backstage notepad.

RAFW.


WEDNESDAY, MAY 5.

first up, dressing alice mccall’s show. i am running through our changes with bambi: (sheer pink lace mini-dress and a blue dress in elasticized textured material which reminds me of a scuba wetsuit) while the ironing lady is trying to steam the creases out of the clothes. Everyone is in a hyper-tension as everything is already an hour behind schedule. everyone becomes even more hyper-tensioned when the show (finally) begins.

“where’s avril/ tallulah/ steph/ etc…i need avril/ tallulah/ steph/ etc NOW”!

dresser: “the leggings are too tight...they’re are not coming off”

alice: “if you have to, just rip them!”

bianca spender brings in her collection as soon as the models strip off the last pieces of underwear and alice breathes a sigh of relief and does an honorary happy dance.

although bianca spender has an established name in fashion circles, (not only through being the daughter of carla zampatti, she has made some pretty blazers too), it is her debut runway show. my model, hermione, has three look changes and it’s obvious that bianca is really a little strung out when she “enthusiastically” yanks off the grey silk jumpsuit after i inform her that the zip is stuck. luckily we don’t have to change shoes as the dress pants that hermione’s changing into have a smart zip at the ankle and the silk top just floats over her head. the last outfit is a mini skirt and top finished by a gorge soft, draped silk blazer. i become a little mesmerized by the feather eyebrow-wear on the models, but before i know it, the show is over and there is a crazy media frenzy as the audience claps away.

THURSDAY, MAY 6.

once again the shows are all running at least an hour and a half behind schedule, and the blame is on the swimwear shows upstairs at the OPT for the hold up.

i am at saint augustine’s academy and it’s all shiny doc martens, chains, (temporary) tattoos and punk checkers. And super cool make up by (searching for the artist??) who has stuck metal clasp hook bits onto the model’s eyebrows. one of the metal things falls off when my model changes out of a light washed denim strapless minidress, but luckily it is found and safely glued back on before the model rushes onto the runway. 

fernando frisoni is on next and his team is preparing headband-pieces which look like glittery fishing rods, but overall the collection is cute. the kaleidoscopic purple and orange print stands out. 

(there is also a very tanned male model randomly wandering around backstage in red and white stripey speedos. He tells me he’s here for havianas who are sponsoring the show. ok). 

most models are only wearing one look each, so I help samantha harris into a puffy-sleeved black dress and walk around zipping up backs of dresses.

it is almost 10.00pm (the show should have started at 9.30pm) when gail sorronda wheels in the racks of impressiveness which is her collection. i forget all thoughts of tiredness, and cannot keep myself from admiringly touching each piece. black. white. and a hint of bronze. tulle skirts. layered dresses. ruffled bat wing capes. beads of necklaces and headpieces and belts. my model, louise van de vorst, and I both agree: gail is a genius.

FRIDAY, MAY 8.

it is the last day of rafw and everyone is secretly relieved it is nearly over. i’m working with my model rachel rutt for two looks for new zealand designer annah stretton: cuteish bra and knickers, tablecloth-checked front tie top and a lace hoola-hoop skirt. is is all about “lets play in the hay”. 

and the last onsite show is the rosemount / harper’s bazaar sponsorship featuring selected designer picks including dion lee, willow etc. It is hype. dion lee’s knotted dresses are very cool (and in my opinion, very burberry). willow’s white silk dress is even more beautiful in real life than it looks like on the april '10 cover of australian vogue. and the australia’s next top model contestants who were also there filming “the debut catwalk challenge” for an episode are very nervous. LOL.

all above images taken by me on the iphone cam.

and it is all over.

xx