Fashion Shows: Life Backstage

Lights, Camera, Fashion! 

Every season designers parade their collection down exquisite runways, in front of Editors, buyers, celebrities, and socialites. These "fashion shows" last anywhere from 10-25 minutes, but take months of preparation from literally, an "Army" of people. What exactly happens backstage in the shadows of the blaring runway lights?

                                         BACKSTAGE

Backstage life is basically a rare form of organized chaos. There are literally tons of people scrambling around with a specific job, and everything works in a strange chaotic harmony.  Make-up stations are neatly set up in rows, and blaring lights. 

There are always crowds of people. From models, hair stylist, nail artists, reporters, camera men, assistants, interns, journalists,etc. 

Perhaps the life blood of runway organization, is centered around the polaroid  boards. These boards can always be spotted backstage at any fashion show and include head shots of all the models and what they will wear. Usually, they will also be placed in the order they will appear on the runway, to help with order placement. 

Like flies on honey, you can see herds of people swarming around models. Whether it be hair, make-up, last minute touchups, pinning, sewing, finding a shoe, or the right bag, it takes an army to dress one model. 

Steamers. If you have never seen a steamer, you will definitely know what one is by simply going backstage. Almost always you can spot an intern steaming up a storm near a rack of clothes.

Each model has a designated portion on a rack. Their outfits are neatly put together, with a board attached to it. On this board there is their name, directions of their outfit, how it should be styled, and when it will go out. 

Make-up is something planned and discussed months in advance. You can almost always spot these face sketches taped to the mirrors of make-up artist. They are basically the guidelines of the colors, shadows, and rouges, discussed for the look of their model. 

Lastly, there is almost always chaos at the lining up of models in the correct order. Some one with a head piece yelling for some model is just a day in the life backstage.