Sunday Afternoon in the Park

BRYANT Park!

I walked for Akiko Ogawa yesterday in the Salon at Bryant Park and it was incredible. Being in the tents made the backstage situation much more chaotic, but it was a great experience. After being shuffled around to makeup and hair, I pretty much stood around for an hour and a half until it was time to get dressed for the show.

I wore all black. I could describe it but the photo should really speak for itself.(photo from wwd.com)

Pretty wicked side-part, huh? That sucker was hard as a rock. It only took two washes to get out though, verses the four times for the hair wax from Shipley & Halmos.

Here's the finale. I was fourth in line. I can't wait to get back onto the runway again! (photo from the dailyobsession.net)

Shipley & Halmos Show

Well, today started off not looking too good. I called the agency because I never received an email about when I should show up for the show. I was told that they never confirmed me for the show... so I was out. Craptacular. I got ready for the day and headed downtown for some comfort food in the form of a gigantic chicken queso burrito at Qdoba. It was delicious. Nothing like emotional eating during fashion week. I'm pretty sure that's breaking a big rule in the model handbook.

At any rate, I was walking from Qdoba toward the Magnolia Bakery (world renowned for their cupcakes) to cap off my emotional eating binge when my phone rang. Apparently there was some communication mixup and I was going to be in the show after all. It was just after 2pm, and the models were all supposed to be there at 1. I hailed a cab and we sped over to the gallery where the show was held. I got there just in time for the runthrough before the show.

After we did the runthrough, I sat down for hair and makeup. Hair was a giant pompedor, about three or four inches high, and the makeup was done to accentuate and sharpen the cheekbones.


We all scrambled to get the clothes on and then lined up for the show to start. I wore a woven shirt, suit, and double-breasted overcoat. It was a really nice outfit! It was such a rush as the line ahead of me got shorter and shorter. Finally I had made my way up to the exit and I felt the production assistant's hand on my back, signaling me to start. I stepped out into the light and started my way down the zig-zaging runway. You have no idea the adrenaline rush that takes place at that moment. It was absolutely amazing! I can't wait to do it again on Sunday, but this time it will be in the tents in Bryant Park. The big time!!!

I was only able to find one photo on the internet at this point, but you can see how I was styled. Check out how skinny my legs look in the tailored pants!!!
For the finale they sent out all of the models in a parade, one after another, down the zig zag runway. I found this photo on the internet somewhere and, so it isn't like a 'Where's Waldo' or anything, I tagged myself. It caught me mid-stride, but it's still a really cool picture of the finale.After I was finished, my friend Ryan and I went back to our agency. We have hung out a lot over the last couple weeks because we had mostly the same castings. We were each really glad the other was in the show, since we were the only two models from our agency that were cast. After gushing about the show to our bookers for a few minutes we left. I went to the gym and ran a few miles, then went home and rewarded myself for a job well done... with ice cream. I always get myself ice cream after a shoot or a show. Good stuff.

I'll keep you posted if I run across any other photos. There were a lot of photographers backstage so I bet I'll find some good candid ones of models hanging out behind the scenes and getting styled up for the show.

Runway Ready

I can hardly believe it. I booked TWO, count 'em, TWO runway shows for Fashion Week! I will be walking for Shipley & Halmos and Akiko Ogawa.

The first show I booked was Shipley & Halmos. I was completely floored when I read in my email from the agency "fit to confirm", which is now my favorite phrase. Basically it means that they are ready to book me for the job, I just need to show up for the fitting. What really surprised me was that the casting was insane. I stood in line for about 45 minutes waiting for my turn to be seen by the designers. I would imagine they saw over two hundred models including the best and most popular in the world. It was surreal enough waiting in line, making small talk with the faces gracing the ads in the magazines you probably have in your living room. Now, I beat some of them out for a job?!? Insane.

The second show, Akiko Ogawa, is an avant-gaurde Japanese label. Very edgy! This is her first time showing in New York's fashion week and, I think, her first time showing mens clothes. It will be really interesting though. The awesome thing about this show is that it takes place in the tents at Bryant Park. The major venue for shows. It isn't in the big, main tent, but in one of the smaller side tents. Fashion week will be moving from the park to Lincoln Center next year and I was really hoping I would be able to walk in Bryant Park before they moved. Now I get to!

What is really great about booking these shows is the response I got from my bookers at the agency. They were really impressed that I was able to book the shows because my portfolio is WAY less developed than most of the other models (I don't have a single magazine tearsheet yet) and I wasn't in the show package (collection of the best guys the agency sends to the designers - special composite cards -show cards- are printed for these select models). I don't even have real composite cards yet. I am just using laser-printoffs. It is really funny to look at the casting director's walls and see all of the cards for the models they are using pinned up. My little piece of paper with my photos and measurements, folded in half, next to glossy cardstock showcards for the best in the business. I hope this means I'll be getting my show card next season!!!

I took my computer to the shop yesterday, got the diagnosis, and found out that I have a damaged video card. It is covered by the computer's warranty, but I have to do some more work before I can get the computer up and running. It shouldn't be too long though, so I'll be able to upload some photos after the shows. I can get the runway shots from other websites, but the juicy-backstage shots will have to wait until I get the computer fixed!!!

I haven't gotten my daily schedule from the agency yet, but I think tomorrow is the first show. I just hope I can pull it off without tripping and falling down or something. I would probably just lay down on the runway and die. It would be so embarassing! I'm just not going to think about that. I'll write back tomorrow night and let you know how it all went.

Wish me luck!!!

Update!

Long time, no blog!

Lets play a little catch-up. First and foremost, I decided to try a new job to suppliment my modeling (or lack there of). I'm going to be a real estate agent! I am halfway through my classes and I am taking the state exam on February 17th. New York is different from most cities, as apartment rentals are leased through brokers. I'll be working with rentals, which allow more flexibility than sales. Who knows, maybe I'll have to go to Europe for a month?!? I got the idea to get my license from my roommate who did this about three weeks ago and he is really enjoying it. He's a model too and, since agents make their own schedules, he can still go to all of his castings. He also makes quite a bit more money than I do now, so that's a plus! I'm excited to do something a little more challenging than folding clothes all day. It's going to be a good change.

Fashion week is just around the corner and I'm starting to get into the flow of things. I just got home from four castings today, and we're still a week away from the shows. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a job or two. We'll see, but I've had a pretty good response so far.

The gym has been working out extremely well. I actually look forward to working out now. I started going to the group classes; pilates, yoga, spin, etc. I've lost the last couple pounds that I needed to get rid of and I'm starting to get the muscle definition that I want. Most importantly for me, I've been running a lot lately. A LOT! 20 miles in the last week! I am 98% sure that I want to run the Fargo marathon on May 9th. I have been planning on running a marathon for the last two years, but I never got around to training for it. This is going to be the year I finally do!

Lastly, my computer is nonfuctional... again... so I need to take it in to get fixed. This would explain the general lack of postings lately. I'm working from the roomie's computer right now. I can't wait to get my computer back so I can upload some pictures. It's about time I share some more!

Ok, that's all for now. Hopefully I'll be writing back soon about some crazy fashion week job!