But I'm back with plenty more to say so hopefully I'll keep you regularly updated with whatever I feel like really. But for now I'm going to back track a little to bring you up to date; starting with a Fashion Show I recently worked backstage for.
Tiger Tiger
NEWCASTLE
The White Room
Rewind a couple of hours to when I first arrived at Tiger Tiger to help out with the show; after reporting to the organiser to register my presence I was assigned the job of... waiting! Literally; I was told we were all waiting on the remaining brands to turn up for fittings and final preparations for the show. After a while I was given something to do; fit a jacket to a model, with the help of another volunteer we managed to create 'darts' to the back of the jacket which made the jacket fit a lot better and therefore would look better on the catwalk. After this initial fitting things started to pick up and I was given various tasks such as assigning different designs of garments to the different models - making sure that both the clothing and the models looked the best they possibly could. This proved quite difficult at times; particularly with the male models, their arms were either too big or too long to fit most of the jackets. One model had to push up the sleeves of his jacket simply because his arms were far too long for the sleeves! (Although it did actually look quite good styled in this way.)
There was one brand which needed ALOT of fitting and adjustments; splits had to be made up the back and sides of dresses just to enable the models to actually walk in them. The designer was nowhere to be seen and had put a model in charge of her garments; which resulted in her simply saying do what you need to do! Personally if my designs were to be shown in a show I would want to be there to make sure everything went well (If not me personally then at least someone to represent my brand). Anyway we all did our best to get the garments to look decent on the models; all I'm going to say is it took a lot of pins and improvisation.
The other brands however were much better and other than slight adjustments to make garments fit better; the main thing to do was just ensure everyone knew what the running order was - what brands would be shown when and in what order the garments needed to go out onto the catwalk. The changing of garments and dressing the models was also a little difficult within the small space backstage. (Well I say backstage; it was actually the emergency exit stairwell, but you make do with what you're given!) The space was not only taken up with clothing rails and garments, there was hair and make -up artists too; meaning we had to make sure everyone knew where everything was and make sure that it was kept tidy.
There were a few things that concerned me with the fashion show; the first being the fact we never actually got the chance to have a run through - the actual show was the first time the models went out dressed in the brands' clothing. This was a result of certain brands not turning up and completely throwing the entire organisation off course (it would be nice to let someone know if you will not be attending anymore). The second would be the fact that some models -one in particular - decided to be rude and act like a diva (learn to have good manners, you'll go much further in life with them). And lastly; and to be quite honest as unprofessional as it is I found this one quite funny and entertaining... The models were getting drunk! No lies. As the show went on the models drank more and more backstage and in the end they were very...let's say 'merry', and not that I could see them but I'm sure their catwalk walk would have changed quite a bit during the night.
A little tip for any models who are going to be walking in a fashion show...Bring comfortable heels, some deodorant spray and wear nude underwear! (You'd be amazed how many turn up without any of this and then cause panic when all you can see is their leopard print undies through a lovely sheer garment!)
All in all the show went quite well. The brands that showcased their designs were all happy with how the show turned out and we all had quite a good time; even all of us packed backstage in the emergency exit stairwell, which we were informed, smelt like a hangover by the end of the show. The joys that working in fashion brings!
Some of the leaflets for the brands in the show...
AP Apparel Polo
Dizen Couture
Check out some of the brands at:
Tiger Tiger Newcastle:
