My VIP Guide to Fashion Week

Take a deep breath New York Fashion Week is about to begin!

First I will model at Bloomingdales for FNO. Next, I am off tocover the trends that come down the runways, get backstage and up close &personal with the pros that make it happen!

One of the coolestthings about fashion week are the VIP and celeb lounges and gifting suites! Ifyou’re not at the shows the Empire Hotel will be the place to see and beseen this Fashion Week -located just steps away from Lincoln Center the hotel willplay host to a number of activities throughout the week.    

This yearI was invited to attend the premier GBKgift lounge.

This event will bevisited by celebrities, stylists, models, buyers and industry VIP’s. Yourstruly scored and invite! Last year’s guests included Lindsay Lohan, KirstieAlley, Star Jones, Phillip Bloch, Broadway star Constantine Maroulis and more.This year’s event is shaping up into another must-attend Fashion Week event forcelebrities and industry icons alike.

I got the buzz that thisyear’s lounge will be styled with the artistic fresh floral artwork of Flowersof the World with a special fashion-themed signature piece. Withinthis luxury setting, guests will enjoy complimentary beauty services includingmakeup applications from Presenting Sponsor Hard Candy. Celebritymakeup artists will be utilizing the award-winning brand and each attendee willbe gifted a selection of the best sellers in the Hard Candy collection. Naildesigns will be provided by imPRESS Press-On Manicure by Broadway Nails –the revolutionary way to apply polish allowing you to get salon-perfectmanicure in seconds with no glue. Simply peel off, press on and you’re done!Also on site to enhance the lounge: Scunci – Can’t commit tobangs? Scunci stylists will be providing complimentary Scunci faux bangs.

Other luxury sponsorsinclude: Presenting Sponsor Pilot Pen, known for offeringsuperlative writing instruments renowned for quality, performance, cutting-edgetechnology and consumer satisfaction, will be gifting their Frixion (pronouncedfriction) erasable pens and their Ageless pen; Izlla, eco-luxuryface and body products, gifting their Fresh Sweet Carrot Facial Day Crème,Urban Elements Defense Serum and Peace Facial Serum; G Wear, uniquerecycled fashion shirts; New York City Cosmetic and General Dentistry,New York City’s top private concierge cosmetic and general dentistry provider,gifting $1500 gift certificates towards exclusive private “on location”concierge dental and medical services; Baan Unrak Conscious Collection: SUK pants, hand woven pants by Thai locals and mothers of Baan Unrak – acommunity in Thailand that cares for 150 children from difficultbackgrounds; MODAY, gifting sexy, classy contemporary slips andcamisoles for the everyday modern woman; RevitaLash, DramatEYE’sand beautify with the RevitaLash® family of conditioning and color cosmetics,gifting Hair ADVANCED, RevitaBrow ADVANCED and more; gift certificatesfrom Beyond the Rack, North America’s premier online shopping club,offering its members the most sought-after designer brand apparel, accessories,beauty, and home décor products at up to 80% off retail; Jada Toys,Inc., gifting their Cutie Pops which are trendy fashion dolls that comewith special “style pops” that allow you to decorate them from head to toecreating the ultimate fashion looks; and Caribbean Living Magazine willbe gifting each celebrity a one-week stay in the Caribbean.

Fashion accessoriesand jewelry are always a highlight of GBK lounges where variousstyles from funky and fresh, to high-end luxury pieces satisfy the many tastesof our trend-setting guests. This year’s Fashion Week Styling Lounge willhighlight Misahara Jewelry, inspired by world travel and featuringquality gem stones, will be gifting their unity charm representing their firstcollection of their ultra luxury jewelry collection; Hot RockJewelry.com, gifting custom gold-plated pendant and chain featuring theirflaming diamond logo and message “Your Life Has Meaning”; a watch collectionby Marc Coblen - an innovative, new fashion brand that boastsover 40,000 style combinations all in one watch; and BLINKZGEAR,Urban+Life Messenger Bags with cool graphic designed zip out front covers.Artist Candice Shaw will compliment the BLINKZGEAR bags with a customdesigned GBK logo in honor of this year’s Fashion Week event.

While exploring theselection of gifts and latest fashion finds, guests will enjoy gourmetrefreshments from Coco Café, the new coffee drink with the buzz oforganic espresso and fresh coconut water creating the perfect pick me up–morning, noon and night;Brugal Extra Dry Rum, the pride of theDominican Republic as the only 100% Dominican rum; Wine Chateau,one of the most experienced wine retailers online offering a vast selection ofwines from around the world; and Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co.,providing “fresh from the farm” all-natural, hand-crafted cheese from PointReyes, CA.

Its not just aboutcelebs & swag! Remaining true to GBK’s foundational belief of givingback, this year’s Fashion Lounge will benefit Dress for SuccessWorldwide, an international not-for-profit organization that promotes theeconomic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire,a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive inwork and in life. For more information, please visit www.dressforsuccess.org.