Day four with fashion blogger Textstyles.ca behind the scenes at New York Fashion Week, Fall 2011

Photography by Stefania Yarhi

9:00 am: My day starts with coffee (of course) and my favourite yogurt with granola from Starbucks (no this is not an advertorial). Satiated, I hail a cab to Lincoln Centre.
9:35 am: Run in to catch the
Trias presentation. Having built a reputation on the fact he’s dressed Michelle Obama, I’m really excited to see what’s in store.  Timeless designs in a muted palette; many of these pieces will find their way into my wardrobe for Fall 2011.
10:40 am: Because no two shows can be remotely close to one another, I’m flying down to MILK Studios to see
Rad by Rad Hourani. I feel a moment of proud patriotism as I fall in love with his unisex and transformable designs. The grey flannel, the origami folds…. I. Love. Every. Piece.
11:00 am: I need to stretch my legs, so I take a walk down Washington St. I pop into
Scoop. Then around the corner , I check out the new-to-New York
All Saints: the window display is hundreds of Singer sewing machines made into a grid. Very industrial chic.
11:30 am: A table for one at
Pastis. Me, Tina Fey’s piece in the New Yorker and a Croque Monsieur. Divine.

1:00 pm: Back to the grind, I walk into Pier 94  for the Diesel Black Gold runway show. There are thousands of people, hundreds of meters of scaffolding, lights and cameras. There’s a swarm in front of me and then I notice it’s Chace Crawford from Gossip Girl and with him Vanessa Hudgens. Just over to their right is Joe Zee, Creative Director for ELLE and everyone’s fav editor on MTV’s The City. These are the shows that you feel the scope and total scale of where you are: the epicentre of fabulous.

Joe Zee, Creative Director at ELLE

1:25 pm: Show starts and the collection is bohemian grunge. Yards of leather legs, thick corduroy flared jeans, fur-trimmed coats and jackets.
DBG is always rock ‘n roll.
2:00 pm: Typing, filing, uploading.
5:00 pm: Sleep, oh how I wish i could sleep….
5:45 pm: I’m out the door. I have 4 presentations to check out and 2 hours to get them all in. It’s me against the clock.
6:00 pm:
Concept Korea curated by Valerie Steele. Four Korean designers: Doho, General Idea, Steve & Yoni P, and Lie Sang Bong. Great way to see new talent. Youthful, fun and very trendy.
6:40 pm: From Lincoln Center down to the Standard Hotel.
Bodkin‘s presentation so different from the last. The vibe is California cool, cut away from the body in natural fibers and earthy tones. I run around the models standing on platforms, but I can’t get sucked into the relaxo vibe. I gotta go!
7:15 pm: Traveling East to the Rivington, I know I can make it. At a small boutique, designer
Sunghee Bang shows her small collection. The inspiration:  nomadic travel. Think thick wool knits and ankle-grazing skirts, lapels that fall to the navel; all pieces are all an exercise in movement.
7:45 pm: Two blocks down, in a gallery on a corner, homegirl
Rita Liefhebber has set up her Fall 2011 presentation. (See how I scheduled that?) This season Liefhebber worked her fingers hard: handmade leather buttons, braided necklaces, hand dyed textiles and reversible pieces. On my wishlist: the leather sleeveless tee lined in silk.

Rita Liefhebber Fall 2011 Presentation

9:30 pm: After all that running around,  and then a couple of glasses of vino (ok, maybe more than a couple), I’m famished. Rita introduces me to
Freemans: a tiny restaurant down an alley, all twinkle lights and delicious atmosphere. Over shared artichoke dip and five cheese macaroni we talk shop.