Dom Streater Pop-up at Knit Wit

Last Tuesday, Knit Wit and Skai Blue Media hosted a pop-up shop featuring the Spring/Summer 2014 collection of Dom Streater. The Season 12 winner of Project Runway hails from Philadelphia, so I knew this event would be perfect for the Style section. 

Dom was kind enough to answer several questions of mine for the article that will be running next week if I get my act together. A number of the attendees shopped the collection, and scarves bearing Dom's trademark prints seemed to be a big hit, as were her rain ponchos, especially considering the dreary weather.

I'm naturally rather introverted, so throwing myself into a small room full of creative people versed in the art of networking was quite the intimidating notion. I went in with the intention of being friendly, sociable, and I was prepared to network my butt off. Within a few minutes I realized that everyone here knew everyone else, and I had to find some way to fit in. What surprised me the most, however, were the number of people I had never met before who pretended to know who I was. I guess that sort of comes with the territory, doesn't it?

I was fortunate enough to speak briefly with a publicist for the event, the owner of the boutique and several other attendees who operated local businesses or agencies. When I mentioned I was a student journalist, they were more than willing to trade information, and I'm hoping to have some cool project in the works before the month is over.

In an Instant

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I know I'm not the only one in the world who has taken on a good amount of responsibility. I'm incredibly fortunate to be doing what I'm doing, although I don't always remember that as I'm pressing snooze on my alarm which goes off at 5 a.m. three times a week.

When I fulfilled the co-op required by my school, where I worked as a full time intern for six months, I chose to stay in Philadelphia for a myriad of reasons. Some of which made sense at the time, and some of which I thoroughly regret. For some reason, I had always assumed that I wasn't nearly privileged enough to work as an unpaid intern for a "big" name in New York. These past four months have proven me seriously wrong. I've somehow managed to make it through a full course of classes while working a part time job, editing the Style section of the newspaper and serving as the editor-in-chief of a student magazine. I managed to sleep a little bit sometimes, too.

I'm not sure how I did it, I'm really not. Now that I have a month left before I graduate, I took the time to reflect on the fact that I've been doing this for four months. For four months I've spent 12 hours a week on a bus. I've learned to hail a cab with 3 runway looks (including shoes) in a garment bag slung over my shoulders. I've (sort of) learned to navigate NYC's subway system and I can tell the difference between Uptown and the Upper East Side. I've also been in the Conde Nast, New York Times and Hearst building more times than I can count on my fingers, which for me was a pretty big deal. I'd just like to remind myself that I'm really freaking lucky, even though I just feel tired most of the time.

Detail of the Week: Madewell Sloane Satchel

Some people collect bags and some people collect shoes, but I don't feel like I have a particular affinity for either. I've developed a much more utilitarian approach to my accessories and after a series of impulse purchases, I've learned the importance of investing in quality materials. This makes the most sense when it comes to bags and shoes. I use my purse every single day, and I'm especially hard on my shoes (for some reason). 

This is my second Madewell bag and I'm absolutely smitten. Last year I treated myself to the Lovelock Satchel, which is a bit larger with one more pocket. I spotted this bag in the Madewell store on Walnut St. on Black Friday, and after I checked online and saw that it was sold out I convinced my mother to let me buy it and put it away until the holidays. I secretly pulled it out of its wrapping and preemptively used it for an interview, but as soon as I got home I tucked it away until Christmas and pretended to be surprised when I opened it.

I find that I don't use the front pocket, because it's rather inconvenient to open, but it's large enough to fit a wallet, phone, keys, headphones, lip balm, pen and a small planner with room to spare. That extra room is often taken up by a packet of almonds. Just in case you were wondering.