‘I looked like a hot mess’

By Natalie Nettles (Contact) | Dadeville Record

Published Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Last Saturday, I had the pleasure of covering two local events: The Russell Forest Run and the Camp ASCCA “LIVE Live” Fashion Show.

I was particularly excited about the latter event. If I have to work on a Saturday, I may as well be at a fashion show admiring pretty dresses and eating free food, right?

I planned my outfit to wear to the show accordingly, from my tailored gray jacket to my black high-heeled boots. There was only one problem. The forest run began at 8 a.m., three hours before the fashion show was set to begin, and the outfit I had planned for the show wasn’t particularly suitable for trekking through the woods.

This thought should have occurred to me before I left my apartment that morning, but it didn’t. So off to Russell Forest I went, dressed to the nines.

Being new to the area, I didn’t know where the forest was. My GPS couldn’t manage to locate the address either, so I drove down Highway 63 until I saw 200 plus runners on the side of the road. That was the easy part.

After interviewing one of the run’s coordinators at the starting line, he offered to give me a ride to the stable where an after party was being set up. We then took a golf cart to the finish line.

The temperature was much lower than I anticipated, and my gray jacket was paper-thin. Fortunately, Kenneth Boone, this paper’s publisher, was there taking pictures and was kind enough to offer me his jacket.

I interviewed runners as they crossed the line for a while before deciding to walk back to the stable. I followed the trail back, with dozens of pairs of running shoes passing me as I struggled in my high heels.

After arriving, I conducted more interviews as I waited for the award presentation to begin. By the time the presentation was over, I knew I needed to haul tail to get to the fashion show on time.

I journeyed once again in my heels, this time from the stable back to my car at the starting line, and luckily was offered a golf cart ride about halfway to my destination.

With less than 30 minutes to spare before the fashion show was set to begin,

I called print editor Dale Liesch, who was planning to attend the show with me to take pictures.

After explaining that I didn’t have time to meet him at the TPI office, we decided to meet at the Exxon on Highway 280.

We arrived at the gas station around the same time and, after I jumped in the car with him, his mustang transformed into the Batmobile as we hurried to Camp ASCCA.

We arrived about five minutes late, and I have no better way to describe my appearance than by saying I looked like a hot mess.

My hair was frazzled. Virtually all the make-up I applied that morning was gone. My journey through the forest had left dirt on my heels and dress pants.

Regardless, I settled in to see the parade of pageant and prom dresses.I’m not a pageant girl and, at the ripe old age of 23, am certainly not looking for a prom dress.

However, I was excited about interviewing former Project Runway contestant Jonathan Kayne, who was attending the event as a special guest. It’s certainly not every day that a small town girl gets to interview a reality TV star.

I made a beeline to talk to the designer when the show concluded, but a line of young girls wanting pictures and autographs with him beat me to the punch.

Not wanting to jump ahead of the children, I waited in line. When I finally reached the fashion guru, he was delightful to talk to and answered my questions graciously.

For some reason, I had previously pictured the interview wrapping up somewhat like this:

“Thank you so much for your time Mr. Kayne. It was a pleasure to meet you!”

“And you as well, Ms. Nettles. And might I add that you look fabulous!”

Instead, I said my part and he politely said it was no problem. Then he hugged me.

I’m sure this gesture was due in part to the designer’s friendly nature. I have a feeling that by that point in the day though, I probably looked like I needed a hug.

Natalie Nettles is a staff writer for The Dadeville Record.

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