New York Fashion Week Spring / Summer 2011: Weekend Part 3

By: Finance Foodie 

(continued from part 2)

The last and final day of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week (for me at least)! Without further ado, let’s jump on in.

The Eats:
Le Souk Harem
510 Laguardia Place
New York, NY

After taking care of some non-fashion business in the morning, I headed over to The Daily’s Beauty Bar at the Townhouse Spa. An inside (or maybe not so inside – perhaps I’m just late to the game) tip for all you hungry fashionistas out there -- the food is lacking at the tents because it’s all tucked away in special lounges around town for Various Important People where they can get pampered and rest between shows. Since I’m nowhere near the top of the fashion food chain, I usually (always) am shocked (thrilled) when I get invited to hang out in these private enclaves.

I arrived at Townhouse, excited to get a pedicure on my heel wearing tired feet. As I went to the drying station, who should be sitting next to me but Adrienne Bailon (of The Cheetah Girls fame)! I was not expecting this and quite unprepared – but I managed to ask her about which shows she was in town for (Alice +Olivia) and complement her manicure. She was very nice and talkative, although I wonder why she was wearing sunglasses at a spa (and FYI, no, I didn’t ask her about that out loud). Anyways, an exciting start to the morning.

So after my pedicure (I got the DS Magic from O.P.I – it was very ummm….blue), I grabbed a bite to eat from Le Souk Harem, who was catering the event and provided a few sample bite-sized apps from their menu. The stand out was the watermelon and demiati cheese – a very interesting combination of light and heavy, but it worked.  I also had an Elysian Surprise cocktail, made from concord grape reduction, simple syrup, lemon, and vodka. The Elysian is a new fashion themed hotel that just opened in Chicago (hence the name of the drink and the sponsorship of the event). If their deliciously refreshing cocktail symbolizes the quality of their hotel, then book me the next flight to Chi-town asap!

The Shows:
Monique Lhuillier
The Stage @Lincoln Center
French/Spanish/Philippine Monique Lhuillier is best known for her gorgeous wedding gowns (for fans of The Hills, she designed the swan-princess like number for the Speidi nuptial), but she also designs a collection of pretty and wearable dresses for day and night. Her Garden of Eden themed collection had chic shift dresses that would be perfect for an afternoon tea at Upstairs on the Square to floor sweeping Cinderella like gowns that would make the wearer the belle of the ball during Boston’s gala season.

Fun Fact: Celebrity central! I was three rows directly above a good chunk of Young Hollywood (Jessica Stroup from 90210, Odette Yustman from Cloverfield, Gilmore Girl Alexis Bledel, Julia Robert's niece Emma Roberts, Maggie Grace from Lost) as well as chef Giada De Laurentiis and Perrey Reeves from Entourage. The City’s Olivia Palermo, who is even prettier in person, was also first row across the aisle.

90210's Jessica Stroup

The City / Elle's Olivia Palermo (second from L)

Whew! And that was my weekend folks!