I was chosen by Zac Posen

I have had a very exciting, challenging, crazy, wonderful whirlwind of a week!!

I woke up last week to the flu with teeth chattering, chills and sweats. You know when you feel so bad, that no matter what age you are, all you want is your mom and ginger ale? So when the phone rang, hoping it was her, I answered in a pathetic tone, “Hello…” [very weak and self pitying.]

On the other end was not my mom, but someone talking about rings, deadlines, and [did I hear correctly] Zac Posen’s runway show!? Zac needed 8 cocktail rings in less than a week. Could I make this happen?

I love a good challenge so I downed some DayQuil, bundled up and headed to Zac’s studio. The show must go on!!

A designer’s studio right before fashion week is something to experience. Feathers are literally flying through the air. The energy is palpable. Zac’s very talented team is hard at work sewing, draping, pressing and bedazzling. Gorgeous finished pieces are hung on racks in a large room flooded with sunlight where models are fitted and “the look” for the show developed. This is where the magic happens.

When I entered this room, Zac walked over and introduced himself. Very friendly, genuine and dressed impeccably. He adored my purple eye shadow! Before leaving my home I loaded on lots of mascara and Mac purple pigment – a great diversion from dark circles and a sallow complexion.

On a long table we set to work. Alex White who is the fashion director for W magazine and Zac’s stylist had an idea for the ring inspired by her huge Lanvin stud earrings. I do not know how she wears these clip on studs! I tried them and they came right off.

What they wanted was an “over the top” cocktail ring. It should sit tall on the finger in a caged setting. The stones to be set were antique Swarovski Hungarian cut crystal, out of production and apparently hard to obtain. The crystals were huge, a 27mm round beauty. Six were clear crystal with lots of flash and fire, and two were shiny jet black. They loved my suggestion to fabricate them in sterling silver. Why not? It was just for the runway but I believed the execution should be done as meticulously as the rest of the collection.

I set to work right away. The construction was challenging, lots of geometry, not my strong point. The first ring reminded me of the leaning tower of Pisa. The second was beautiful. It was a 6 prong stunning setting, sure to be a “show stopper.” I wanted it to be seen from the back row, most likely where I would be.

Now the hard part. I had to plead with Joe, my caster, to get these pieces done in record time. I would still have loads of finishing work to complete once casting was done; Ring shanks soldered on, stones set, polishing and finally a patina creating an “antique” finish. Time was not on my side.

Joe, a wise old man, reminded me that the important things in life are health, family, etc…. “Yes, yes, I completely agree but can you get these done in two days!??”

Miraculously, I completed the rings and watched proudly as my creations came down the runway. Some were on bare hands, others on kid skin gloves. They complimented the look of the show perfectly.

The models had slicked back hair adorned with pom pom puffs, resembling Minny Mouse ears.

The Weimer period came to mind in some of the pieces. Sheer sheaths with glimpses of garter belts evoked Anita Berber and a decadent pre-war Berlin.

Then fast forward to a “southern belle” sensibility with swinging hoop skirts- perfect for a modern party at the plantation “Tara.”

A few key shades used strategically give hope for a colorful fall. Long legs strutted the runway in vibrant shades of yellow, orange, and purple.

The yellow was a perfect primary yellow with just a hint of mustard. The orange was a mix of pumpkin and red, more tomato soup than Halloween.

The purple was a gorgeous hue of the night shade aubergine, dark and stormy. Of course black and white were everywhere. Intricate embroidery, gems, lattice patterns, and sheer organza necklines with high collars were beautiful details on a magnificent collection.

The models navigated the runway wearing very tall platforms with a strap; the type of shoes I refer to as “ankle twisters” and three of the models did just that. The entire audience gasped in unison!

The last look of the evening was a long frilly, gray frock resembling a wedding dress. The lovely Karen Elsen with her bright red bangs and pale skin wore it beautifully. A mere three steps onto the runway and she went down like a house of cards! Again the crowd gasped. As she put her hand out to be assisted by another model and Sean, [P Diddy] Combs, there it was, perched high atop her outstretched hand – my cocktail ring!

The crowd cheered as she made her way down the runway. Even in ankle-twisters I’d like to have been “wearing her shoes” that evening. Falling on Zac Posen’s runway then later being consoled by sexy husband Jack White. I can dream right?

Of course because dreaming is just what the runway is for. Beautiful, over the top clothes that hardly anyone can wear with many of the pieces just for the show, never to be made again. It’s the allure of the fantasy that transports us to another place and time, if only for a brief moment.

Back to reality. Outside the tents at Bryant Park was a madhouse. The night was chilly and getting a taxi impossible. I had been waiting about 10 minutes when a few 6 foot lithe beauties, still in their Minny Mouse ears, were next to me. An empty taxi was making it’s way up the street. One of the models explained in a thick German accent how they needed to make it to a party.

I waved my rolled up brochure in a “no, no” gesture and ran to the taxi. My legs were not as long as theirs but I was determined. I weaved the traffic like a gazelle. We were no longer captived by the mystique of the runway, this was the streets of New York and I was there first! As I pulled away in my yellow chariot I mouthed the words “Auf Wiedersehen”