Let's start with tryouts: My totally typical Tuesday evening, you know...standing in a sea of gorgeous ladies, snaking lines through FIX Ultra Lounge, downtown Fayetteville. We were separated into two rooms. One where we were all in white shirts, jeans, heels, and one of slight intimidation (though much less scary than last year). Picture a dark room, spotlights criss-crossing each other in the middle, whispering bodies motioning in the pale blue lighting. Music up, drowning out your fears and insecurities. A team of Fashion Week crew timing each hopeful model's walk, complete with a small pep talk ("This is your 15 seconds. Own it, work it.") I don't think my hips have ever swayed so much in my life...I was mimicking Sasha Fierce. Fake it til you make it. After 3 hours of waiting your turn, a quick 15 seconds to walk, you walked out into the night, thus beginning the agonizing wait to hear from boutiques who wanted to book you. Night 1.
The Calls: After a couple of weeks, the local boutiques started calling, emailing, facebooking each person. I was absolutely thrilled to have booked for each night (Judith&James, The Haley Boutique, Country Outfitter, Co-Ed CoOp, and SOHO Clothiers) It really almost felt like a part time job going to each fitting, the run through, the hair/makeup prep, the shows. Probably the most glamorous part time job ever (Uhm, hello! Fashion Week! Sure I'll sit for hours whilst you make me beautiful!)
The Run Through: We met at Fairlane Station for the boot camp/run through. Everybody in regular clothes, crowding into one room. I recognized some from last year, and some local faces that really you don't forget. This sweet girl Emily who I recognized from last year chatted me up, I told her I remembered her face and watched her light up, pulling her fist up and then close to her body, a silent "Yessss!" that she was memorable. Meeting with the Jordans (husband AND wife duo who had the exact same first and last name. The rest of fashion week they were called "girl Jordan" and "boy Jordan" when finding them to ask question. This was slightly confusing when they started emailing me.) to try on my outfit and try walking in the shoes (which didn't match my outfit I wore to the run through. I wanted to explain to everyone staring at my walk "I promise I didn't come dressed this way" and "I know these black peep toes don't match my mustard yellow and forest green color palette"). There was a switch of outfits, and I was now to be Miss Arkansas in their collegiate wear. I scrunched into the tiny red cheer skirt, a sigh of relief that the mass gainer I was taking hadn't affected my waist yet.
"Here, put these glasses on too."
"Oh those are cute! Do I look like a librarian?"
"Yes. We're going for a classy sort of sexy one."
Oh. Oh my...#workit #butimsoawkward
(Jax watched and critiqued/helped your walk as you walked down the middle of the crowd. Whoa. That was real.)
Thursday Night: Thursday night was the local designer show. Anything from shoes, to dresses, to college senior designer projects were showcased. It got pretty entertaining. Arriving at 21c Hotel as early as 4pm, we stood around and waited for instruction. As with first runs, it was a little confusing as to what was happening. We had a few rooms in which to get prepared in, hairstylists and makeup artists standing with smiling faces (yeah just kidding, these ladies and few gents meant business and were ready to get their hands on your unruly hair and makeup-less faces) in each room, so classily dressed in all black with lanyards defining their expertise. These were local salons, Paul Mitchell students, freelance makeup artists, etc...all volunteering their time so they could deal with us divas. I like to think of them as miracle workers. I mean, some women went from small town housewife to Giselle freaking Bundchen in the course of 3 hours.
After finding my hair and makeup team assigned to our group, I wandered through the sea of bodies to the dressing area. "Oh...yep, and there's your boobs. Hi there!" Some girls were a little less modest than others.
We had a quick run through down the runway, which was thankfully a loop, so no stopping. Walking among the empty white chairs, it was less intimidating and you could focus on your walk. ("Head up, eyes steady, sway gracefully") Show was finally starting. We lined the halls, everyone dressed and in order, chatting and being shushed several times. The girls in front and behind laughing and conspiring to take turns checking out the boys still dressing in the hall. I don't think I've giggled that much hearing what they had to say. There was one kid in particular they were swooning over (remember this later). I'm laughing, because I know my secret that they don't. (That I'm old as dirt, y'all. But they're cute carrying on, and I've forgotten what that's like.)
Moving up, almost showtime. The designer group in front of us is panicking, yelling at his models, who are in 7 inch heels. I kid you not. Several of us were betting one of them would fall to their untimely death. It was stressing me out just watching his frustration. "Go. Just go!" Flailing his hands, appearing to have given up on the order and timing.
Here we go. Classy. Stoic. Eyes Up.
Yeah right. Do you know me?
I almost died upon seeing this first runway picture. And there was no other from that night. "I'm sorry...I didn't mean...Haha, funny thing..." I started several times, finally finding a way to apologize to the designer. Needless to say, this picture didn't make it to the album she shared. It was salt to wound after reading more about the organization she represents, which is actually a really terrific cause benefiting the widows in Kenya by providing them with a job sewing these little beauties (and here I am boogying freely in the US in one of these pieces). (Anna, I'm still sorry! It was the music!)
You can read up and order from Judith & James. Truly great organization, receiving fabulous reviews from New York Fashion Week this spring!
Here's a few more from that night I loved:
(Walking the loop)
I adored my hair and makeup!!
(Disclaimer, some of these are NOT my pictures!)
Friday and Saturday night on next blog entry >>>>>>>>>>>>>
