So it finally happened. I made my way to New York City. There was a lot of work that went in to getting here, and in order to stay here and make it, there"s much more to be done.
But, there is still plenty of fun about.
Within less than one week of living in The City my life has changed in unbelievable ways. For one, I landed my first job in Fashion, volunteering with Fashion's Night Out. I was completely bummed last year not being New York to indulge in the festivities, but am so completely honored and overjoyed that this year, not only do I get to be apart of it, I get to be apart of the team that puts this magical night together. Not to mention that the largest fashion show in New York City's may be the first fashion show I get to work on. (Fingers Crossed)
And second, yesterday I met one of my many Fashion Idols: Kelly Cutrone. Kelly off camera is the same as Kelly on camera except so much better. From television, we view Kelly as this crazy woman who barks orders at her staff, and is no-nonsense when it comes to getting the job done. Literally standing five feet away from her, I soon realized that she's all those things and more. She's a wonderfully compassionate human being, who cares so much about those around her, and does whatever she can to offer help to those important in her life as well as strangers she's known for five minutes. And what I love best about Kelly, is that this world of reality TV personalities, she seems to be the one who keeps it real. She's the one who calls you out on your shit not to be cutthroat, but because she believes in you and knows you can do better, and will then help you do better.
One thing Kelly said is that you have to take leaps of faith to make it this industry, and that you can't take risks. Over the past year I've gained experience with putting everything on the line in applying for colleges, and dealing with the stresses of Senior Year. But there is still so much more balls out shit for me to do! I live in New York City for pete's sake. Yes, in my couple of days here I've had everything work out for me, but pretty soon that's not gonna happen anymore. Everyone in this city wants the same thing that I do, wants it as bad as I do and will do whatever it takes to get it just as I will.
A couple of nights ago I celebrated my move to New York by watching the first episode of The City. Watching it again, I was like "you know, Olivia Palermo has it going on, I must admit." And then I was like "she's the kind of New Yorker I want to be" and went straight away to planning a rooftop party. After meeting Kelly, everything was put in perspective. On one episode of The City she quipped the following line that will forever remain in my memory:
"You have to let people who are toxic and dangerous to you know you’re going to fucking fight back. Because you know where nice people land? On welfare."
She of course said that in reference to Olivia , and it's so true. Whether you like her or not Olivia is going to handle herself and in some awkward way or another that may never make sense to me, get what she needs done. I can't be a completely nice person who waits for things to happen to me and expects things to line up. I've got to be crazy and fight for it, and make things happen. My goal in life is to be Editor in Chief of Vogue Magazine, and if in my five years here I've done nothing to accomplish that then I will have failed myself and wasted hundreds of thousands of dollars in the process.
I refuse to let that happen.
I thank Kelly so much for in a subtle way that not even she knows of, re-igniting my flame, and re-introducing me to the world of fashion, and giving me a tiny little trinket of hope that I can make it. (And Fashion Week Tickets. Good looking out Kell!)
So here's to New York City. To a Shit Pon O'Money, and to living life balls out (figuratively) to make my dreams come true, and to Live My Life in Vogue.
Today is the first day of the rest of my life.
