My Experience at CDA Fashion Week

Featuring my stay at one lakeside

This past weekend I had the honor of attending CDA Fashion Week for their spring 2023 shows! I had never been to a fashion show prior to this experience and it was just incredible. It brought me back to why I love fashion in the first place and it rejuvenated my love of the industry. There were so many talented people from designers to models to other tastemakers from across the country.

Since I was staying there overnight, I also had the incredible opportunity of partnering with One Lakeside in Coeur D’Alene. It’s a hybrid hotel and condo that was clean, safe and perfect for my trip. I seriously cannot wait to visit again soon!

Do Stay at One Lakeside

Before we even dive into fashion week itself, we need to discuss my hotel accommodations. I stayed at One Lakeside, a hybrid hotel and condo that was akin to staying at an Air BnB. It was incredibly clean, super safe and an overall calm atmosphere. Located on the west side of CDA up a block from the lake, this hotel was the perfect place to stay if you are visiting from out of town. I liked how easy it was to walk everywhere from its location and it was easy to get ready in my room because it was SPACIOUS. I genuinely did not expect to have as much room as we did in the kitchen, living space, bedroom and bathroom. We also got to tour a 3 bedroom option on our way out and that was incredible too. The views were next level and the open floor plan was great for people entertaining or comfortably staying with multiple children.

While the rooms were impressive in their own right, the real selling point of the property was the clubhouse and penthouse amenities. They had the most beautiful in ground hot tub that overlooked the lake and plenty of seating for sunbathing. They also had a quiet clubhouse area and kitchen for entertaining but the hot tub was my biggest winner. If you go in the morning it’s pretty quiet and relaxing, just what you need in between a busy weekend of shows!

Don’t Show up Early

One thing I wish I knew going into the experience was arriving super early for things. I ended up waiting around for a lot of experiences such as getting my glam done and we waited over an hour for the second day of shows to start. While there was nothing wrong with delays in start times from what was initially advertised, it was a little challenging to plan my time and make sure I was able to eat before shows and relax in between events. I think if you arrive about 20 minutes prior to an event you should be good to go!

Do Socialize with Models and Creatives

One of the best parts of the whole experience was mingling with other creatives in my area! It was so nice to finally spend time with other influencers, especially influencers with larger followings than myself to learn what to do with my own platform. I will be honest I was a bit shy when I first met everyone because I’m not great at putting myself out there but everyone ended up being so sweet and easy to chat with. While it can be difficult to mingle with new people, trust me this is the time and place to do it. I didn’t find anyone to be standoffish and as long as you are yourself it’s easy to find some common ground, especially if you like fashion too!

Don’t Hesitate to ask Clarifying Questions

As with any fashion week and major event like this, there are oftentimes moments of miscommunication. I was not quite sure where the second show was so we definitely had to ask around for further information. I also sent a million messages to the head of the show Kit to clarify a few things which I’m sure was a bit annoying but I wanted to be the perfect guest and creator. I really made sure to socialize and learn as much as I could about the experience, from it’s creation to the inspiration behind the different collections. Speaking of, I do want to highlight some of the information I received from Kit, the creator.

“CDA Fashion Week was started because I [founders Kit and George] believed fashion and photography were just as important business opportunities as blue collar jobs. After growing up in Coeur D’Alene and leaving for college, I came back wanting to do something for the community and show the world Idaho can be as fashionable as any other state!”

Do Have fun with Fashion

Overall the best part of fashion week was of course the fashion! The first night was focused on luxury pieces and garments so I dressed up in a gorgeous mini dress with my favorite cowboy boots and a designer handbag. For a special night out, I will always opt for a good neutral garment in a fun fabric like tulle. This dress in particular was from Marmalade Boutique in CDA and fit me like a glove. Alongside the first nights look I wore another Marmalade outfit which was a grey romper with a large western belt and some new streetwear sneakers from Spokane’s 4 am Vintage. That show was focusing on streetwear and thrifted pieces so I wanted to showcase more hype wear and my own take on street style. If I didn’t have the show, I would have worn cowboy boots but I do recommend dressing for the occasion instead of fully leaning into your own style.

Happy Fashion Week and Safe Travels

I hope this post inspired you! CDAFW is such a treat and I learned so much about myself and social media overall. Fashion is still a great art form that brings people together regardless of background and appearance. I also wanted to give a huge thank you once again to One Lakeside for providing me my room for the night. Whether you are visiting for fashion week or you just need somewhere cute to stay in town, I can’t recommend them enough!

Until next time,

Lauren

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