It sounds cliché but it’s true: the morning I reported to cover New York Fashion Week, one could only describe me as a kid in a candy store – but with five-inch-heels on my feet and a latte in my hand.
Soloni Behl in the Tents at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week
When we got our press badges and entered the backstage of the Honor Fall 2012 Fashion Show (featuring designer Giovanna Randall), I got a first-hand look of the models pre-runway, as well as the hustle and bustle of what it takes to coordinate a successful runway show.
Backstage, the models were in various stages of readiness, and I noticed a calm and confidence among most of them. Test runs began on the runway as celebrities began trickling in, most notably Kristin Chenoweth of ABC’s new show, GCB; Shailene Woodley of “The Descendants”; and model and V.J. Alexa Chung. Randall’s runway theme was airy, full of fairytale; the clothing, made of light fabrics, was colorful yet understated.
At the Tadashi Shoji 2012 Fall Collection, the show started with a bang, featuring upbeat music and clothing that accentuated the female silhouette. Colors featured included cobalt blue, purples, oranges, and various shades of black. Shoji’s dresses were adorned with long trains, cut-outs in the back, and intricate lace and netting. At the finale, a nervous but happy Shoji waved to the audience. Among the guests was Aisha Tyler, co-host of The Talk and Angela Simmons designer of Pastry Shoes and reality star of Run’s House.
Tadashi Shoji Fall 2012 Collection
At the last show of the day was by Chadwick Bell, I began to feel a sense of disappointment as the day’s events were coming to a close. But then the lights dimmed; the music blasted; everyone’s heads turned to the runway. I could see iPhones turned on, ready to tweet opinions of the show in real time. The runway was full of peplum dresses, pencil skirts, high-waisted pants, and fur aplenty. The 2012 Fall Collection were tailored for the career woman, with a hint of glamour.
Chadwick Bell 2012 Fall Collection
Some of my highlights during the rest of the week included posing for a picture with my favorite actress, Shenae Grimes of 90210, conducting my first on-camera interview with Maren Hartman of WGSN, and leading an interview with design house Falguni & Shane Peacock (the designer for Madonna’s dancers in the halftime show of the 2012 Superbowl).
Maren Hartman of WGSN interviews with Soloni Behl
- NYFW: A Kid in a Candy Store - August 10, 2012