Kissing and Fashion

Let's talk fashion and love.

I was lucky enough this year to participate in Austin Fashion Week.  It started off by doing hair for a few models for a fashion show.  the show was exciting and I was quickly caught up in fashion fever.

I attended a few of the functions during the week and worked doing makeup for one other event.  The real thrill came last night.  The end of Fashion Week.  The awards ceremony complete with red carpet.

I was not up for any awards, but the owner of the salon where I work, was up for not one but two awards.  She graciously asked me to attend as her date.

As the weekend drew closer I was starting to regret my decision to go with her.  I kept thinking I would rather be home with a cheeseburger and no makeup on than go to an awards ceremony.

I even sent her a last minute text asking if there was anyway to get out of going.  The response was, "No, grab your hair and get over here,"

The glory of being a hairstylist is the constant changing of identity through my locks.  My own real hair is cut short, so to don a wig of long luscious locks for an evening is perfectly normal.

The day leading up to the awards was already an odd one as I had searched down an old friend and found out that her life partner had recently passed away.  I had not spoken to my friend in 15 years, but I have known her and her partner since I was ten years old.

Her partner was my first camp counselor and my friend was my first real girl kiss.  Reconnecting after so long combined with being hours away from walking on a red carpet, was surreal at best. 

As I put on my eyelashes I was suddenly brought back to the summer of the kiss.  The cool air of the Catskill Mountains, the girl sitting next to me, my heart racing.

"Those earrings are bad, and lose the bracelet" snapped me out of my revelry.  I quickly changed but really wanted to go home and relive those summers I spent at this magical place.  I wanted to replay the kiss.  I wanted to write about it.  Instead I was running around the salon in search of the perfect accessory.

Dressed and in the car the cool breeze in my head from the Catskills was replaced by the harsh reality of a Texas summer night.  Why did I wear black? 

We arrived and I dutifully stood behind my "date' taking pictures of her as we approached the red carpet.  Yes, it actually was a red carpet.  Complete with stopping every few feet for pictures from photographers that stood behind a rope.

My boss was a pro.  Not her first rodeo as she has previously won an award at this event a few years ago.  She had her picture taken as I stood back, and then without warning she grabbed me and pulled me in for the pictures as well.

"Damnit why didn't I stick with that diet plan six months ago.  turn, smile, is there anything on my teeth? God I wish I had that camera.  Wow, the flashes really are a bit blinding, please Lord don't let me trip.  Is that man wearing a skirt?  walk, stop, turn to look thinner, smile, yes I am sure there is something stuck in my teeth.  I wonder what editing program they use for their pictures?  Who are all these photographers? Oh that kiss..."

We had reached the end of the carpet, now I could step back and watch everyone else who was behind me that I was oblivious to.  Fashion Diva's of Austin.  Amazing clothes, outstanding hair, a ton of women coiffed to the hilt.  This was no ordinary Awards show, it was Austin, and we may have been in the chicest location surrounded by lights and music and cameras, but it still managed to attain it's Austin flair.

My boss did not win this year, but I truly believed was honored just to be nominated.  Her award being first we relaxed into the evening and watched the rest of the awards in stride.

When the awards for People's choice and Industry's choice for best hairstylist came up, I can not express how much I wanted to see my name up there.  Hear my name called out.  Without warning a drive came in me and I immediately thought, "That will be me next year."

At the after party hands were shaken, names were taken, pleasantries exchanged.  My mind shifted into photographer mode and I walked around taking pictures of the fabulous people.  Yes, they are fabulous. 

Being single made me momentarily sad, as I realized I had no one to bounce comments off of, or hold hands with.

Holding hands brought me back to that summer so long ago.  The touching of hands in a sweet and cautious way that lead to a kiss. 

The curious mixture of where I was standing realizing that half a country away an old friend was grieving the loss of her love.  I have stood in her shoes, and they are not comfortable or fashionable in any way.  I went outside and offered up to the skyline a wish that my friend finds comfort, and that my own feet would find comfort as well, as my shoes were killing me at this point.

I spent the evening in two places at once.  Reliving one evening, while standing in another.  Both evenings very different, yet in the end, both felt like me.

Someday I will write about the award I won, and my acceptance speech.  For now, I write about how one kiss can lead to an award show in a city I never knew existed.