New York Fashion Week: Food?

By: Finance Foodie

Ahhh Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in New York City. A week where a bevy of beautiful models, glamorous celebs, wealthy socialites, and powerful fashion editors all gather to determine "what and who" is "in or out" among the fickle world of fashion. However, one thing that is definitely not "in" is the availability of food. As you can see from the stories below, a liquid diet is de rigueur for show attendees.

Flashback: Fashion Week 2007

I was starving and about to pass out after attending shows all day with my fashionista friend. I finally spot a plate of 'Witchcraft sandwiches sitting on a table. Yes, I think to myself, the Food Gods have finally taken pity and tossed me bone.

As I am about to pick up a sandwich…
Tipsy Male Fashionista (TMF): “Oh honey, I wouldn’t if I were you”
Me: “Why?”
TMF: “Those will go straight to your hips and you are not lacking there sister”
Me: “Excuse me?!?”
TMF: “Honey, in this business you gotta be fierce like a fox and hungry like a wolf”
Even though I was a tad insulted about the hips comment, I still ate the sandwich to refuel. At that point, the only thing keeping me conscious and speaking was the sharp pains from standing all day in my stilettos...

Present Time: Fashion Week 2009

This season, due to the dismal economic situation and correlating budget cuts, I had a sneaking suspicion that even the “straight to my hips” sandwiches would not be available. However, I was interested in seeing what offerings would keep the fashionistas nourished enough to remain sassy and catty...I mean chatty. I sent Team Finance Foodie’s New York-based correspondent Anna Fang to check out the food offerings in the Tents. Here's a look at her findings:

McCafe Coffee: So apparently McDonald's is now a sponsor of Fashion Week! Not in a million years would I have ever put the two and two together (I think “fatty” not “fashion” when I hear the McDonald’s name). I do love the new McCafe coffees though, and judging the by the mob at the booth, so do the fashionistas.
Candy: The candy in the jars were the only solid food I found in the Tents, but this booth was closed! The thought of throwing my stiletto to smash the jars open crossed my mind more than a few times…
Alcohol: Inevitably and not surprisingly, this ended up as my main source of sustenance.
I'm hungry but I give up. There is no food. Cute outfits though!

So there you have it: Fashion + Food = Wistful Thinking. All and all, Fashion Week is a fun and interesting experience, but I think my current two "F"s are enough for me!