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Mr. Diabolina and I hit Runyon Canyon this morning. First time I've worked out in a month. Saying it was rough would be an understatement.
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At least it helped me burn off nervous energy for my big Phillip Lim date.
![](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2663/3745628482_5a1eda61b1_b.jpg)
Now I know the invitation said that you'd be able to "meet Phillip" but I didn't quite believe it. Figured he'd be tucked away in a back room. That maybe I'd be able to catch a glimpse of him when he emerged, right before he was mobbed by throngs of frenzied fashionistas. I pictured the chaotic scene when a new H&M designer collection comes out. Don't ask me why.
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Tried to calm myself by walking around the store, petting new fall pieces, falling in love with their intricate construction and stunning elegance. Bad idea.
![](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2475/3748823649_afccd71951_b.jpg)
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Seeing all the clothes and accessories up close only made me want to hyperventilate. Couldn't believe the man behind all this beauty was not only in the immediate vicinity but that I might actually be able to have a moment with him!!!
![](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3513/3749612462_1e4099573e_b.jpg)
One of my most favorite designers. One of the greatest new design talents of our generation.
![](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2435/3743838825_152dff27ef_o.jpg)
Thankfully Mr. Phillip Lim is as perceptive as he is talented and turned to say hello to ME. I croaked out, I can't believe you are really here. I must have looked like I was going to cry, like my childhood friend Wendy meeting Michael Jackson style, so he went to hug me.
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And what did I do? Stuck out my hand to shake his! So we ended up doing this half hand shake, half hug. UGH! IT WAS THE OLYMPICS OF AWKWARD. AM NEVER AWKWARD. F.
![](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2625/3743838711_bc9dcd5d0c_o.jpg)
Spent the next 5 minutes chatting with Phillip freaking Lim. I told him what a gift he has, for creating beauty, for making women feel beautiful. He put his hands together as if in prayer and bowed his head and said Thank you so much. Then he asked me (with genuine interest) my name and what I do. I sputtered something about being a writer stuck in the corporate world but I've started a fashion blog that I think will help me find my voice and maybe even my way. He listened attentively and kindly.
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He said he believes the secret to his brand's longevity will be focusing on service. Nurturing relationships with customers, I offered. Exactly, he replied earnestly. Then when I realized we were actually having a conversation and THE Phillip Lim was just a few inches away from me, I got flustered and ancy all over again.
![](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3509/3743838941_8cc59c9267_o.jpg)
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Waited and waited to get Phillip alone again but he was doing an interview for, I believe, W magazine. Finally realized if I wanted to get a picture I was just going to have to be a problem AH-gain and interrupt. Ugh. So I just did it and thankfully he was LOVELY all over again, treating me as if I were an old friend.
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And pigs.
![](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2573/3745627468_869d590ceb.jpg)
Pretty pigs but pigs.
![](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2601/3745628088_e4a0cd9fcc_b.jpg)
The Outfit
Fashion District dress
The Accessories
Me&Ro necklace
Fashion District ring and bracelet
Marc by MJ clutch
Urban Outfitters sandals
The Grade
F
![](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2608/3744634748_6156dda057_o.jpg)
The Commentary
Since I didn't REALLY think I'd be able to meet Phillip, I didn't really think about today's outfit.
![](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3499/3743935335_8880576fcd.jpg)
Sure I thought about wearing one of my four Phillip dresses.
![](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2629/3744730720_e803890bd2_o.jpg)
But none of them felt quite right.
![](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2483/3743935303_1cd78d6b40_o.jpg)
Everything was too fancy or sooooo last last last season.
![](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2584/3743935361_be08e2a595_b.jpg)
So I just threw on the dress I wore when I last felt prettiest.
![](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2502/3744634862_88711fae42_o.jpg)
Plus I figured a white dress would be a good choice since it was a key look in Phillip's Resort 2010 line.
![](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2560/3744634608_a0785a6552_o.jpg)
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And the fluttery, boho chic detailing was very Lim-esque
![](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2450/3744634684_45794476af_o.jpg)
![](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2637/3743838387_9b23b3a912_o.jpg)
Could have worn asymmetrical too
![](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2531/3744634664_803938f466_o.jpg)
Or shorts
![](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2423/3744634420_082e5c2f00_o.jpg)
Or polka dots
![](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3513/3743838899_e533ed62b0_o.jpg)
Or black and white
![](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2552/3743838869_30d8083c90_o.jpg)
Or sequins
![](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2617/3747529128_4e0f16a9ef_o.jpg)
Or lace
![](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2472/3747523262_69f4f2c5a8_o.jpg)
Or leopard
![](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2597/3744830559_ef8cd80b33.jpg)
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It wasn't until I was driving away, smiling AND cringing at how my close encounter had gone, that I realized why I had chosen today's dress. It's what I was wearing when Mr. Diabolina bought me a GORGEOUS Phillip Lim tank for my upcoming birthday. I have squirreled it away to the back of my closet, not to be worn until I am 3.2.
![](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2670/3706572416_db724fbfa8.jpg)
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p.s. I must have missed the Refinery29 photographer who did this story. The pretty kitty in the blue shorts is the sales associate I snaped with the cool rings.
21 comments:
Wow Philip sounds amazing and so incredibly gracious. I love people like that!
You looked adorable. Have a fantastic birthday weekend!
i think this is my most favoritest post of yours, ever. i even came out of lurkdom to tell you so!
happy birthday :)
um, the fact that he is such a generous and thoughtful person in reality makes me love him more than i already did.
stop being so hard on yourself for what you were wearing (you looked great!)...be happy for an amazing experience that you will always remember.
Awww...I LOVE it! I'm sure he was happy to meet such a big admirer of his!
Happy birthday!
Great experience!! Philip sounds darling. I get star struck too, but unlike you, I rarely get the guts to say hi. Good for you.
I'm so happy that you got to meet him. He seems so down to earth - totally gets it! I'm so glad you went back and got the picture! :)
Hysterical. I still cringe every time I think about when I met Leonardo DiCaprio. Why did I have to be a fat 18 year old wearing a jumper telling him he was really great in "Who's Eating Gilbert Grape"????? He was also very cool by the way.
Good for you for talking to him despite your nerves. He's right about the career though - it will unfold in it's own way. Of course it already is.
Agree with wan-nabe, this is my favorite post of yours! Your face to face time with him sounds like it went fabulously. I love stories like this: when we get to meet those we admire and they end up just as kind and intelligent as we picture them. And your outfit adorable.
Love this post! It's kinda how I felt when I met you at a conference earlier this year. hehe
Amazing! You're such a lucky girl! :)
Love your writing! Love this post!Love your excitement!
Eeeeee!!! I about died for you when I got your text. So so cool that you got to meet him and even cooler that he is NORMAL! :D
you seriously had me at OLYMPICS OF AWKWARD! i love you and your writing and your fashion sense. i should marry you in another life. =)
Haha, I loved this post. Don't cringe about it though; I'm sure Philip appreciated your enthusiasm : ) I have only met one quasi-famous person and I completely lost my shit; I think you did much better than I did.
Have you seen the zipper headbands at Forever 21?? http://www.forever21.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=FOREVER21&category%5Fname=acc%5Fhat%5Fhairgoods&product%5Fid=1065589415&Page=1 There are other variations, too.
I felt nervous just reading this post. How fantabulous, so excited for you!
Olympics of Awkward = comic writing gold. Someone needs to snap you up STAT.
How amazing!!! So glad you had a great time. And you should have worn that tank top, girl its fierce!
Sounds like an awesome experience! You're such a funny story teller too. Now, when are you coming to NYC to meet Christian Francis Roth and Zang Toi? And, um, maybe me too?
Sounds like an amazing experience! If you hadn't been flustered you wouldn't be normal. You would be Sloan's character on Entourage!
...SO AWESOME!!..i'm star struck just by your story! and you looked great in the outfit! i think you looked very Phillip worthy!
Love love love love love love love love this post!!!!
Love you for being you, and for being brave and open and letting those who inspire you also advise you. They see you and they know something special is waiting for you. Love his advice. Love him.
Love that you tell people that you've put me on probation. As if!
Totes understand the F. The evening I met Mr. Armani, I wasn't wearing a SINGLE THREAD. I could have died. Perhaps, inside, I did a little. I also didn't speak Italian. Both have been fixed in the years since.
...probabation...pshaw!
Kinda weirded that they asked about me. Need to go get me some PL3.1...
...maybe you come with?
Sable Crow
I'm coming out of lurkdom to tell you that I loved this post and could practically feel your nervous energy. Phillip Lim sounds like a very nice guy, and now I love him too.
I hope you had a great birthday, and you looked great in the white dress.
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