Here are my diary entries from the week.
“For some people, Fashion Week lasts all year.”
~unknown
Monday, September 20
Usually a quiet day for Kansas City Fashion Week. Shows don’t start until Tuesday or Wednesday and the famous Garden Party has happened over the weekend. Monday is a final day of prep for the planners and designers, schedule tweaks, sound and lighting tests without having the models rehearsing on the runway or filling the backstage holding areas.
But for me, Monday was a travel day and baby’s first airplane ride!
We spent as much time as possible outside so that he could get the wiggles out and carefully packed food, drinks, and books to keep him occupied. We hoped he’d sleep at least a little bit on the plane but no such luck.
We landed around 9 PM, baby fell asleep on the shuttle ride, picked up our rental car — for once, exactly the one I had requested! — and drove the 40 min from KC’s airport to our hotel across the highway from this season’s runway venue.
Tuesday, September 21
Another family day for me before the crazy of full-blown Fashion Week. We recoevered from our previous days’ travel, checked out the local parks and aquarium that we thought G would enjoy, and I took care of some last-minute grooming so I knew I’d be ready for anything I’d be wearing on the catwalk on Saturday.
As prepared as we thought we were to travel with a baby, we still had to stop at a grocery store to pick up more baby food, more baby formula mix, and a new sippy cup because somewhere between Houston and Kansas City we lost his in the airport.
Oh! and baby is WALKING! Like really truly walking. He still looks a little bit like a zombie but he’s figuring it out quickly.
Dinner was going to be tricky for the rest of the week because of the fashion shows, so I ate my fill of my favorite spicy chicken wings at Buffalo Wild Wingsafter a disappointing hunt for mac & cheese taught us that everything yummy closes early in Overland Park.
Wednesday, September 22
Night One! And my first night in the audience as a Media Team member. Let’s reminisce about that front row seating for a minute.
Show starts at 7 and doors opened at 6. Because I had grabbed drinks with a friend in our old neighborhood after work (more like a quick status meeting in the office and then lunch at our favorite Kansas City bbq restaurant) I was a little late to the pre-show festivities: red carpet, bar, dance party.
I found my seat, settled in, and then got a very exciting email: a second designer had selected me to walk the next night! I texted the bookings coordinator immediately that I was available tomorrow and got ready to watch the fashion show.
Don’t miss my night one recap and see some of the designer’s beautiful collections here.
Thursday, September 23
Another full day. Coffee with a friend at Chez Elle on the west side of downtown KC — the only place in the US that makes a proper Latte Miel — and introducing her to my little one.
A couple hours in the office working with my boss & communicating with clients and colleagues. Also more introductions for the baby.
Work lunch at an old fav from when we lived in KC.
And then dropped off backstage for hair and makeup and fittings before the show! I tried on 3 different garments from Hols.e‘s collection and wanted to wear all of them! She selected her Caonabo Top which was beautiful and sheer and had a hood paired with a silky drawstring skirt and some killer nude heels!
Hair was complicated but makeup was simple and natural which is good because there are 20 models walking for just this one desginer! I’m so grateful I had everything packed in my model bag so that no matter what I wore or how they wanted to my hair I was prepared. Having said that, there were a few items that. had been left behind in the hotel room (lotion and nail polish remover) that I was able to reclaim when Grandma brought my baby boy backstage for a quick visit and another round of introductions.
And because Hols.e opened the show tonight, I was able to change out of my runway look and back into my own clothes to watch the rest of the show.
Friday, September 24
Family lunch and family dinner are on the calendar, but it’s a pretty relaxed day despite my sweet little cherub baby waking us all up well before 7 AM. There’s definitely some downsides to having baby’s crib in the same room.
This evening I wear one my favorite outfits I packed – a suede jacket with colorful fringe and some fun heels. It feels like the most “fashionable” I’ve been as an audience member this week.
Again, I wasn’t as early as I would have liked to have been. But I bought myself a glass of wine and was still able to mingle with some guests who had friends or children in the show.
My seat wasn’t nearly as good as it had been the first two nights (row 1, close to the photographer pit). This time, I was in the second row and very close to the entrance to the runway. No good.
I moved myself to the end of the runway and made friends with the photographers and other media members hovering where the models would strike their final poses. Much better.
Saturday, September 25
It’s the final night of Kansas City Fashion Week and what a week it has been! There’s no way I could have made it to work, met up with friends, and made it to the shows without some grandma help and magic.
Which is only one of the reasons why I was so excited that my mom came with us on this trip.
The other reason is that she was finally able to come to a runway show!
We decide that visiting a petting zoo is the thing to do on a Saturday morning, so we get packed and loaded and on the road to be there by 9:15 AM. Of course, baby boy falls asleep en route and we push his snoozing self through the first part of the park while we admire the animals and wait for him to wake up.
Worth the wait though because I have the cutest video of him trying to hug goats!
The drive-thru line at Chick fil A sets us back a bit despite our careful planning and route mapping, so we opt to drop me directly at the show and bring my model bag to me later. I had almost packed it with us this morning but decided against leaving it unattended while we were inside the petting zoo.
Call time is noon and we have rehearsal before we’re able to get into hair and makeup. I tell my mom that I hope she makes a nail appointment so that she can relax and enjoy before showtime. When she arrives early, I meet her quickly with cash for the bar, some candy to snack on, and a quick description of the show schedule and where I’m at in the line-up for tonight (third to last) so she can have her camera ready.
Sunday, September 26
Time to go home.
We visit friends at our old church and baby gets to play the piano with daddy before a final lunch with B’s grandpa.
Flight’s go much smoother this time with a happy baby (that even slept on the last leg of our journey!). We had one mad dash through the Houston airport when our plane from KC landed early but didn’t have a gate for us to deplane in, but all ended well.
Until next season!
