NEW YORK CITY: The places to see and how to survive your first fashion week!
I’ve always loved the idea of visiting New York City in the winter because nothing is more exciting than a fabulous excuse to get out of Los Angeles and get in the snow. Particularly during February when the climate is cold and you want to break out your winter wardrobe. For my recent visit to NY, I descended upon my first Fashion Week for the spring season and I can tell you one thing, it was nothing like i expected. Mind you, I was only there for three days so you can imagine cramming 7 days of content into 3 glorious days. I was basically surviving off of espresso and snuck in a few meals here and there. The adrenaline was real. I want to tell you about my personal experience because mine, unlike many others, was a bit different. I paid some visits to some of my favorite places around the city that are truly beautiful and remind me of the romance of New York. There were some ups and downs of the trip but all in all, it was a great one. Let’s start with some of the locations that are a must see when you visit!
Times Square
Our first location was Times Square. The quintessential tourist spot for anyone and everyone who is visiting New York. So much in fact, that New Yorkers themselves seem to stray from the area. I found myself lost among the colors and architecture of the buildings and somewhere between the neon signs and Broadway symbols, I felt alive. It was extremely chilly and I had nothing on but a sweater and a skirt and for some reason, it didn’t bother me in the slightest. If you follow me on Instagram, you will notice my feed is all about using colors in my photos so this was a prime location to shoot (despite dodging thousands of people to get the perfect shot). Times Square is a perfect spot to people watch as they have many interesting characters there.
The New York Public Library
I have wanted to shoot at The New York Public Library forever. Not only does it hold some of the greatest love stories of all time, but it also filmed my favorite show, Sex and The City, on those very steps. Do you remember the scene where Big stands up Carrie at the alter? And she is seen running down those same steps. Yes, I know, I’m a cheeseball but I can’t help the fact that I am the very definition of a hopeless romantic. When you approach the library and all of it’s grandeur, you are mesmerized by all the intrinsic details and the elaborate design of the building. It’s truly a work of art. I wore my very favorite gown by Marchesa and I love that we shot it just in time for Valentine’s Day as it was the perfect romantic location. I felt like a princess the entire time. It was magical to say the least.
Brooklyn Bridge
This past December, I was in NYC visiting my sister and I had the privilege of taking a helicopter ride over Manhattan. It was a gift for my husband for Christmas. We flew directly over The Brooklyn Bridge and never having visited it, I was determined to go back and take a walk on it. It was magnificent and refreshing. We were surrounded by the cool, crisp air coming off of The Hudson River and despite getting knocked over by a few bitter bikers, it was a cool experience. On the bridge, there is a walkway, solely for pedestrians and bikers, but you must be careful, as those kids from Brooklyn crossover, they don’t have the patience to wait for you. They will knock you down (I actually watched a girl almost take down an elderly woman) Just word to the wise. The view from the bridge is breathtaking and you get to experience lower part of Manhattan on you’re route there.
Central Park
If you want a quiet location in the city, somewhere to drown out the noise, than look no further than Central Park. Covering 843 acres, its the fifth largest park in New York City and it is located between the Upper West Side and Upper East Side of the city. During the winter, it is very cold but the summers are great to wander around and bask in the sun. It allows your mind to reset in a city that never sleeps and you can walk for miles just unwinding and spending time alone. It’s a wonderful way to escape temporarily from the sirens and screams of the great metropolis. I rocked this vintage coat for this shoot and I felt like I stepped back into 1975. I pictured seeing John Lennon walking thru Central Park with Yoko Ono. So groovy!
Washington Square Park
Another park in the city that steals my heart is Washington Square Park. Located in Greenwich Village, in Lower Manhattan, this park is known for it’s cultural activity and is dominated by The Washington Square Arch. Let me paint a better picture for you…when we pulled up and walked up to the arch, a man was playing an old piano in the park’s center and there were pigeons everywhere. He was singing a cover of Billy Joel and everyone around him was listening intently. It was memorable and unique and adds to the character of the park. People will sit there all day playing games and feeding wildlife (squirrels included). It feels like one big family. Definitely one of the hip places to visit while in The Big Apple!
The Oculus
Also known as the The WTC (World Trade Center) Transportation Hub in Lower Manhattan. This particular hub replaced The Path train station that was destroyed in the 9/11 attacks. In the center of the hub, there is The Oculus, a fascinating steel and glass structure that was designed by Santiago Calatrava! (If you can recall about my article covering Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he also designed the building there known as “The Calatrava”, similar in design. The Oculus represents a dove in flight (hence why the building is shaped like a dove) . It is an architectural masterpiece, even though many people are upset that it cost $4 billion to build. Despite the reviews around it, it’s a must-see when visiting NY!
New York Fashion Week
Ok, so now that I have covered some of my favorite locations around the city, I want to tell you all about my first NYFW experience. It was pretty incredible as I was able to go with a few blogger friends and we had the royal treatment! All thanks to DreamDry and Pucker Makeup! Before we started our day, we would head over to the beautiful, DreamDry salon, located in The Flatiron District and would get our hair and makeup done by some of New York’s finest! They were professional, creative, and did an amazing job! I would love to work with them again the future :) They knew exactly what we wanted and how we wanted to be styled and they delivered successfully. It was the dream team I have always wanted for a creative shoot. Thanks again ladies!
Love Pucker Makeup!
I went for a cat eye to add some more drama!
Ready for my close up!
Attending you’re first Fashion Week? What you need to know before you go:
DOWNLOAD THE GPS RADAR APP: You can do so here! This is the Holy Bible during fashion week. It is your survival guide and will be your main ticket into shows. Download the app on your phone and you have to get approved. FYI: You can not be approved with a Gmail account. It needs to be a separate email account. If you are intending on going in September, the earlier the better to get approved.
Approved! Here’s what you do: the shows will start listing on your phone on the app and you can apply to attend. You will see little arrows that are yellow. Once you submit, you have to wait to have them turn green before you can attend. If still yellow, that means you have not been approved yet.
Travel with friends! If you are attending alone, reach out to your fellow friends and bloggers who would love to travel with you! Traveling with friends will cut the cost in half and you can get cute photos with each other and together!
Make a plan of attack! Having a plan is the most useful tool before you go, especially if you only have a certain amount of time. Traveling around the city and choosing outfits takes time so be prepared! Pick out the locations you want to shoot at before you go!
Had to take a shot in the subway!
NYC wouldnt be the same without my friends!
Love these girls!