Corey Kindberg

In high school I was able to wake up at 7:30 and roll out of bed and drive to school. Now, going to school in New York City, it is a completely different situation. Especially going to a fashion school, where every day is an opportunity to show your creativity. "Dress to impress" is the hidden slogan of LIM College. You never know who you’re going to meet at school, or even on the street or when you’re out on your lunch hour.

I get up at 6 on the days I have 8 a.m. classes. I always want to look my best, especially during rush hour. Instead of driving to school or taking the bus, I run to catch the subway and try to squish myself and my bag in a subway car filled with people in suits. Next, I wait in line for my Iced Venti Vanilla Latte, this way I can get through my day, (and this will probably be the first of many lattes).

All of my classes are fun and interesting, and they are in subjects that I want to learn about, so I don’t mind taking notes and reading the textbooks. Then the best part of my day comes, and it’s lunch hour. I get to chat with friends and finally eat a real meal!

The rest of the day is filled with classes, a quick nap, and then, most likely, an hour or so of homework. 

The greatest thing about LIM College is our location. New York City is the powerhouse of fashion in America. Even better than that is the fact that New York City is also the site of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. For the past week I have been sneaking in and out of Lincoln Center and witnessing some of the best S/S 2011 Collections known to man. I’ve seen designers like Ports 1961, Betsey Johnson, Parabal Gurung, Davidelfin, Toni Fransenc and many others.

I now live in the center of where fashion takes place. I know that if I want to get ahead in the fashion industry that I can’t live anywhere but here. Throughout Fashion Week I’ve made so many valuable connections. I’ve met the Creative Director of Vogue, Grace Coddington, an editor from WWD, and people from many PR firms.

The even better part of Fashion Week is the free stuff. I’ve gotten swag bags from Betsey Johnson, Gurung, and Fransenc. Who doesn’t love free stuff? This whole week has probably been the most hectic week I’ve ever had to deal with, but I loved every single second of it. I wouldn’t change a thing about my life. This week only assured me I made the right choice in deciding where to go to college.

It was 9am on September 10th, the first day of Fashion Week in New York City, and I was dressed in all black and clutching my Starbucks latte. I sat in the showroom of Ports 1961 with other volunteers and interns, putting together press kits and helping the design team with inspiration boards. After cutting out pictures for about two hours, I never wanted to see another pair of scissors.

The people at Ports 1961 then invited me and another student to attend the show, not to work, but to actually watch the fashion show. The next thing I know I’m in a cab going to Lincoln Center with the head merchandiser of Ports 1961. I walked up the steps of Lincoln Center, got in line for registration, and surprisingly enough, I was on the list for a Fashion Week show!

I stood in the back of the show and then decided to weasel my way up and nab myself a seat. A few minutes later and I’m talking to a fashion forecaster about a possible internship, while staring at Grace Coddington across the runway, and snapping pictures on my Blackberry of the Ports 1961 S/S Collection (which was amazing)!

After the show I stayed inside the tents and mingled and grabbed as much free stuff as I could. I then reluctantly walked out and down the steps of Lincoln Center with paparazzi snapping pictures left and right. It was probably the greatest day of my life.

photo credit: model Sigrid Agren in Ports 1961 S/S 2011 collection, New York Model Management