So, as I have hyped over the last week, I attended my first fashion show in New York over the weekend, a true fashion adventure. As it turns out my expectations were a little too high. Don’t worry, armed with all of your great suggestions I managed to create a killer outfit (more on that later). My dear friend Jenna and I did our research. That is to be expected, of course, she is an accomplished journalist and I have not quite been able to truly shake that habit yet. We examined fall trends and the shows from last week. We even enlisted the advice of stylists, both of the professional variety as well as you, my citizen fashionistas. We were ready!

Our killer shoes

Honestly, getting ready for the show may have been more fun than the actual show. Closet fashion shows with girlfriends are tough to beat, aren’t they? We rolled up to the Waldorf and took our seats, not in the front row, but in the second (not to shabby).

With the show featuring couture, I expected the type of hyper-stylized and eclectic looks that we saw come down the runway. What I did not expect were the eclectic outfits of our fellow audience members. The ratio of fashionista to fashion victim was slanted in the wrong direction. I even spotted a banana clip with bejeweled interlocking “Cs.” Neither Coco Chanel nor Karl Lagerfeld OK’d that! Judging from the crowd you would think we had walked into an episode of “The Real Housewives of New Jersey.” It was a people-watcher’s dream.

We saw the work of three international designers. First up was Wendy Luzon whose work included sparkly chains dangling from bedazzled shoulder pads.

A good shot of the offending banana clip

Isabel Zapardiez showed some elaborate wedding gowns in hues of ivory and blush with distinct headwear that at times looked like tiny birds were taking up residence in the model’s nest-like hair styles.

Last up was Giovanni LoPresti, who dressed his models in masks and funky night club-worthy pieces incorporating leather and sequins. This was couture, so I don’t think anyone is supposed to wear the looks exactly the way they were presented on the runway, and that’s probably a good thing.

My first fashion show was a great experience, even if it didn’t quite live up to my Oscar de la Renta fantasies. I had been a little nervous about being overdressed, underdressed, or not dressed just right, but I was also expecting a scene out of “The Devil Wears Prada,” with stick-thin stylists and editors fighting over seats in the front row. This was certainly not that, but I didn’t know that until we got inside. Outside the Waldorf, my anticipation gnawed at me as my heart beat faster and faster. But walking in with my friend, I put on a confident smile, added a little strut to my steps and sauntered in like I belonged…then exhaled in relief as we sat down — the realization sinking in that we were not the ones who should to feel self-conscious.

Crazy fashion show lighting, but our smiles are obvious

Now to the good part, my outfit: the dress was my own, by tibi. My leather sash and clutch came from the closet of Whitney Dayton Brunet and those amazing shoes are Luxury Rebel courtesy of Jenna Lee, my date for the evening. Thank you for all your suggestions, I incorporated many of them into this ensemble.

I can’t express enough appreciation for Molly Galler and Wheeler del Toro for sending me to my first fashion show. It was quite an experience and I am now prepared for when Oscar invites me to his spring 2013 show in February (pretty please).