7:35 Hop out of cab, into snow, past the barriers and into a giant cardboard box.

7:40 Find a spot. On the way, I hear the girls have been ready for two hours and have very bare faces.

7:45 Marc’s afterparty? For staff only. He’s flown in almost 400 from around the country–from store employees to the design team–for an intimate bash at the, please don’t crash, Standard.

7:50 Anna sits, in a black coat with gold embroidery, black boots.

7:54 A voice over the loudspeaker announces, “Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats. We’re about to begin.” My seat is standing, so I’m ready. The lights go down.

7:56 At the end of the cardboard-covered room is a giant box covered with brown paper. Marc runs out with Robert Duffy and they rip the paper off. Behind it, a huge wooden crate-like structure full of models. The clothes may be neutral, but they’re stunning.

7:58 They exit the box, walking one at a time to ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow.’ I’m in dream land. It’s like fairytale fashion: beige tulle, yellow silk, ethereal slip dresses paired with undone hair and glowing skin. There are feathers and marabou and and layers of fabric with lingerie poking out; lush fur coats with sequins and simple, dainty shoes.

8:01 I don’t have blind love for Marc, but I actually love his white velvet dress. In white, you can barely tell it’s velvet–looks like cotton candy.

8:05 The box is emptying of models, who rotate as each leaves, but a cluster remains in the middle and I’m starting to see a pair of ball-skirts, and if I’m not mistaken, Jamie Bochert’s hair.

8:11 It’s Jamie, she closes; Siri wears the white silk gown before her. Everyone in the audience is smiling, the woman across from me brings her hand to her chest and breathes, “Wow.”

8:15 Marc takes a bow. He’s wearing pants.

8:17 I make my way out into the snow. A friend says, “You look like you just stepped out of a dreamworld!” I hear, “brilliant…romantic…airy…perfect…pure…love it all…what we need,” as everyone spills out into the snow.