A Fashion Week Day Out With Tefi Pessoa

Fashion week may look immaculate from the outside, but Tefi Pessoa’s view from inside the whirlwind is a little more candid: clothes covering the apartment, back-to-back outfit changes, and a day that starts early and ends at an hour she’d prefer not to disclose.

Still, beneath the rush of fittings, shows, and glam appointments, Pessoa finds plenty to feel grateful for. She studied fashion and spent years working as a wardrobe assistant, once watching famed makeup artists create makeup looks backstage at major fashion week shows. That perspective has shaped how she moves through fashion week — and how she treats the people she encounters along the way.

With the custom Cadbury Clutch by LUAR at her side, Pessoa set out to make one of fashion’s most frenetic occasions feel a little warmer. The crystal-covered bag’s insulated interior gave her a place to carry Cadbury chocolate throughout the day — and an easy way to share something sweet with anyone who looked nervous, stood alone, or had simply been on their feet all day.

It’s a fitting expression of Cadbury’s belief that more generosity can make everyday moments more magical. For Pessoa, however, generosity doesn’t require a grand gesture. Sometimes, it’s chocolate. Sometimes, it’s a compliment. And sometimes, it’s simply making another person feel like they exist.

Below, Pessoa takes NYLON along for a fashion week day fueled by early glam, thoughtful connection, and a clutch stocked for sharing.

7:00 a.m. — Let The Glam Begin

Pessoa’s fashion week mornings begin promptly at 7 a.m., though the scene around her is not exactly serene. “I’m stepping over the clothes all over my apartment, complaining that I’m tired but still excited to go to shows,” she says.

Considering she typically changes twice in one day, the clothing pile makes sense. So does the impressively practical inventory she keeps within reach: mouthwash, powder, a toothpick or floss, lip liner, a mini can of hairspray, travel-size perfume, and — her most emphatic essential — deodorant.

It’s less fantasy fashion montage, more meticulously prepared survival strategy.

9:30 a.m. — Out The Door

By 9:30 a.m. at the latest, Pessoa is dressed, prepared, and out the door with her Cadbury Clutch. Designed by LUAR founder and creative director Raul Lopez, the purple-and-gold bag pairs a crystal-covered exterior with an insulated lining designed to keep chocolate ready to share.

For Pessoa, it serves as both a finishing touch and a social strategy. Carrying it made her feel “accessorized, unique, and like I had an insulated secret to making new friends.”

And unlike most secrets, this one is better when passed around.

Late Morning — Make The First Move

As Pessoa moves through the day, she doesn’t reserve Cadbury chocolate for the people she already knows. She looks for “anyone that looks nervous, anyone that’s sitting alone or not talking to anyone,” as well as people who seem likely to have been standing all day. Sometimes, the threshold is even simpler: “Also anyone that I make eye contact with.”

Her instinct to reach out can be traced back to her childhood. Pessoa remembers being a little girl on the first day of school, dressed in a new outfit and nervous about making friends. Now, she knows that a small acknowledgment can interrupt that feeling of invisibility.

“People just want to feel real and like they exist,” she says. “Complimenting someone’s outfit, their smile, their glam, could make someone’s day. And it’s free! $0.00 to make someone’s day. That’s such a good deal.”

Afternoon — A Full-Circle Fashion Moment

Asked to describe the day in one word, Pessoa chooses “grateful.” Before she began attending fashion week shows, she studied fashion and worked for years as a wardrobe assistant. She remembers watching a famed makeup artist apply makeup backstage at a major designer’s fashion week shows. Today, she knows that artist personally, and attends that designer’s shows herself.

“Can you imagine telling little nervous me that?” she says.

That history gives her a distinct perspective on an industry often organized around who is — and isn’t — granted access. “I do not believe beauty, quality, and dignity should be exclusive,” she says. “Everyone deserves joy and inclusivity.”

The sentiment also explains why the Cadbury collaboration felt natural. Pessoa admits that she expected working with such a major brand to be “less fun.” Instead, she says, “We had so much fun, and I am personally aligned with fun.”

After Dark — No Comment

How late does a typical fashion week day keep Pessoa out? “No comment.”

It’s a fittingly mysterious ending to a day built around being anything but closed off. As the internet becomes louder — and rage bait and perfectionism make people increasingly hesitant to approach one another — Pessoa wants people to remain open to the possibility of real-world connection.

“There are people you have never met that would love to get to know you,” she says. “Go be part of the world. Be generous with your kindness.”

The Cadbury Clutch may be an accessory designed for fashion week, but its purpose extends beyond the shows: Carry something worth sharing, notice the people around you, and give a little more than expected. Because, as Pessoa puts it, “Fashion can feel so cold. The only cold thing you should interact with during fashion week is your insulated chocolate. Be yourself — that’s more than enough.”