For weeks I had been looking forward to visiting beautiful San Diego for an advertising shoot with Rufskin Denim. I have long admired their clothes and was very excited to be a part of the good work they do.

My good friend Mike let me stay with him. It was so nice to see him again. It had been just about a year since he was sharing my tiny space with me in Palm Springs. Now I was sharing his tiny space – it was so small that there was not even enough room for the internet. That’s not true, it was more about money than space, but I was without the web. After the initial shock I was happy to be relieved of it and the responsibility it carries.

The weather was sublime and my shoot/appearance was so much fun. I am so digging these Rufskin guys. Their style is comfort meets sexy meets Rockabilly cowboy from the city. Just my bag. The shoot took place in a backyard that sang with trees, shrubbery and wind chimes. Two cats meandered around the set taking notice of the commotion sometimes with lizards in their mouths. The supplies were simple: a man behind the camera who happened to be one of the owners, a camera on a tripod, a small reflector and the other partner in his business and his life. They were impressed with the ease and flow of my interaction with the camera and I was impressed with their effective styling and kick ass camera. The pix came out sooooo great. The first two are of me in some of my stuff. I know, I know. It’s coming, it’s coming.

Later that night it was time to turn it out at Bacchus House. These things are cool and fun. Mike showed up with Tyler Riggz with his bf Reed, the guys from Rufskin and some local friends made it a fun night of free drinks, laughing and me dancing in a shower on the dance floor. People remarked to me how fun I was and actually used the word “ham” to describe me. They also commented on how different the guy was on stage compared to what they had expected. I can never hear that enough.

In the end I realized that I like San Diego. I like it a lot!

Tyler and Reed

Lumberjack Mike

Hubert, co-owner and creator of Rufskin

In the tub

The Hotel Bryant is on 44th between 6th and 7th; right near Times Square and directly across from Bryant Park where Fashion Week 2006 was held. Being right at the heart of the action the energy of the event pulsed through me. From my room I watched as name after name came out the back of the tent to their waiting cars to hit the next show. The gate was crowded with photographers waiting to snap a shot and fans lined up to get their pictures taken with the celebs. It was more than electric, it was intoxicating. As an aspiring designer it was all I could do to contain myself. I know it’s naïve to imagine being discovered by Marc Jacobs, but believe me the fantasies were swimming in my head. I had my traveling partner and very good friend Saya take the reigns and shoot this little clip as soon as we got there.

I had my fitting at the Empire State Building. I planned an all-original ensemble consisting of a shirt I made, pants I Hazzardized and toting a bag that Saya had made. As soon as I entered the room a small camera crew walked up to me and asked if they could get a few words about the show. They were from MTV and were covering the Heatherette show. I was caught totally of guard, but naturally obliged. The fitting lasted all of ten minutes.

They took the shirt in at a couple places around the shoulder, threw some last minute accessories on me like these sunglasses and the item that pulled it all together, the empty Vodka bottle. It boasted the name Georgi. When I took a whiff to experience its bouquet I was met with a most unpleasant aroma that I will not soon forget.

After everything had been placed, they took a Polaroid and clapped their hands in delight. As I got undressed and dressed again I took great care in putting my pants on very slowly and removing my shirt to showcase the designs. They had not noticed the hand embroidery on the jeans or the tribal design down the sleeve of the shirt or the bag. They did however notice my socks. I own not a single pair of white socks; they are all tie dyed. The assistant asked if they were Heatherette socks.

“No, I made ‘em.”

“You have a little Heatherette in you” he said.

That was good enough. I left for dinner in Chelsea planning on introducing the line of socks along with my T shirts.

The day of the show I did not eat anything aside from some yogurt in the morning. I was a little nervous at what could happen and what would happen. Backstage was nothing short of semi-organized chaos. Models were late and Richie was on roller skates; I suppose that helped. He slowed down enough for us to get a quick photo. He photographs really well.

They allowed photographers backstage. I suppose with people like Paris and Nicky, Mya and Mena Suvari it made sense. The space was tiny and people were everywhere asking questions for their show or taking pictures for their magazines and websites. It made for a very crowded backstage. Mena was one outfit over from me and Paris and I had our make-up done next to one another. I was really surprised that they were both a bit shorter than me! It was a little surreal to see Mena; I admired her performance in season 5 of Six Feet Under so much. Mya stood behind me in queue for the line up. Paris remained untouchable as she was escorted from her first walk to the next outfit change.

During the line up I was told I had a partner to walk down with. This concerned me because I had not been informed before or been told how to walk down with him. On a runway you are to walk down, do your look and pass the oncoming model on the right. Well. The runway was lined with flailing dancers on either side and Paris and Nicky were walking before us, side by side. I had no idea how to do this. Should we separate and walk up side by side? Should we walk up one in front of the other? My partner had no clue either and no one seemed to care very much about the order – so why should we? I suppose it went well. Nobody fell and the pictures came out great.

I enjoy doing the runway; everything about it to me is exciting. It’s different and my clothes get to stay on eliminating the worry of looking bloated or being cold – you guys know exactly what I’m talking about! I went to the hotel right after the show skipping the after party. I was so tired and did not feel like being around any more crowds or cameras. It was a great couple of days and I was glad I was there. My only regret is that I didn”t get to keep anything.

I went back to Ross’ for dinner with Shayna. I love seeing people that I went to high school with or even knew back then for that matter. I have changed remarkably, physically and emotionally. Most of the time, so have they, hopefully. It was an awesome time getting to know each other again and playing the “remember when” game over a nice bottle of Côtes du Rhône.

I gave my friends over at Ruff Ryders a dozen of those shirts I had in Chicago for IML (Remember those? All 180 of them? I do.) after I had them redone. I had a girl stitch a dozen according to size standard and gave them over on commission. Well what do you know – they sold all but 3! I took the remaining three, one for Shayna, one for a buddy and one for me to wear during Fashion Week. I was all too excited. Soon enough I will be getting the remaining 100 or so as well as the debut designs that are at the screen printers. I have only a couple so hopefully they will go fast. So all of you out there that have been kindly asking about the shits… they are comin’!

I had to return to the city for my workout session at 11 today. I contemplated canceling on my partner, but decided to tough it out and go. I also had a wine tasting at 3:30. The thought of that was enough to send me over the edge. The weather remained unchanged. It was not helping my hangover in the slightest. I had a bagel and a coffee in the hopes of feeling a little better to no avail; it did nothing but further irritate my stomach. Thank god I had my buddy to work out with, because left to my own devices I would have driven straight home to bed. Funny enough, that is exactly where I went as soon as we were finished to catch a nap before the tasting.

The tasting featured a pretty good Tokay Pinot Gris, a domestic Sauvignon Blanc and one of my personal faves: St. Joseph. After the St. Joseph my hangover was a thing of the past and I met a friend downtown for a bottle of Rioja and French Onion soup. I managed to remember to snap a couple of pics after Shayna and I had just learned that I sold my first dozen of “Team Hazzard Wear” T shirts.

A friend of mine from high school happened to be in Hyannis for work today so I gave away my shift to go down to P’town for the day. I drove down in very unseasonal weather; it was grey and had that subtle chill in the air one would expect to feel in November, not mid August. After seeing the environmental wake-up flick by Al Gore, “An Inconvenient Truth”, I realized that this was probably another sign of global warming, but I tried not to get angry about that.

I had lunch with my good buddy/ partner-in-crime David Flower. David is a DJ, Producer and party planner extraordinaire. We had beer and seafood at Ross’ Grill, my go-to place in P’town and probably where I will take my high school chum, Shayna, when she gets here tonight.

So we’re throwing a contest, huh? I just found out. I like the idea, although I am not sure if anybody really knows how to say in some sort of recordable media why they like being a fan? It will be interesting to see and I think that the “winner” will get a prize. I am really close to having the shirts up; perhaps they could have one of each of the designs?

Speaking of just recent developments, I am walking for Heatherette during Fashion Week 2006. I met Richie, one of the designers, when I worked the Boy George show last year. At that time they were a little more than an idea, but now have staked out a real place in the fashion world. I am thrilled to do this and it also adds one more contact to my list of design “ins”.

I’m almost out of time. I just needed to post something and I had wireless so I thought I’d get it in while I had the chance. I am getting really acquainted with my new camera, even though I enroll others to take the shots. Here is my pal David with me after 3 Chimays.