My Heart Belongs to Oscar...

Anna Dello Russo

Star Professors Karen Santry and Joe Denaro

Danny Roberts of Igor and Andre with Jimmy and I
Larisa, Elvis, and I posing

The incredible Janis Salek, Joe Denaro, and I

The Venue

Anna Wintour chatting before the show

The Press

Karlie Kloss

Caroline Trentini

Chanel Iman and Anna Dello Russo front row

Joe Zee from Elle

Joe Denaro sketching the looks

After the show and feeling euphoric

de la Renta that is ;) This past Wednesday my FIT fashion illustration block had the great privilege of attending his Fall 2011 show at the opulent Parc Ave location on the UES of Manhattan. You can imagine how much my heart was racing as we approached the swarming crowd of industry power players lining up outside the show. Within five minutes of finding my classmates, Anna Dello Russo stepped out in her gold cherry headpiece to be snapped by the hoards of photographers owning the streets. Two seconds later Garance Dore and Scott Schuman showed up to scope out the scene for possible snap worthy ensembles as I looked onwards in astonishment.

For those of you who have been following my blog you already know how deeply rooted my love for fashion (particularly fashion illustration) is. Only a short year ago I was religiously reading Dore's blog, alongside Danny Roberts' Igor and Andre, dreaming that one day it could be me. Suddenly, in what felt like the blink of an eye, it was. After standing in the procession for about 30 minutes, having my shoes filmed by a TV crew eyeing noteworthy accessories, we started to enter the show. As we did, I found myself shoulder to shoulder with the extraordinarily talented Roberts. He graciously posed for a photo with me taken by his brother.

Of course Nina Garcia had to be entering right behind me watching my school girl fandom go down lol. What is a girl to do really with every major editor from Vogue shuffling into the same grand foyer as her in a single moment? My class was instructed to walk-up to the balcony overlooking the runway and position ourselves for the start of the show. Looking over the railing at the stunning chandelier I found my eyes wandering directly to the front row where I could see Anna Wintour's perfectly coiffed bob resting stoically next to Grace Coddington's signature red hair. Across the way was Joe Zee from Elle and the major buyers from Bergdorf.

The show began like a thunder clap when the lights dimmed and Karlie Kloss hit the runway in the first look. I found myself overcome with a wave of emotion. I really had to hold back the tears which is so unlike me lol. I didn't think anyone else around would understand what that moment meant and I sort of didn't want my feelings to be reduced to 'dramatics'. The truth was in that instant I felt my life come full circle. Four years earlier I was attending shows at Toronto's fashion week for a very different purpose. Now suddenly I was watching the debut of one of the most important designer collections in New York as an illustrator. What more can I say?

One luxuriously tailored and embellished garment after another came down the runway hanging from the shoulders of Chanel Iman, Lindsey Wixson, Daphne Groeneveld (my new obsession), and Caroline Trentini. I still cannot believe I was apart of this moment. Now our class is responsible for creating an art piece inspired by the collection to be submitted to Oscar de la Renta for their website. In other words, a second post will be on its way shortly with my Oscar dream realized. I'm forever grateful to Karen Santry, Janis Salek, and Joe Denaro for accompanying our class and ensuring our admittance to this show. I owe you big. Stay tuned for my Oscar art piece.

Lots of love,

Meag xx

For better photos of the garments please view the show on style.com!!