Grace Coddington Book Signing

I was walking home from class the other day when I happened to glance in the window of the Clic Bookstore and Gallery on Broome and Centre Streets, located right in the middle of my SoHo neighborhood. A little poster with sketches of cute cats caught my eye, and I read the flyer that announced a book signing with Grace Coddington, creative director of Vogue Magazine, on Thursday, October 29, at 7 p.m. I have been a huge fan of Coddington’s visual perspective in the aesthetically dynamic Vogue editorials for years. I did not know that she lived with Didier Malige, the famed fashion hairstylist, and their collection of cats. Together, they wrote the book Catwalk Cats from the viewpoints of their own beloved pets. Although it is not surprising, Catwalk Cats is an absolutely visually stunning book. It is a mix between photography and drawings of Coddington and Malige’s furry friends.

The best part about Coddington’s appearance at the Clic Gallery is that a portion of the proceeds from the sales of her book goes to the Animal Rescue Fund, ARF. I have my own cat obsession, and I miss my baby kitten, Bella, who is currently at home with my family in Indiana. We adopted Bella from a local shelter, and I try to support animal causes whenever I can. When I walked into the intimate space, it was easy to spot Coddington immediately with her vibrant cascading signature red hair. She was bubbly and charming to the guests who stood in line to get her autograph. It was a breath of fresh air to see that Coddington was actually as entertaining as she seems in the behind-the-scenes Vogue documentary, The September Issue. She brought so much life and energy to the film that I was skeptical about whether or not she really embodied such an amusing persona. All of my doubts were put to rest when I finally introduced myself. As an intern at Teen Vogue with my own kitty craze, I see this icon as one of the most successful role models in the industry. I was also able to meet Malige at a photoshoot for the February 2009 issue of Teen Vogue last year, and it is easy to see why the two of them get along so well. It was so exciting to meet one of my fashion idols in person and walk away with a signed copy of her lovely storybook. Add to that the knowledge that my favorite charitable outlet benefits, and all-in-all an amazing evening unfolded just two blocks away from my dorm!