You did what???

While studying abroad in Paris, I had the amazing opportunity to work backstage as a dresser for Paris fashion week. In total, I’ve worked about 10 different shows for both Menswear and Haute Couture designers. Wanna hear about the experience? Keep reading!

First, let me give you some brief background about fashion shows before I go into detail. Paris fashion week is normally spread throughout the duration of 2 weeks. The first week consisting of menswear shows and the second week consisting of Haute Couture shows. What’s the difference?

  • Menswear:  typically consists of all male models- sometimes uni-sex shows, luxury clothing
  • Haute Couture: typically consists of all women models, to be considered HC you must have the blessing of the French Haute Couture Syndicate & meet these requirements:
    • have the highest quality of sewing/beading/etc. that meet the guidelines
    • show a certain amount and combination of assembles
    • have a work room in Paris w/ at least 15 full time workers
    • present a winter collection with at least 35 designs (day & evening designs)

During menswear week, I’ve worked under designers such as: ICOSAE, Sean Suen, and Henrik Vibskov.  The menswear shows had a more lax atmosphere compared to what was to come for Haute Couture. Sean Suen was the only show that had a more strict and fast-paced attitude. However, for ICOSAE and Henrik Vibskov the models were so incredibly nice- hey, they’re human too! The designer for ICOSAE personally thanked all of the dressers and Vibskov gave everyone free tote bags with his designer label socks. I think that ICOSAE was the most memorable show for me because I befriended the models that were there. After we finished dressing them, a man working backstage asked someone if some of the dressers could watch the show. I was hesitant at first because I didn’t want to get in trouble but the old man insisted. Of course, I wasn’t going to pass up this once in a lifetime opportunity. So next thing you know, there I was, watching ICOSAE’s show live and in person. It was such a surreal moment!!!

Leading up to Haute Couture week, everyone (including the male models) were warning me about how snobby the models would be during these shows. I was so nervous working my first HC show but it ended up working out perfectly fine! All of the models were still super nice. The designers during this week wouldn’t talk to us as much but that’s because backstage was far more hectic than menswear shows. During HC week, I had the pleasure of working under these designers: Flora Miranda, Rani Zakhem, Yulia Yanina, Alexandre Vauthier, Didit Hediprasetyo, Antonio Ortega, and Liu Chao. My favorite shows are tied between Yulia Yanina and Alexandre Vauthier because I got to interact with different celebrities (Bella Hadid was there) and the atmosphere the designers and team were able to create was just incredible.

Here are a few of the many (unedited) pictures I took from different shows:

Sean Suen Fall/Winter 2018-2019

Henrik Vibskov Fall/Winter 2018-2019

Rani Zakhem Fall/Winter 2018-2019

 

Yulia Yanina Spring/Summer 2018

Alexandre Vauthier Spring/Summer 2018

Alexandre Vauthier Spring/Summer 2018

Liu Chao Spring/Summer 2018

I know I know, I’ve been M.I.A. for the past month- what up with all of these blog posts? I have a scholarship to maintain, I need to unpack from Paris, and then I have to re-pack to move back into my dorm. On top of all of this madness, I have to update my resume, apply for internships, and settle my tax forms. YIKES!!! What have you guys been up to? Make sure to keep updated via social media! 🙂

x

Jessica