#TBT Paris Fashion Week 2015: experiences & observations
Currently, New York Fashion 2015 is underway and it reminded me of my Paris Fashion Week experience. I've decided to share with you my reflection about my experience. Granted I don't think I could ever fully describe everything that happened in one post. But let's just say it was a life changing experience for me.... even my friends have noticed I came back with a new "glow". I think I'm just more confident in myself and in my career in general, which seems to be radiating off of me. I love love love the person I've become and this experience played a huge role in it. So here goes....
Paris Fashion Week was one of the mostamazing experiences of my entire life. Working for amazing designers and being around famous models was great. But being trusted to handle garments worth thousands of dollars was even better. I have to admit, It was scary when I first started working because I didn't know what to expect. Would I be dealing with directors yelling at us if we made a mistake? Will backstage be a nightmare? What if I dress my model the wrong way? Should I expect Devil Wear Prada: the runway edition? But all in all, everything went well; every show that I worked in was well organized and I never dealt with any rude people. I was treated with respect and was always thanked for being a dresser at the shows.
Coming into it, I knew that I would be dealing with nude bodies (*gasp) backstage since I was a dresser. However, I didn't know that it would be so open and the models would be so trusting of us. When I worked with the menswear, I didn't expect to them to trust me to tie their pants up or tuck in their shirts, which meant being close to their “personal regions.” I'm a female, so I thought there would be some boundaries…uhh no; they just stood there in their "knickers" and expected me to dress them head to toe. I won't lie, it was a little uncomfortable at first, but soon it didn't bother me at all. It was part of the job.
By the time, I was working with the women in haute couture week; I was very comfortable with dressing. (*You could call me an expert, basically lol*). The topless models/naked models everywhere didn't bother me. However, what really bothered me were the photographers backstage at one of the shows I worked. One of the models was pleading that we cover her up so he doesn't take pictures of her. I just felt it was a violation for him to be taking pictures while the naked models are trying to dress for the show. Like have some respect!
Perhaps, the highlight of my fashion week experience was working as a hostess for Ralph & Russo Couture. Everything about this show was amazing: from the garments, to the set and most importantly, the guests. It was this show that made me realize that high fashion caters to a certain clientele. My fav. woman, the lovely Coco Chanel once said "Luxury is not democratic" and I saw this first hand at this show. I was now dealing with the big shots. Prior, working as a dresser, I was always backstage so I didn't get to interact with the guests. But it was at this show, that I was actually intimidated by the guests. *I must say, i'm not one to be easily intimidated* These were extremely wealthy people, exclusive editors from Vogue, Elle, WWD, singers, actresses, etc. and I felt like a tiny fish in a big pond (*picture Nemo right now...yeah that was me*). The best moment, was overhearing one of the guests I seated talking about her private island and coming from having brunch with designer, Giorgio Armani at his house. (*Insert shocked emoji*) I was in awe of the wealth around me. These were people who pay about $50,000 up to $125,000 or more for these dresses. Oh and trust me when I say they looked the part: i'm talking furs, crocodiles bags and Louboutins to match. I got to watch the show and it was in that moment that I knew this was the world I want to work in. To me, this is what I want to experience and live in.
The fashion world can be intimidating but I can't imagine working in any other field. Paris fashion week taught me that I could do anything. I'm an ambitious young woman who can and will take anything on head first. I noticed there weren't as many people who looked like me and at times, it did make me second-guess myself. But that is the whole point of being outside my comfort zone, yes I may be the only person of color in the room but that doesn't mean I don't deserve to be there. At the ILJA fashion show, the director chose me out of the students to dress the most complicated outfit and garment switch of the show. He trusted me with a great task and I rose to occasion, which made me realize that I can do anything and I can take on the fashion world. This fashion thing is my thing.... now watch me work!
My advice for anyone who has never done this before is DON'T BE AFRAID and immerse yourself in the experience. This is an amazing opportunity that doesn't happen to everyone, so enjoy it and learn from every moment. For me, I've learned not to apologize for having these experiences and going after ambitious goals. What touched me was having a friend say they were proud of me accomplishing things I always talked about. I wanted this, I went after it.....and I made it happen. Nothing beats the feeling of accomplishing your goals, so now i'm off to slaying my future goals. Being home, I feel like I can go after anything, and I'm glad to say that my fashion career has just begun.
