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FINAL NEW YORK diary ’15

So long New York City. I’m writing this post while waiting for our flight at JFK where we are drinking our traditional glass of white wine before we board. It’s insane how quick two (two!) weeks in New York flew by. It’s as if it never even happened. Alright wait, that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but you get my point. Regardless, let me tell you about our final few days.

Monday started off with Elke week word ik ingedeeld om twee’s show which, as always, was quite the party and spectacle. In the same shack where Alexander Wang had showed his collection last year, it was now Tommy’s turn who opened a fresh can of super models and was completely inspired by the summer. Or actually Jamaica to be more exact. Complete with cheery music, a drum band and a little lake in the center. A lake yes, with real water, in which the models happily pranced around once the show was over leaving the guests jittering with excitement.

After the show I headed over to the Hermès Perfumery Experience while our editor Jet went off to interview Dutch model Anne-Marie van Dijk and May-Britt went backstage at the Tommy show together with the Dutch Vogue’s Fiona Hering. After having wandered around backstage they had to head back to the city, but it was practically impossible for them to catch a cab. So after about 17 blocks in their highest heels hunting down a cab, they decided to catch a ride from the hop on hop off bus, cause well, a bus is a bus and a bus is transport, so why the heck not. So off they went to The High Line Hotel, Fiona’s humble abode while in New York and the place we’ve been spending the last few days with our laptops and wine.

Once the three of us had been reunited, we headed on over to Brooklyn to check out backstage at Rag & Bone, an invite we had received from M.A.C Cosmetics. After checking this out, May-Britt and Jet were off to have dinner at the uber hip Wythe Hotel, and I stayed in Brooklyn and met up with our friend Noor, better know as the Queen of Jetlags. After both dinners were over, my two lovely coworkers picked me up and the three of us headed back to the hotel for a night of very deep sleeping.

Tuesday was an extremely important day. Tuesday happened to be the day I would be meeting Blue, our Bo’s new puppy. Now you might be aware of my immense love for cats but don’t be fooled and think that I am only devoted to cats and kittens, I am in love with just about any (baby) animal. I met up with Bo in the neighborhood she lives in, around the Flat Iron, at an animal friendly café so baby Blue could join us. Blue is a 13 year old Labradoodle and is so happy and cute that you can’t help it but fall head over heels for the little love bug. May-Britt joined us a little later on and we discussed things like world domination, you know, the usual.

Afterwards we headed on over to the, you might have guessed it already, The High Line Hotel to do a bit of writing and drink some wine together with Fiona, who, as we mentioned before, is staying here. May-Britt had the great idea to hop onto some sort of monster speedboat and jet across the Hudson. Incredibly touristy but I would highly recommend it to anyone. You’ll love it, I swear. Google it, it’s called “The Beast.” You jet across the water with music blaring, past the Statue of Liberty, a whole lot of splashes and splatters but man did we have fun. We finished the day off at cozy restaurant called The Waverly Inn where Bo joined us for yet another glass of white white.

Wednesday, our final day. In the morning we had the honorary challenge of reloading our suitcases with our multitudes of clothing items, which I can tell ya, was not an easy task. Afterwards Jet and I did bit of work at Morandi and then May-Britt took a peek backstage at Delpozo and I had an appointment at the Facebook and Instagram headquarters. As I expected: very cool. Thereupon it was time for another fun visit: to the New York Times. My friends John Kurdewan and Bill Cunningham (read all about my first meeting with John and Bill here) are profoundly busy during fashion week but obviously I couldn’t leave New York without saying hi. John gave me an extra tour of their office (he showed me their board room which was mesmerizing), drank a cup of coffee at Dean and Deluca’s and then it really was time for me to head back to the hotel, where a big black car would be waiting to take us to JFK.

New York, somehow you always manage to get even better and more beautiful with every trip. I can’t wait to be reunited again soon.

Travel

FINAL DIARY NEW YORK ’15

The last days in New York are over, and I’m writing this at JFK where we traditionally drink a glass of white wine before we board. It’s bizarre how quickly two (two!) weeks in New York can go by. In fact, it already feels like it never happened. Well, that’s an exaggeration, but you get what I mean. Anyway, let me tell you what we experienced.

Monday we started with the show of Tommy Hilfiger, which was, as always, a huge party and grand spectacle. In the shed where Alexander Wang showed his collection last season, it was now Tommy’s turn, who opened a can of top models and was further inspired by summer. Or actually by Jamaica, complete with cheerful music and a drum band and a little lake in the middle. Yes, a real lake, with real water, where after the finale the models happily stomped and danced through, causing all attendees to leave the hall a bit wobbly with excitement.

Afterwards I headed to the Hermès Perfumery Experience (where you can read all about it here), Jet went off to an interview with model Anne-Marie van Dijk and May went backstage with Fiona Hering. After they had extensively roamed and played around, they had to head back to the city, but it was obviously nearly impossible to find a taxi. So after wandering 17 blocks in heels looking for a cab, they decided to take the passing hop-on-hop-off bus because hey, a bus is a bus is a bus is transport, so why not? So off they went, to The High Line Hotel, Fiona’s hotel where we spent a lot of time the past few days with laptop and white wine.

When we were all reunited, we went à trois to Brooklyn to peek backstage at Rag & Bone, invited by M.A.C Cosmetics. Afterwards, it was time for May and Jet to have dinner at the über hip Wythe Hotel and I continued in Brooklyn to a lovely restaurant where I dined with my friend Noor, better known as the Queen of Jetlags. At the end of our dinners, the sisters Mobach and Nieuwkerk picked me up and we drove back to our hotel for a deep, deep sleep. And an ibuprofen for me, because I could hardly walk from the muscle pain that came after the training with Ricky Aston.

Tuesday was an important, very important day. Because Tuesday was the day I got to meet Blue, our Bo’s puppy. You are familiar with my love for cats but don’t be mistaken, I am quite fond of every animal, especially in baby form. I met up with Bo in her neighborhood, Flat Iron, at a dog-friendly terrace so Blue could join us. Blue is a 13-week-old Labradoodle and so intensely happy, sweet, and wagging that you immediately and endlessly fall in love with him. May joined us later and the three of us discussed things like world domination and well, you know how it goes.

Afterwards we went again to, you guessed it, The High Line Hotel for a drink and some wine, together with Fiona Hering who really does stay in that hotel. May had a great idea, she wanted to speed across the Hudson in some sort of monster speedboat. A mega tourist attraction that turned out to be so incredibly fun that I can wholeheartedly recommend it to you. It’s called “The Beast,” just google it. You go across the water with blaring music and at high speed, past the Statue of Liberty, with plenty of splashes and splatters and man, did we have a lot of fun. We ended the day with dinner at the super cozy restaurant The Waverly Inn, where Bo also joined for a glass of white.

Wednesday, the last day. In the morning the honorable task of stuffing the ten thousand clothing items we had back into the suitcase, which was quite a challenge. Afterwards Jet went to Morandi to write, May went to Delpozo for a peek backstage and I had an appointment at the Facebook and Instagram office to see what it looks like, their office. I can tell you: very cool. Then it was time for the next fun visit: to The New York Times. Friends John Kurdewan and Bill Cunningham (read all about my meeting with John and Bill last March) are super busy now with Fashion Week, but I obviously couldn’t leave New York without saying hi. John gave me an extra tour of the building (past the board room, which really left me speechless), we had coffee at Dean & Deluca and then it was also time for me to head back to the hotel, where a big black car would pick us up and take us to JFK.

New York, with each time you become a little nicer and more fun. Can’t wait to see you again.