brenner, Chocolate By the Bald Man for a fabulicious hot chocolate, and I NEED MORE. This place is a chocolaholic’s mecca, I swear! En route we whizzed through Village Kitchen — I could spend a grip in a store like this! Every kind of kitchen gadget you’ve imagined, and a score more you’ve never seen before. If you imagine yourself an at-home like I do, this could be your little corner of heaven. Another store I have-to-have-to-have-to visit next time I’m in NYC is a teeny jewelry shop that all but yanked me in as I strolled by. When I met the owner, I realized fate had stepped into my life yet again. The store’s called The Shape of Lies and the owner’s name is Peggy. Just like my mom!

The Shape of Lies specializes in historic reproduction jewelry, and some of their pieces are just stunners. I almost don’t want to blog about them too much because there’s a necklace there that is MINE, you read me? MINE! As soon as I can pony up the cash! Their jewelry isn’t cheap, but it certainly will get you noticed and remembered. I have made a promise to gift myself with a little something from The Shape of Lies. If you’re ever in the neighborhood, please stop by and tell Peggy you read about her on Afrobella!

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