I spring out of bed at 5am and again go trotting around the city. This time I spy a pair of Rachel Zoe boots from her new collection in the window of Bloomingdale's so make a note to go back the following day. I run all the way up to the park, halfway around it, sit on a park bench and think how great life is, then start the stroll back down 5th Avenue to 38th and cut across to my hotel on Lexington. Retailers like gossiping with each other so I meet Fiona from the fantastic Red Ruby Rouge in Ireland for breakfast at Pastis, a firm New York favourite. It's always buzzing. I show her pictures of what I've seen so far and we talk trends then wish each other luck with the search and I head off to more showrooms. Markus Lupfer was a highlight, here's just a few pieces from his fantastic SS12 collection. Like so many, he's embraced colour wholeheartedly.
Dragging my feet I finally sloped over to the Javits Centre where Coterie is held. Coterie is a HUGE trade show where all the denim and contemporary brands show. I always stride in full of hope and expectation of finding the next big thing, but it doesn't always happen. As someone once said to me, if there's nothing new, there's nothing new. With the biggest brands turning cartwheels for our attention - and grabbing it - there's little room for newness sometimes. The economic climate of recent years has seen labels working harder than ever on their collections and the results have been phenomenal.
Gaby Basora
Coterie
The key to tackling a trade show is to have loads of coffee and a VERY positive attitude. Trade shows are one of the necessary evils of buying. You can get around to loads of people in one day, but after about 10 minutes everything does start to look the same. You have to keep your wits about you so you don't flag and give up too soon, or worse, miss something really good.
In the spirit of not missing something really good Jane and Denise and I got together and exchanged notes. Then we headed off to meet Wes from Nobody for 40th birthday drinks. Wes is celebrating his birthday in style with an 8-week world tour. Like a true Aussie (though born in England) he can drink. I can't. I left after a quick G&T. Buying season is catch up season so I headed off to meet my friend Janine who is the distributor of J Brand in Australia. When you're Australian, there's just no taking the Aussie out of the girl! Everyone introduces me to every Aussie they know, so I'm still reasonably well connected in my homeland.
