Billy Reid's Fashion Week Survival Diet

Designer Billy Reid tells us what he eats and drinks to survive the stress of New York Fashion Week.

February 10, 2014

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All through New York Fashion Week, we’re checking in with our favorite designers, editors, and other cool folk to see what they eat and drink during this most stressful and exciting of times. Previously, we've spoken with designer Maria Cornejo and Lucky magazine editor in chief Eva Chen. Today is fashion designer Billy Reid's show at the High Line Hotel, so we asked him how he gets through the big day. **

Meal break? What's that?

I have weird eating habits during Fashion Week. I'll skip a lot of meals and I look up and it's like 7 o'clock and I haven't eaten, so at that point I'm just looking for anything. I love Thai food, and in Florence, Alabama, we don't have a Thai restaurant. I feel like I'm getting so many vegetables in one go, so I'm doing something healthy if I can get that in my system, and then whatever else happens I'm good shape. It's a good base: a lot of rice, lot of carbs.

Start the day off right

I usually sleep in a little bit the day of the show, until maybe 7:30 or 8 a.m. That's pretty late for me; I usually get up around 6. I'll check everything with the collection one more time, and then I would probably have grabbed something to eat. One place I do like to get breakfast from is The Smile, which is right next to the office. I love the egg sandwich there; that's probably one of my favorite things. It's a great morning fuel. I may skip breakfast, but I'm gonna try to have it.

Power combo

I probably won't have lunch that day, just 'cause I'm so nervous. I can't tell you—the nerves are just off the charts. But my power snack is almonds and kombucha. That gets me through.

Taking the edge off

Before the show, I'll probably have a drink to calm my nerves. Straight Kentucky bourbon. That seems to be the fastest method. You're not drinking for the taste at that point; you're in it for the effect. I mean I'm not trying to get tore up or anything—just a little personality nip or so.

After the show...

We'll go out as a team. And then I'm sure we will crash early and sleep very late the next day.

A well-deserved veg

As soon as the show's over I go back to Alabama and try to just basically veg in our house and literally not do anything. That to me is the best, because I have three kids and that's a long time to be away from them. I sort of just want to wrap myself in them for a few days. Once I get back home, there's no telling—I will eat everything in sight. Fried chicken; I'll be cooking huge steaks on the grill. I'll probably not want to leave the kitchen. I definitely love the comfort side of food.