As most of you know I am a Casting Agent. Fashion Week – or should I say Fashion Month? – is the busiest time of the year for me. This season I am casting 7 shows in New York (Kevork Kiledjian, United Bamboo, Yigal Azrouel, Charlotte Ronson, Zac Posen, Cut25 and Karen Walker) and 2 in London (Sass & Bide and Mark Fast). I will be in Milan to shoot a story for Tales and see some shows. I will continue on to Paris to work on an advertising casting, a styling for Russian Harper’s Bazaar and see some more shows. And while this all happens there’s a few things I must have on me at all times to survive.

My fashion week essentials always consist of a comfortable but chic outfit, heels and a tote that holds everything and nothing. Yesterday I wore a black vintage Donald Brooks dress (at Palm Beach Vintage) which I paired with mustard suede Aldo pumps (they look like the Isabel Marant ones but they’re in fact much more comfortable. No blisters!) and an Eleven Objects gold studded, orange leather, removable collar. My cobalt tote and red wallet are both from this season’s new Prada saffiano collection. I never go anywhere without my Blackberry Curve. My phone is pretty much glued to my ear during fashion week. I recently purchased a classic fuchsia Smythson weekly diary after I embarrassingly forgot an appointment. I don’t vibe well with electronic calendars and there’s only so much room in my head to retain every little detail. So I went back to basics and started practicing my once very nice handwriting. I also received the Blackberry Playbook. I admit I am still learning the tricks and tools but I’m hoping it can replace my MacBook Pro on occasion. It’s quite small and it’s fast when there’s a good internet connection. I’m not an Iphone or Ipad person so I could not tell you if it’s any better….

It’s the calm before the storm. I have a few stressful weeks ahead of me, with lots of traveling, negotiating and situations that will surely test my patience and nerves. If you have any nutritional advice for me, please let me know. I’m like a marathon runner during fashion week. I will grab what’s handed to me from the side of the parcours. And I’ll need lots of cheers to make it to the finish.

Photos by Aram Bedrossian.