Live From the American Express Skybox: Life Lessons From Ken Downing, Steven Kolb, Lubov Ariza, Brad Goreski and Joe Zee

18 Feb Live From the American Express Skybox: Life Lessons From Ken Downing, Steven Kolb, Lubov Ariza, Brad Goreski and Joe Zee

New York Fashion Week was one of the best times of my life. My beat–writer speak for reporting on a specific thing for a period of time–was the American Express Skybox. American Express provides their cardholders with the option to buy specially curated packages for various interests. For Fashion Week, cardholders were able to watch the fashion shows from, literally, the top of the tents through tinted windows while waiters floated around with trays of delightful food and drinks.

That’s not even the best part. The best part for me was the chance to watch Lottie Oakley. She’s an ex-publisher for Vogue magazine and has just started her own company. Everyday she showed up in these amazing outfits, hair perfectly glossy, ready to interview whatever talent was stopping by to chat with cardholders in between fashion shows. She’s everything, I tell you.

I sat there watching her interview people like Steven Kolb, Tadashi Shoji, Carmen Marc Valvo, Ken Downing, Lubov Azria, Cameron Silver, Linda Fargo, Joe Zee and my personal favorite Brad Goreski (my phone is running out of space but I refuse to delete his interview to make some) in awe. I couldn’t believe that I was even allowed in the room. Three weeks ago I couldn’t have guessed this would be my life.

Because everyone who dropped by dropped gems, I wanted to share some of the most inspirational quotes from the week:

1. Work Your Butt Off

“Go for an interview, be enthusiastic, as I know you would be, and when you get your foot in the door, do anything that it takes. If you have to pick up pens below the designer, pick them up and put them in a little neat order. Do anything you need to do, you will be remembered. As silly as it sounds, that is few and far between in this industry, people just don’t want to work hard to get ahead.”

–Ken Downing, Senior Vice President and Fashion Director of Neiman   Marcus

2. Be Fearless 

“The biggest lesson that I learned from my boss, Diane [von Furstenberg] is to be fearless. There’s no fear in her life and I think that’s a good thing if you want to accomplish something. If you want a job, or a new boyfriend or girlfriend, don’t be afraid just
go for it.” 

–Steven Kolb, CEO of the Council of Fashion Designers of America

3. Stay Grateful

”I have an attitude of gratitude, I’m grateful for everything. Every day I wake up and I pinch myself and I say I can’t believe that I’m doing what I love. I always thought I was going to be barefoot and pregnant waitressing.”

–Lubov Ariza, Max Ariza’s Wife and Designer of BCBGMaxAriza and Herve Lerger by Max   Ariza

4. Dreams Do Come True 

”I just feel lucky to get to do this. It’s not an easy world to be working in and to actually get to do the thing that you love… I feel like every fitting I go to, every time I get to do something with my clients, I just feel really grateful. Because I’m a chubby kid from small town, Ontario still on the inside that wanted to do something really big but wasn’t sure how. And slowly it’s happening.”

–Brad Goreski, Celebrity Stylist & Star of  It’s a Brad, Brad World

5. Have a Point of View

“I have the same words of advice for young designers, for someone opening a bakery, or for someone opening a bookstore or toy store: have a point of view. You can’t be all things to all people–that’s what department stores are. You need to be specific in your point of view, which means, you will turn away a lot of people, you won’t work with a lot of people, but that’s okay, because the group of people that you will cater to, you will cater them so well, they will be your cult.”

–Joe Zee, Elle’s Creative Directer & Star of All on the Line

Are you not super inspired to go out and do something, now? I still can’t believe that I had this opportunity. So, so grateful. You know that we’re getting a ‘5 Style Lessons‘ out of my time in the Skybox too, don’t you? I’d be silly not to take advantage of that!

What did you think of everyone’s advice?