NYFW’s Secret Spots: An Insider Look At The Top 3 VIP Lounges From Fashion Week

BIRCHBOX SAMPLE STOP @Birchbox #SampleStop

The Basics: Birchbox, the company that delivers monthly beauty samples straight to your door, hosted a Sample Stop and beauty lounge right across from Milk Studios. Lots of charging stations for iPads, phones and other devices, plus plenty of seating made it an ideal spot to reboot. Location: A temporary space, directly across from Milk Studios on 15th Street. Tons of shows are held downtown at both the Highline and Milk Studios, so it was great to have somewhere to crash nearby. And hobbling across the street, even in 6-inch heels, is totally doable. The Goodies: The plethora of quality freebies at the Sample Studio couldn’t be beat. An entire wall was lined with dispensers holding a mix of beauty samples and candy, for loung-ers to build their very own Birchboxes. A “Survival Bar” – offered lifesaving Fashion Week essentials like hair ties, Eboost, Hollywood Tape and Cynthia Rowley Band-Aids. For those more into experiential treats rather than the kind you collect, lux beauty brands like Boscia, Fresh, Kerestase and Frederick Fekkai were also offering hair and skin treatments, and Benefit’s Brow-Bar and a manicure station ensured that every possible part of you was pampered! Food Factor: ‘Witchcraft provided yummy sammies around lunchtime, and an endless supply of candy was around should you need a sugar boost. While there was no coffee, if caffeine is your drug of choice - Mighty Leaf tea was available in many flavors. The Celeb sightings: I didn’t spot any familiar faces while I was there – but rumor has it, Kat McPhee and Olivia Polermo both stopped by for a visit. The Verdict: I was reminiscing with a PR girl whom I think summed it up best when she said: “The Sample Stop felt like going home from college for the weekend. You get there and you’re mom is like – ‘Welcome home, honey. Let me braid your hair, make you a sandwich and pop in your favorite movie!’”