Part Deux
As green as it gets we strut into our first appointment of Coterie NY
Coterie NY was held at The Javits Center if that gives you any idea of how big the show is. Thousands of brands and designers showing their new Spring 2014 collections. With a map and our appointment list we set out to find the first appointment spot. It’s hard to focus with all the booths surrounding you. We had to keep ourselves on track and act like we had blinders on to make it on time to our first appointment. The picture below is just the 3rd floor!
Found the spot for our first appointment, it’s on the fourth floor which is one entire floor dedicated to denim. You name the denim brand, they are there. Up the escalator we’ve arrived, walking past model after gorgeous, perfect model. All of them modeling each brand of denim. Nothing looks bad, they make it all look good. Ok focus, we need to focus. 
There it is on the right, oh gosh we are dying of thirst and just want a bottle of water. Where is the water? Our mouths are dry and we’re nervous. We step inside the showroom, tell them we are here for our 10 o’clock and we sit down at a table facing a row of denim. An over bubbly, young girl introduces herself and asks what collection we are interested in. She begins to show and sell us on each style of denim. Whenever we showed uncertainty of liking something she offered to have it modeled for us. Marie loved this idea, she had the models spin and walk. It was awesome! By the end of the appointment we were getting the hang of things and feeling comfortable. We placed our first denim order. This isn’t so hard. On to the next and the next, this is getting easier. Then the ride gets bumpy. Our next appointment, was rude, disrespectful and very unprofessional. It totally threw us off and ruined our mood. Because the encounter was completely unexpected, for a good hour we just wanted to leave. We hung in there and stuck it out, meeting many more great people and purchasing some awesome lines. Our next two appointments made up for the bad experience and we ended our day at market on a better note. Unfortunately the bad experience was all we could think about, it was hard to shake off. Something like that leaves such a bad taste in your mouth. Tired, thirsty and hungry we hunt for a cab and head back to our hotel. On to drinks and dinner.
Desperate for a good end to a stressful day we asked the concierge for a great Mexican restaurant with great margaritas and delicious food. He suggested La Esquina, which he described as an underground exclusive Mexican restaurant. Ok, sure why not. Of course reservation is required so he calls for us and gets us in at the bar. His directions and description of how to find the place led us to an old Mexican open air diner on the corner of Kenmare between Lafayette and Centre. He said to find the guy inside with a list and give him our name. It didn’t look like the type of restaurant you need a reservation for. The place was packed and overflowed onto the sidewalks.
We go in and find the guy with the list, he’s wearing an earpiece and holding a walkie talkie. Name please, he says. He takes our name and repeats it to the person on the other end of the walkie. Then he opens a door behind him and walks us into a hallway with stairs leading down. He tells us to give our name when we get to the bottom of the stairs. At the bottom of the stairs a lady tells us to go to the right. So Marie and I walk to the right which leads us through a kitchen and out a doorway. We are surprised to see an elegant Mexican style hideout. It was a dim lit luchador underground style hangout with Mexican tile murals, drip candle chandeliers, wrought iron and carved wood. 
It’s hard to explain how awesome this speak-easy style taqueria with sexico waiters and candle-lit ambiance is. It’s just something you have to experience for yourself. Here are a few pics to help you envision the awesomeness we experienced.
Not only was the underground restaurant a good surprise, the food was delicious and flavorful. We ordered the Queso and plantains, Tostadas with chicken & avocado as appetizers and for dinner we got soft corn tortilla pork and steak tacos. Our favorite were the Tostadas and the steak tacos. The margaritas were perfect too and the ambiance topped it all off. 
Last day in NY we had fashion house and showroom visits. Going into the meetings we knew to be on our game, they were bigger designers and well seasoned lines. All the paperwork was submitted and all required forms and questions were answered. I’s were dotted, T’s were crossed and all the hoops had been jumped through. We were invited to these showrooms and had appointments. That said, we were treated as if we were bothering them and they didn’t have time for us, It was disappointing. You want us to beg you to take our money to buy your s**t. We have a hard time conforming to the norm and being made to sell ourselves to the wolves, it’s just not our style. No Thanks.
After our appointments, there’s just enough time for lunch and a quick shopping sprint. We head to SoHo for lunch at Balthazar, a french bistro on Spring street. Marie had Pan seared chicken with a glass of champagne and I had Mac n cheese with a glass of pear cider.
It’s a quick lunch, we still need to pick up some last minute items for Marie’s kiddos and get to the airport on time.
This was a great experience, we gained some wonderfully talented designers that make the trip well worth it.
Until next time NY. We hope you enjoyed the peek into our journey.
XOXO, Heather & Marie
