For the first time Apparel and Textiles Magazine goes behind the scenes to the dressing rooms where things appear not to make sense because everyone is doing their own thing. The need for speed may affect even the best sense of humor, and of course many things don´t come out as expected.Everything starts with an idea of having a new fashion runway show, then comes the Where and When and so the work of the general coordinator begins.
The ideas begins to take shape when thousands of phone calls, emails and long waits begin to show results. This also means much stress and many sleepless hours. However, this chaos begins to take shape when everything starts to flow. The success of the operation entails many hours of preparation in order to deliver a show worthy of an excellent press review and a satisfied audience. At the end of the show, everyone else will go rest, while designers, models, coordinators, operations and administrative personnel will stay to review the event and take down and put away what was so hard to create...only to begin again soon.
In order to understand this complex matter, we will speak to Fashion- Designer and ProducerAndres Aquino (AA) from Couture Fashion Week of New York, whom we had the privilege of interviewing about this unusual topic inside the fashion world.
The public is used to attend to the Waldorf Astoria and other places in the World where your fabulous productions are projected. How are the previous days before the fashion show?
AA: Before the shows there is a lot action and emotions run high. In the days before, we focus on the technical matters of lighting, staging and music; there is the actual show production and organization including timing and choreography.
Also model fittings to make sure the dresses fit perfectly and the accessories and shoes complement each outfit. If a designer wants to use a specific model for a particular dress and the dress is too big or too small, then it has to be custom fitted and changes have to be made at the last minute.
Then the hair and make up tests are done. The fashion designers meet with the makeup and hair directors to discuss details, and agree on the look and execution of the look.
The stylists must try to understand the designer’s vision and philosophy with the garment and the overall collection. On the day of the event, there are a million small details backstage - from safety pins to hold a dress in place to the nail polish.
Out front, our crew is dealing with the guests: check in, seating, special guests and VIP arrangements. There are details in handling the press and priority seating for certain editors.
Photographers position themselves for the best spot to shoot the models coming down the catwalk. Interviews with designers, sponsors and celebrities are coordinated. It all comes together because the show must go on. And the audience expects nothing less than perfection and the total fantasy of the perfect look.
What happens hours before? Lots of movement?
AA: Hours before the shows there is a lot commotion. Light and sound are re-rested. Makeup and hair artists are working at full speed. Wardrobe coordinators double check that models’ names are attached to each garment and checked against the run of the show.
Sometimes you get the nervous designer who has invested six months preparing his collection and has his or her reputation riding on that 20-25 minute show.
People will love it or hate it, and there is nothing the designer can do now, but send the models down the runway with his or her new creations.
This is when the unexpected can happen and one must get really creative, i.e. a zipper breaks at last minute, a model steps on another model’s train and the dress rips, lipstick smears, an accessory get caught in the fabric, a technical or wardrobe malfunction, or a million other little things mishaps. So there is plan B, C and D for everything.
