Fashion week measures long hours for everyone in the industry, but it wouldn’t be possible to pull off without any volunteers setting up, dressing models, showing guests their seats and so on. This year, I volunteered to work at Art Hearts Fashion for NYFW. My duties as a dresser were to assist the designer with anything that needed to be done for their collection before the models walked the runway. The hours working at Art Hearts Fashion took up most of my day and night. It was a very fast paced job, which I had to mentally prepare myself for all the traveling that needed to be done on and off the subway. This past week I was very thankful for Google Maps on my travel alone around NYC.
The Fashion Industry can be very chaotic and hectic especially backstage before the show. As a lead dresser, I had to zip, unzip, steam the clothes and figure out how to most efficiently dress the models. Each model was assigned a look and each dresser had a designer to assist. I soon found out that you do strip couture off of half-naked models during the show. Some models can be very antsy when they are told to do something without their agent knowing beforehand. Checking in models was definitely the most frustrating part because the designers did not have chosen models to walk for their collection before arrival. Models were scattered all over with the same email that told them to check in at 2pm. It was also hard to check in models when the list was not updated which causes complete confusion.
One of the most important backstage rules was to follow the dress code. Firstly, the dress code for Art Hearts Fashion was to wear all black and comfortable shoes. Throughout the days, I wore black denim and sheer black blouses that I accessorized with a simple black choker. Secondly, you have to put your cell phone away while working. There was no flash photography photos allowed while models were on stage and no posts of the garments in the collection before show. Thirdly, you can not talk or stand in the way of the designer as he or she is busy making final check-ins on how each look should be styled before the show. Some models are not guaranteed to walk in that designers show if they do not fit the style or garment wanted. Lastly, you must be professional, quiet and helpful.
Working Art Hearts Fashion was quite the experience that has left endless memories. It was honorable to meet designers and work hands on with them. I wasn't able to sit and watch the show, but I was able to catch a glimpse from behind the curtain. All of the collections were truly breathtaking; so chic, fashionable and memorizing for the fall season.
