Kimonos and Cocktails!

Hi there!

Just got in from Kara Janx's event - hosted by Girlshop Boutique. What a way to spend one of my long teacher/vacation summer days - cocktails, fashion and friends in NYC's West Village!

Well this time the commute (and the weather) worked out much better! I left NJ around 4:30 even though I knew the sale didn't start until 6. There was no traffic coming across the bridge and I even found street parking! I walked around the trendy West Village, window-shopped at Stella McCartney and browsed around Scoop NYC until the time came.

As soon as I got there, Kara ran over and greeted me! It's always great to see her and she was wearing her new kimono top (it's the dress condensed to a top and it looks great with jeans - Kara, we'll talk soon hehe!). I then spotted BeePeR Daphne and guess what - she was wearing her kimono dress! Daphne apparently has been to Girlshop before and she was chatting with the store's owner, Laura (see my pics for a shot of Laura, Kara and Daphne's hand!). Laura was very sweet and went all out on the event! The drinks, provided by Midori were flowing (Midori Margaritas and Midori Cosmpolitans) and there was a buffet as well! Kara was incredibly busy helping people in the dressing rooms, which I was very glad to see.

Girlshop also has some amazing items as well. Check them out at www.girlshop.com!

Daphne and I grabbed a bite to eat and discussed last night's show and our passion for Project Runway. As we were talking, Emmett and Dimitry (who not only designed EMc2, but the class Tim Gunn t-shirts and coming soon - the Tim bobblehead!) arrived. The cutest little girl came over with her Mom to have her picture taken with him (again - see my pics). There are some exciting things happening at EMc2 as well. It's so good to see them all doing so well and it's always great to spend time with Emmett and Dimitry!

(Is it true that today is Tim Gunn's birthday?? If it is - Happy Birthday Tim!)

There were so many people trying on Kara's creations. I did manage to get a pic of the table at the door with the kimono top on it. Many of the Girlshop employees and Kara's new assistant were all wearing her designs and looked fabulous!

I looked outside and saw a ton of people standing around. I wondered what was going on and walked over and saw that Malan had arrived! People were telling him how it wasn't fair that he was "auf'ed" and he was delighted to see how many fans he had! He was showing me some photos that he brought of his "muse" and his new collection that he will be showing at Fashion Week. Hopefully he will send me the photographs so we can show them here. He said that anything BPR needs, he will send us!

I headed out around 8:00 (the event was ending at 8:30). If Keith was there, he must have stopped by after I left. I was hoping to catch him. I did however, run into BeePerS Jesse and Max and they told me how much the love the site! I got a picture of them as well!

The pictures aren't my best, but I did get some of Kara, Emmett and Malan (some of them have random fans in them - if you're reading this and you're one of them, please comment so we know who you are!) I also got some of the store itself - it's a really nice place and I'm sure I'll be back down there soon!

Here they are! Enjoy!


http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v394/TrishDish1002/Girlshop%20event/

Trish

oh and also...

...a shoutout to Valerie Brown, Manager of Consumer Marketing of Bravo, who was sure to give me her card and tell me how much she loves BPR!

EMc2 event

My day at the EMc2 event!

Wow - what a day!

I had originally planned to leave my house in New Jersey around 3:30 to arrive in the city, park my car (I found a lot online) and get over to EMc2. I was going to visit the store, hang out for a bit, leave and then head over to Bar Bossa for the show.

Around the time I was planning to leave, thunder/lightning started over here, so after watching the weather report (from our reliable Sam Champion here in the tri-state area!) I figured I'd wait a bit and then head over. I actually got in the car around 4.

I made it over the bridge and down the West Side Highway fairly easily when suddenly the skies OPENED!!! All I could think was a. OMG I can't see 2 feet in front of me! and b. OMG the garden at Emmett's store!!! Finally after sitting on Canal Street for forever (see pic on my site!) I made it to the lot on Mulberry Street, parked and walked over to EMc2 (a few blocks). I was going to wait in the garage for it to let up, but it just didn't seem like that would ever happen (plus I was excited! hehe!).

When I got there, the party had just moved inside and people were wet, humid and as Daphne put it "bedraggled" (quoting Andrae of course!) but spirits were high! I walked around and introduced myself to as many people as I could. One of the first people that stood out in the crowd was Tarah (Nick/Zulema's model from Season 2). Nick of course was in the vicinity of "his muse" (as he kept referring to her as) and I met him. He is so charming, friendly and down to Earth that I feel as if we are best friends now! She and her sister were wearing beautiful dresses from Nick's collection! I also met Chloe and her sister. Those 2 girls are so hard-working! Very sweet! Kara was of course nice as could be and recognized me from the tour! I told Nick that I brought my MyScene Barbie, but I left it in my car because I wanted to ask if he would be so kind to sign it before I carried it around. He was so excited and said "of course", so I thought - the rain had let up a little and the store was really crowded - I'd run to my car then.

When I got back - cue the trumpets - Tim had arrived!!!! I walked in and Nick, Tim, Chloe, Emmett and Kara were posing for pictures. (see my pic link for those shots too!). Sometime after that, Chloe started yelling "Tim has to "carry on" to the outside area!" I think that either a. it was cooler out there and b. she wanted to get Tim away from the racks, which were located right there so people could continue to shop! Some people did move outside and Tim was so gracious - when Emmett told him I was from BPR his face lit up and he told me how much he loves us (and especially Laura). I assured him the feeling was mutual! While outside we were greeted by even more special guests. Grace (Chloe's model), Diana Eng, and Malan and Amanda (who we now know is Alison's model) from Season 3! They were excited about tonight and all heading over to Keith's later to watch the episode! Grace and Chloe had a great time checking out the Elle magazine spread (got pics of that too!). I also had a great time chatting with Dimitry and the employees of EMc2 - they're always so warm and friendly! Kara's fiancee also met her there and Kara told me that the wedding will take place January 14, 2007 in South Africa!

The popular activity of the day - purchasing Tim Gunn t-shirts (designed by Dimitry) and having them signed. I cannot tell you how gracious ALL the designers were about doing that. Often times that had to stop showing garments to deal with fans and NONE of them missed a beat! It was amazing! I decided to join the trend. I not only got an autographed t-shirt myself, but I got my Barbie signed by both NICK AND TARAH (even though I had already asked Tarah, Nick kept saying, "make sure you get Tarah!") Boy does he loves her so!

When Emmett saw me getting my shirt signed, he told me that he wanted to get 2 more signed - one for Laura and one for the BPR Parsons Scholarship Fund for us to auction! He asked if I wouldn't mind bringing them around and of course I was thrilled! Wait until you guys see them! Emmett is going to fed-ex them to you Laura (he even signed the Scholarship one "Parsons Class of '88!")! Tim and Emmett were being interviewed by the New York Post while all this was going on so they were busy and Tim didn't get out of there until well after 7!

I then decided to stick around for a while, then around 8 since I knew the store would be closing soon, I'd walk to my car, put my Barbie away and then head back to see what was happening at Bar Bossa. I got back to the store and our good friend Debby was just getting ready to leave. She wanted to get a picture of the two of us and other noted BeePeR Daphne, so I went back into the store to get Daphne. They (and Daphne's friend Andi) were great! I really enjoyed getting to know all of them! I also loved the guy who got HIS CHEST autographed by the designers and the little girl who came with her Mom. She was so excited! I also believe I saw our "woman with the yellow coat" from our tour outside the store as well (Diane?)!

The designers were exhausted, the shoppers were hot and tired as well and since Emmett said there was a snafu with Bar Bossa (the owner was having trouble with the TV and he claims there was "no reservation"), the viewing party didn't work out. After speaking with Emmett, I went over and spoke to him, but I didn't see anyone in the bar that I recognized, the designers weren't going and Daphne and Andi left also. I decided to just pick up my car 2 hours early, save some money and watch the show at home. I am glad - because around 11:00, the thunder/lightning started again, so it was a good thing I didn't stick around only to get stuck in the rain - again! I do wish though that I had reconnected with those 2 people that I had told I would be there. I hope they didn't wait around!

It was a fun night - I'm still all wound up!

Here's the picture link:

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v394/TrishDish1002/EMc2%20event/

Trish