“Don’t act like a tourist. Just act like you’ve done this a million times.”

I can’t stand this advice! My team and I had the privilege of attending New York Fashion Week last week, and although I have lived in NYC (a million years ago), I was a total tourist on this trip, and I thoroughly enjoyed embracing that! It was also my very first time to attend NYFW as press, and guess what? I didn’t feel like acting like I’d done it a million times – there’s no magic in that. I was as giddy and excited as a little girl getting to meet Queen Elsa, Anna, and Olaf (moms of little girls, youuuu get how exciting that would be). And I honored that first-time moment – well, a series of surreal, magical moments, really, that I will never forget – by choosing not to hide my first-timerness.

It. Was. Amazing.

And the extra-beautiful thing was, that I got to share this special evening with the dearest women on the planet! Haley and I had our hair and makeup beautifully done by SMP’s own extraordinary talent, Tricia Gulikers, and we were given the ultimate gift of having it all documented by two, brilliantly-shiny talents from Wilmington, North Carolina: Lisa Brown of Bella Rose Photography, and Rebekah Hinkle of The Three Divas (who also happens to be my childhood friend!). I mean. This Team!!! They rocked it harrrrd. To me, it honestly felt like a fairytale wedding day. I absorbed, rolled around in, and slurped-up every, single minute of it – I sincerely wish I had done the same on my actual wedding day!

The way Lisa captured our first NYFW evening tells the whole, glowing, first-day story. No words needed. Take a peek at the work of a true artist….

My precious, childhood friend and videographer-extraordinaire, Rebekah of The Three Divas.

All photos are by the talented Lisa Brown of Bella Rose Photography.

Cherry on top? I was featured on E!online’s Best Dressed NYFW Spring 2015 Street Style:

What I Wore:

Shirt: J.Crew. Skirt: Asos. Necklace: Diana Warner. Cuff + Bracelets: Anthropologie + Nordstrom. Rings: Topshop + Lord & Taylor. Clutch: Reiss (similar). Shoes: Seven for All Mankind. Nails: Julep in “Coco.”

What Haley Wore:

Top: Astr (similar). Skirt: H&M (similar). Long Necklace: House of Harlow. Short Necklace: Vintage (similar). Clutch: Nordstrom (similar). Brian Atwood (similar).

Did you see the guy taking pictures of my shoes?! I almost tripped on him a couple of times! I am so incredibly grateful for our amazing NYC Team, the privilege of this experience, and for choosing to experience it in all my authentic, first-timer glory. I have some final thoughts about that last bit, by the way, if you’ll please indulge me…. In my twenties, I fully adopted that “don’t be a tourist” philosophy, and missed out on so much joy because of it. Here’s what I’ve come to think over the years:

If you’re the Amateur, be the Amateur – with grace, joy, humility, and the willingness to learn. And if you’re the Pro, be the Pro – with grace, joy, humility, and the willingness to teach.

It’s a beautiful way to live.

-Carrie