NEW YORK - So much for beauty sleep.
When model-actress Molly Sims came to New York earlier this month for a a one-day visit, she wasn't going to waste her precious hours sleeping.
Arriving at 11:30 p.m. at the Lowell Hotel off Manhattan's Madison Avenue, Sims drops down her multiple bags - "I don't travel lightly," she says sheepishly - in her well-appointed and elegant suite that boasts Bulgari bathroom products, oversized wing-back chairs and a fireplace, which, in the middle of a heat wave, is completely ignored.
She could have stayed at a trendier place, but, at least on this trip, Sims is less interested in her proximity to nightclubs and more interested being close to Jessica Berg and her 6-month-old son Vaughn Thomas Prosser, both of whom are also shacking up at the Lowell on this night.
Berg is one of Sims' nearest and dearest friends. The two Southern belles met 12 years ago in London when they were both starting out as models. "I heard her say 'Y'all' and I knew we'd be friends," explains Sims, a Kentucky native.
These days 30-year-old Sims spends most of her time in Los Angeles since that's where the NBC show "Las Vegas" is filmed. She plays the manipulative daughter of James Caan who runs a surveillance team at casinos. Berg now lives with her baby and her professional volleyball player husband in Australia.
They enjoy a girls' night in, talking until 3 a.m.
Sims' wake-up call is for 7:45 a.m. and by the time she's out of the shower and puts on her cushy white robe, a table full of fruits, croissants and coffee has arrived. So does her favorite hair-and-make-up team Shay Ashual and Tracy Crystal. They go straight to work since Sims has to leave by 9:30 a.m. for an appearance on "Live With Regis and Kelly."
"A model's schedule can be a little lonely. You travel a lot. But when you work with the same people for 10 years, they become family. Now when I see them - it might not be for nine months - but when I see them, it's great," Sims says.
Soon, two women who handle the public relations for Michael Kors' beauty products arrive; much of Sims' day will be spent promoting Michael Kors Island. She's the spokeswoman for the perfume.
Then in walks Sims' own publicist, Lauren Kucerak. Everyone gushes over her dress - a white silk bias-cut dress with purple flowers - but Sims is concerned that it's a little too sheer. She sends Kucerak into the bedroom to dig through her suitcase to find some nude-colored undergarments.
Before Sims puts on her own outfit - she still hasn't decided between a magenta floral dress or a black-and-white polka-dot one, both sent over by Kors - she has a few bites of berries and yogurt. She picks up Vaughn and explains what the rest of their day will be like. "Aunt Molls is going to go on TV and then we'll go shopping!" she says.
She decides that toy store FAO Schwarz is definitely on the agenda.
It then takes her only three minutes to get dressed.
"I know what works for me," she says. "I don't borrow or buy things unless I'll wear it, so it makes it easier when I go to the closet."
She's opted for the floral dress. She accessorizes with gold beads, gold stilettos, an Alex and Ani gold wire ring with an engraved medallion, and a big white handbag.
The group then heads out at 9:50 a.m. - not too far behind schedule, she says - into a black oversized SUV with Vaughn's stroller in the back.
On most of her monthly visits to New York, Sims makes time for lunch with her agent, shopping and dinner at Frank in the East Village or Lupa in Soho. There also are occasional appearances at night spot Bungalow 8.
Not on this day, though. This trip is much more work than pleasure.
The SUV pulls into a garage bay at the ABC studio on the Upper West Side at 10 a.m. and there are two dozen people lined up on the street to greet Sims. But she's worried how the baby would react to the noise and paparazzi flashbulbs so she decides to go straight to the studio.
Within minutes, Sims greets Kelly Ripa, reads InStyle Makeover magazine and has her makeup touched up even though it doesn't need it. One of the show's producers comes in to go over her talking points and he tells her that "Las Vegas'" season premiere is Sept. 19. That comes as news to Sims.
Sims settles into a chair in her dressing room to watch the "host chat" on the monitor. Turns out Regis Philbin is on vacation and Jessica Simpson is filling in.
Once it's her turn on camera, Sims talks fashion with Ripa and Simpson and the conversation turns to Kors and how they all love his clothes. This is particularly convenient for Sims since she was scheming to bring his name up since her main purpose in New York is to promote his fragrance.
By 11 a.m. she's done with her professional commitments until the late afternoon.
Sims, Berg and Vaughn go for coffee at a cafe on Madison Avenue. Sims takes hers with skim milk and proceeds to nurse the same cup for several hours. Then it's off to the toy store where Vaughn gets some magnets, books and a Thomas the Tank Engine toy.
Lunch is at Fred's at Barneys, located in the stylish store Barneys New York. Sims eats a Madison salad, a chopped salad with tuna, and shares french fries with her pals. By the time they're done eating, there's no time to shop.
Sims goes back to the hotel for a quick change into the dot dress and to pull her hair back into a black scarf. She also makes time for a phone call with her manager to discuss some very important business: Can she delay her flight home until the morning and still make it to the set in time? she asks.
"I want to have one night not on a plane," she pleads.
Her call time is noon since she'll be filming a crossover episode with the stars of "Crossing Jordan" so the next-day flight is OK as long as they're aren't any delays. Sims prays for good weather.
At 4 p.m. Sims is in Kors' office waiting patiently for the designer. When Kors does come in, they hug and kiss.
Kors asks her to describe her personal style. "American chic," she answers, since she likes the bohemian look, vintage clothes, sporty styles and gold. "And I like a good fit."
She then tells Kors that she also loves a suede bag that he gave her as a gift, but she confesses that it got dirty when she had to check it on a plane. Proud of her resourcefulness, though, she explains that she's dyed it chocolate brown.
An hour later, Sims and Kors get into the same big SUV and head to Bloomingdale's for the public appearance. Together, they greet shoppers and sign autographs until almost 7:30 p.m.
Then it's back to the quiet Lowell for a room-service dinner and a good night's sleep. This time the wake-up call will be at 4:30 a.m.
The Augusta Chronicle ©2012 Morris Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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![](http://chronicle.augusta.com/sites/default/files/editorial/images/spotted/3/38986.jpg "In this photo provided by Buena Vista Television, "Live with Regis and Kelly" is one pitstop on Molly Sims' busy New York schedule.")
