Seeking Approval #05: Lingua Franca x Wicked VIP Cocktail Party Recap
I discuss the highs and lows of the fashion industry while taking you through my night at a West Village event.
Fun had in the bathroom. Full look description below.
Last month, Lingua Franca hosted a cocktail party to celebrate their collaboration collection with the new Wicked movie. I have written about the realities of attending fashion events in the past, and each attendance brings the opportunity to reflect.
The first time I visited the Lingua Franca townhouse was in September of last year. I was uncomfortable in my body and reintroducing myself to freelance work. It had been several months since I was active in the industry, and when I spotted someone I worked with in the past it instantly made my night. Despite our odd and brief exchange, it wasn’t until around a week later that I realized she had essentially stopped associating with me, and her behavior confounded me.
I checked my Instagram for days, consistently seeing her name among the first batch of people watching my stories. I spent time reconsidering our interaction at the party: What had changed since we last spoke? Had she lost respect for me for taking time off? Did someone tell her something that put me in an unfavorable light? Was she judging me because I had clearly gained weight?
In some ways, I was heartbroken. It is not uncommon to attend a fashion party, runway show or press preview and not see a single face you recognize. In a sea of stylish, smiling people, it can be a challenge to integrate yourself. When the only person you know in the room has lost interest in your relationship, it can feel like an industry-wide rejection. Over a year later, I returned to the townhouse.
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This time, my focus was less on who was at the party, and more on the event itself. Here, a piece from the Lingua Franca x Wicked collection on display at their townhouse in West Village. And below, shots taken in the living space upstairs:
Pretty in pink. Above, a Lingua Franca x Wicked top. Below, balloons at the Lingua Franca x Wicked VIP Cocktail Party plus my Madewell jeans, Alterre shoes and Uniqlo socks worn with flare.
The highlight of the night was the food hands down:
Food views from inside the Lingua Franca townhouse in West Village.
For my look, I wore a LouLou Studio blazer, Uniqlo T-shirt (available in other colorways) and socks, Madewell jeans (on sale!), styled with a Scanlan Theodore belt, Alterre shoes, Able accessories, a Gucci bag and Goldstories necklace. I wore a little smokey eye to dress it up:
Photos snapped of my look at the Lingua Franca x Wicked VIP Cocktail Party.
So, instead of seeking the approval of someone I once knew, I partied, enjoyed the beauty around me and embraced the company of creative people I’d never met. We often attend these events to support brands we love and form connections, but every once in a while a party is allowed to just be a party. Right?
While a tiny part of me still agonized over running into the same woman at this event, it was incredible how much it became a non-issue once I was out the door and headed to the townhouse. Since our interaction over a year ago, I have come to realize there is little to gain from maintaining a relationship with someone who shamelessly watches you online while avoiding you in public. In fact, we stand to lose both our integrity and sense of creativity when trying to maintain such connections. Never again. :)
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With that, thank you so much for being here!
Yours Truly,
Kyoko
I am not compensated for the features listed in All-Year Season. My sincerest thank you to Lingua Franca, Uniqlo, Alterre and Goldstories for supporting the creation of this post.
