November 05, 2014

The time I chased Kid Rock's girlfriend


When people see auto show models, they see the designer outfits, the shiny cars, and the admiring car buffs and think it's a cushy gig.

And, for the most part, it is. 

But there is a downside.

Like, say, when it's 9:47 p.m. on a Tuesday and the convention center is about to close, the crowd is sparse at best, and you're about to die of boredom. 

And that is where this story begins. 

I'm standing behind the information desk of the Jaguar display at the North American International Auto Show in January of 2007. 

I look up and see Kid Rock and his then-girlfriend Tamara Mellon perusing the Volvos across the aisle.

I thought I was seeing things. I know Kid Rock is from Detroit. But he's at the auto show? 

On a Tuesday night?

Nah.

It can't be him.

I squint. I look closer.

It is him.

And Tamara Mellon is hanging on his arm. And on is every word.

Do you know who she is?

At the time, she was the Chief Creative Officer and co-founder of Jimmy Choo, which are arguably the best designer shoes in the game.

And therein lies my fascination with her.

The thought of being this close to the shoe maven nearly makes me weak in the knees. (Kid Rock who?)

I honestly didn't give a flying rip about Kid.

So I did what any loyal Jimmy Choo fan would do: I chased after her.

My feet hurt like hell after standing on them in pointy toe stilettos for eight hours straight, but, to my complete and utter surprise, I run up on her in a New York minute.

"Um...Tamara?"

She turns around and smiles at me like I'm a lost puppy. Not in a condescending way. But in a oh-my-goodness-it-looks-like-this-girl-is-gonna-cry kind of way.

Looking back, I'm ashamed to say that I did probably look like I was going to cry.

"Yes?" she says in her British accent.

"I'm Jimmy Choo's biggest fan. I LOVE your shoes."

Kid looks from me to her and back to me again in disbelief. He's obviously flabbergasted that I could give a hoot about him. Although his mouth is wide open, he says nothing.

I want to memorialize this moment. But a photo is out of the question: my cell phone is tucked inside my purse...which is in the trunk of the XJR sadan that is spinning on the turntable.

Plan B: "Can I have your autograph?" I hand over to Tamara the only thing I can -- my clipboard which contains a stack of questionnaires.

Tamara lights up. "Sure."

I thank her, turn on my heel, and make my way back to the Jaguar display.

And that was that.

Here's Tamara's John Hancock:

And just to show that I wasn't lying about it being on the back of a Jaguar questionnaire:

I swear, I used to keep this piece of paper in a red ceramic frame adorned with Swarovski crystals.

Then I had my son.

And I put his photo in it instead.

Because, you know, priorities.

I still love me some Jimmy Choo, though.

And so does my son. I left my shoes by the door one afternoon, and, come to find, he had had used them as a slide for his Little People:
I told my son that I will always love him to the moon and back, but, so help me God, if I find that he uses my Jimmy Choos as a makeshift slide again, his Little People will be sleeping with the fishes.


23 comments:

  1. That is too funny!!!! I wouldn't have the first clue who she was but I may have tackled Kid Rock! Very cool story and I love what your son did for your Jimmy Choos - haha :-)

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    1. Allie, it's so funny because I remember that day like yesterday! (Both the Kid Rock/Tamara encounter AND the Little People in my Jimmy Choos incident; lol)

      Thank you so very much for taking a moment to visit and comment!

      Have a beautiful day!

      xo

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    1. And you are kind.

      Thank you, Mari, for swinging by and commenting.

      xo

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  3. I guess you gave him a reality check LOL!!! That is just too funny!

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    1. Honestly, Trasina -- ding, ding, ding! -- I DO think that's it. I mean...you had to be there to see how he looked at me with complete and utter disbelief. I don't think he ever thought his girlfriend would be more sought after than him!

      Thank you for commenting!

      xo

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  4. Fabulous story, Courtney! I love stories about celebrity sightings. I lived in NYC for years but never saw anyone famous. :(

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    1. Hi, Lexa...really???? But here's another way of looking at it: NYC is a huge...and actually very small and cozy at the same time. I bet there were times when you were at, say, Whole Foods (or some place similar) and while you were at the check out, Sean Connery was in the next aisle over squeezing the Charmin or something; lol but you just didn't see him.

      Thanks for commenting.

      xo

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  5. Hahaha! First you must be a huge fan because I would have never recognized her. Second, totally hilarious about Kid Rock being at the auto show on Tuesday night. They sort of made an odd couple don't you think?

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    1. I know, right? I mean, Dina, I didn't believe my eyes at first because this sighting was the very epitome of randomness...

      Back then, I read Vogue, Bazaar, and the society pages ad nauseum, so it was quite easy to spot Tamara...but the fact that I actually ran up on her speaks to my dorkiness. :-/

      Thank you so very much for commenting.

      xo

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    2. And, yes, I do think they made an odd couple!

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  6. This is the coolest and funnest story I've read in a while.

    You're awesome... and gutsy.

    I would have just stood there, admiring from a distance.

    I totally love that you ignored Kid Rock too. Ha!

    Wasn't it shortly after that they broke up? LOL *wink*

    Thanks for sharing... I really enjoyed this.
    xoxo

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    1. I just love your compliments, Jennifer. I will be your friend forever. And ever...

      And, yes, you are SPOT on: They didn't last long after this sighting. LOL, and, yeah, we're totally sharing a wink on that one. ;-)

      Thank you for reading, my friend.

      Enjoy the rest of your week...

      xo

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  7. I love this story! And I'm sure Kid could afford that little ego check. ;) Not to mention how cool it is to recognize a successful woman who ISN'T taking her clothes off or twerking for a living! Must have made her day, too.

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    1. That's just it, Heather! Yes, yes, YES!!! My love of beautiful shoes aside, I most admire that Tamara built this empire out of nothing. And I totally agree that I DID indeed make her day...and if that is the case (which, I'll never know for sure), I am honored to have done that.

      Thank you so very much for commenting.

      xo

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  8. I would have loved to see the look on Kid's face! So funny! I also love how you replaced her autograph with a picture of your son. So cute!

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  9. Oh, Ginny, you had to have been there. I mean, I think he was insulted. I mean, really, I'm not being dramatic here.

    But as I stated above in my comment to Heather, I truly admire her business sense -- in addition to her fashion sense.

    I was truly starstruck!

    Thank you for commenting.

    xo

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  10. Hi Courtney - HILARIOUS! Absolutely hilarious! Hugs, Holly

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  11. If i had just first met you I would have said "Oh no she did not" but I know you and "Heck yes you did"..... In those heels!!!!

    Please tell me little Scotty did not use the sparkly blue ones as a slide??? Ugh!

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    1. LOL! The sparkly blue ones are NEVER left by the door. No, sir: I learn from my mishaps. ;-)

      xo

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  12. Catching up on posts here... Oh man. You've got more courage than I have! I go completely tongue-tied when I run across any of my idols. :D

    I love that you asked for her autograph... AND that you put it in a sparkly frame. :D

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    1. Thank you for not thinking I'm crazy, which I actually interpret as endorsement of my behavior. :-)

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