Day 3 in NYC

Today was filled with lots of walking, laughs with old and new friends, and sight-seeing for inspiration. I am constantly searching for background settings for our New York fashion shoot. I started with a 30 minute walk to meet my friend Taylor, who I met in the studies program at the University of Arkansas. She is a fashion buyer in NYC. We met for lunch and then went to get gelato afterwards at the best place in town. I learned about life in NYC and we talked through the New York Fashion Week plans.

On my way to meet her I discovered brightly painted graffiti walls with thought provoking questions like "what will you leave behind?" Hopefully, we can leave a legacy of more than just some spray paint! 

Colorful rugs for sale on the streets. 

Street style at the farmers market at Union Square.

Later in the afternoon, I stumbled upon a bead store that had beads from across the globe. They carried African beads like the ones I buy in the markets in Kenya. I began selecting beads and jewelry materials to finish out jewelry I've designed to show with the Spring/Summer 2014 collection.

On the way home, I stopped in Beecher's to consider for a photo shoot. I was greeted by James, the main chef and he told me about the different types of cheese made daily in the restaurant. He served me samples of each kind. He even surprised me at dinner and set out a flatbread appetizer with veggies...on the house. He was so nice!

I returned to my hotel room and worked until 3am selecting music for the show, determining the order of the clothing show on the runway, and finishing up the jewelry and accessories.

And that was the end of a very long day number 3!