It was sweetly gratifying to be sitting in the comfortably dark audience of a fashion show for me, new idea. Not because of the materialistic rage of it all, but for the chance to absorb and enjoy fashion as form, as an art. Art merged with character. Its the people that bring it to life and create living entertainment.
As a model, I would sit, sometimes begrudgingly, backstage being poked and prodded for long periods of time in prep for a show. This is where the model grit comes out - it is NOT as
glamourous as one idealizes, not even closely. Surrounded by
airborn hairspray, make up dust, clothes you cant touch or breathe on (but somehow wear elegantly hours later- get that??), bad food, booze and shallow banter, it was hard to truly appreciate what was going on in the big picture. There was a mystery on the other side of the curtain, people laughing, glasses clinking, some unknown fashion happiness was being spread
unbeknownst to us models.
In that position, we models, are very isolated and left to our own devices. It can sometimes get to be like locker room talk backstage. chicks are as, if not more, dirty mouthed, creatively so. Not to say that it
wasn't a great experience, for which I'm endlessly grateful. I have the privalege to work with fantastically creative people, the best artists in the world and most of all, friends, good people. The truth is, a show production is a well oiled machine that when when kicked into gear can set your heart
arace; from the backstage
persepctive and from the audience perspective alike. Like when you see that first long leg step out from behind that ominous curtain, you can't tell me you don't lose your breath just for a micro-second. And
similarily, when you first step out in your teetering heels from behind that even greater sheath of death, you take a deep breathe, if you're controlled enough, you can let it out slowly...the rest is a big
blurrrrrrrr.
Now, as a spectator, now...it's a whole different picture! Now, it's a wonderful, relaxing and entertaining forum of traveling emotion and candid moments energized with fashion. I much enjoyed being a patron of
LGFW 2009, and I was equally energized by what I saw the rest of the week.
Erica Larva is the smoothest show event producer with 24 karat charm, LG is the brand that brings you fridges with
freakin high-speed, Rob Dittmer, of Ev3nts, lays a slick set design,
Lundstrom made it to the
millenium, Glen Baxter kicks a fitted suit, Marilyn Dennis needed no runway lessons (she schooled us all), F-list throws a party that keeps you on your toes and Chantale Nadeau brings us the top models that rocked us all. These were the players of the day and they will keep you coming back for another chuckle. I think we should live with themed weeks more often, forevermore! Happy post-show week!
Melani
