Best Memories Of 2013 + Happy New Year!

(Meeting Liam Hemsworth at the HUGO BOSS NYC Flagship store party definitely tops my list of epic moments from the past year!) 

Happy New Year my dearest readers! I’m so excited to see where my fashion career will take me in 2014. To celebrate the start of the New Year I wanted to reflect on the memories of the past year.

My favorite moments were full of glamorous dresses, extraordinary soirées, meeting fascinating people and new business opportunities.

Aside from the good memories there were also times where I wanted to completely give up on fashion. But, miraculously each time I went through a rough patch something always pushed me to continue whether it was a great press mention for my blog, encouragement from friends and family, or a new business opportunity. Of course, the best source of inspiration was emails from my readers asking fashion questions or letting me know that I inspired them.

This past year I also had a pretty sad breakup. My friends have joked that my life sometimes mirrors Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City. Perhaps they’re right?!

All of the experiences both good and bad have definitely influenced me in my personal style. I took some pretty daring fashion risks this past year and I don’t regret any of them. It’s very cliche to say but fashion has always been in my blood. The clothes I wear are a reflection of my personality. Sometimes, I can be classic like Audrey Hepburn and other times I love a bolder look like Daphne Guinness.     

I’ve learned that life is about living ‘epically’ and taking risks both personally and professionally. It’s about following your heart and going after your dreams and not listening to anyone who tells you you’re not good enough. I hope to accomplish a lot in 2014 and of course document every moment of my fashion adventures as The Style Socialite. :)

One of the best last memories of 2013 was going to a private dinner party hosted by my new friend Beatrice at her home in Connecticut. Beatrice invited Designer Zang Toi, his team NaNa and VeVe, her friends the Fullers and me and my date. I met Beatrice at Zang Toi’s fashion show this past season. Beatrice is one of the nicest people that I've been lucky to meet this year. It was my first time visiting Connecticut and I couldn’t have been more excited. Beatrice and her husband Neil were the most gracious hosts. We all spent hours chatting, drinking wine and eating the most delicious food that Beatrice prepared. 

This year I had a chance to meet legendary couturier, Vito Emanuele. It was so much fun spending time at his showroom in NYC where he makes original custom garments for private clients. Vito is such a fascinating character. I loved hearing his stories about his impressive fashion career and royal clientele.

I was invited to the HUGO BOSS NYC Flagship Store opening where I saw my friends Miri, Tobias and Markus from HUGO BOSS. It was such a phenomenal moment to see them all again in New York. 3 years ago I met them in Germany when they chose me to be a fashion blogger for their HUGO by HUGO BOSS fashion show in Berlin. Being a part of that experience in Germany inspired me to start The Style Socialite.

This past Fashion Week I was introduced to an incredibly talented European designer named Giovanni Lo Presti. Giovanni dressed me in his brilliant couture creations from his Spring 2014 collection of masks and ready-to-wear for Fashion Week. It was such a cool experience to wear his work before he showed his new collection to the American market later on that week. 

I joined my good friend and blogger Martha from MDollNYC for the 10^th Annual Style Awards. We had the most incredible evening watching Nicole Richie host the event and our favorite stars accept their awards. My favorite part was definitely Anna Wintour's speech honoring her friend Patrick DeMarchelier who had won Photographer of the Year.

During the Summer UGG Australia invited me to their over-the-top New Orleans themed preview party for their new Fall 2013 collections. It was so much fun to take part in their recreated Mardi Gras festivities at the Bowery Hotel.

(Photograph © Robert Benimoff)

I was invited as press to my alma mater The Fashion Institute of Technology’s 2013 gala. The evening was so glamorous and magical. I even had a chance to pose on the red carpet with socialite and philanthropist, Jean Shafiroff. THEIA dressed me that evening in their beautiful red cocktail dress. The best part of the experience was being quoted in the Daily Front Row and getting a mention for my blog. It’s always been a dream to see my name in the Daily Front Row and it came true this past year! 

Check out the article here: http://www.fashionweekdaily.com/scene/article/fit-foundations-annual-fte 

(Photograph © Robert Benimoff)

I took a chance and somehow pulled off a last minute THEIA gown, photographer and ride to the New York Botanical Garden Conservatory Ball. It was my first official Ball and I’m so happy that I had a chance to attend. The theme of the Ball was "An evening in the Italian Renaissance Garden of Padua" which was inspired by Europe's first botanical garden that was created in 1545 at the University of Padua, in the Venetian Republic. It was a breathtaking sight that could only be rivaled by the guest’s extravagant gowns and jewels.

The Coach Summer Carnival on NYC's High Line was one of the most spectacular events of my Summer. The luxury fashion themed carnival featured a fortune teller, dunk tank equipped with gorgeous male models, contortionist, jugglers and boardwalk games with Coach prizes.  

(Photograph © Grayson Dantzic)

The New Yorkers for Children Dinner Dance was a dazzling soiree that congregated the city’s most beautiful and affluent people. Sponsored by Valentino, the ritzy event took place on the 34th floor of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. The sparkling crowd included my favorite style icon, Olivia Palermo.

(Photograph © Grayson Dantzic)

The FIT Cocktail Party was an Upper East Side affair to remember. The soiree took place at Liz and Jeff Peek’s breathtaking palatial apartment on Park Avenue in celebration of the 2013 FIT Foundation’s Annual Awards Dinner Honorees George Kaufman, Kay Krill and Stefano Tonchi. It was a very intimate reception with only 100 invited guests that ranged from the crème de la crème of top designers, editors, photographers and socialites. One of the highlights of my evening was chatting with the legendary Hamish Bowles, International Editor at Large of Vogue. 

The Theatre Communications Group Gala was one of the most extraordinary and visually stunning soirees that I’ve ever been invited to. The evening was held at the famous Angel Orensanz Foundation located on the Lower East Side in New York. I wore an elegant high-low royal blue gown by Aidan Mattox. My intention for the look was to go in a bit of a theatrical direction to pay homage to the evening’s theme. The view inside this 1849 Neo-Gothic Jewish Synagogue quite literally took my breath away. The building is a replica of the Sistine Chapel in Rome and the very temple of Solomon. It’s quite possibly one of the most beautiful, unreal places in the world. 

I had the absolute pleasure of meeting and interviewing an extraordinary UK based designer named Emma Logue, founder of her namesake brand LOGUE London. Emma is famous for her luxury shirtdresses which she brilliantly adorns with vibrant pops of colors. I joined Emma and her publicist Natasha for some cheese and wine at the Grape & Vine restaurant inside the beautiful Jade Hotel in New York. Pippa Middleton is one of many celebrities who've sported Emma’s iconic shirt dresses. 

(Photograph © Grayson Dantzic)

I had a chance to wear a beautiful red THEIA gown to the Jeffrey Fashion Cares gala on the USS Intrepid. How’s that for a 2013 Titanic moment?!
The gala was held to celebrate the 10^th anniversary of Jeffrey Fashion Cares, a phenomenal charity created by Jeffrey Kalinsky, owner of Jeffrey boutiques, fashion icon and philanthropist. Jeffrey created JFC with the mission of bringing awareness to the plight of people living with HIV/AIDS and members of the LGBTQ community. Meeting and taking photos with Cyndi Lauper on the red carpet was definitely one of the best parts of the evening!

Cindy Ord, a famous photographer and friend captured my moment of sheer happiness sitting in the front row at b michael AMERICA last February. It was such a surprise and honor to have them taken by her. Her work has been published in publications and media outlets like People, Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone, TMZ, OK! Magazine, US Magazine, USA Today, New York Times and many more. 

Last February for New York Fashion Week I partnered with tech giant Intel to promote their brand new Acer ICONIA W5 Windows 8 tablet. I had so much fun using the tablet to bring you exclusive coverage from inside the tents!

During Fashion Week I visited the General Consulate of the Russian Federation for DEPESHA magazine's lavish fashion presentation and reception for emerging Russian Designers. 

Coach invited me to their showroom for a sneak peak of their new collections. It was such a fairy tale experience to walk around their iconic showroom in New York.

Another one of my favorite showrooms to visit for the first time was HUGO BOSS. The press visit was scheduled by appointment only which made the experience that much more special. I couldn't resist trying on some of their lovely coats!

  

Last but not least my first best memory of 2013 was being invited to the World Fashion Forum at the United Nations during International Women’s Day. The World Fashion Forum aims to identify how the Fashion Industry’s economic, social and cultural powers can be best positioned, focused and managed to alleviate the world’s most critical needs. Fashion Bloggers and their increased value in the fashion world was also mentioned in the discussion.