Notes from backstage at a Mandarina Duck fashion show
After three weeks of well-deserved vacation, coming back to work is more exciting than ever.
At Mandarina, the end of August brings the presentation of the spring/summer collection for the following year and the whole company is involved in a myriad of meetings (including clashes in the corridors). The scene is similar to that of Miranda’s arrival in “The Devil wears Prada“.
The biggest moment was the presentation of the collection to the entire company (branches included) - at the home of the Aterballetto dance company in Reggio Emilia - and the spectacular fashion show, of which I will describe the backstage activities.
Most people don’t know that the backstage of a fashion show actually resembles a circus, where many disciplines have to be mastered: acrobatics (between the clothing stands and the bags all over the floor); animal taming (handling models is no small job); and asceticism (you try skipping two meals in a row while, just by chance, the catering service is set up right beside backstage).
And all of this is before the show actually starts. In the last 20 minutes before going out on the runway, everything becomes a merciless race against time and a collective hysteria. Models are screaming at the dressing assistants or the hair and make-up artists, who are following the poor girls right up to the runway fixing their hair and touching up their make-up. The accessory stylists (in this case, yours truly) are sweating their guts out while arranging bags over forearms and shoulders. It’s hell, albeit a pleasant one.
Once the hell is over, there are several options available: descending on the buffet (or the leftovers), trying the thrill of walking the runway (if nobody notices you) or sleeping in a storage room. The other night, I chose the first two options, while for the third one, I preferred the comfort of my own home, where I arrived at one am after having gone back to the company with a haggard group of co-workers - Antonella, Michela, Stefania and Valeria - to set up our showroom for a meeting the following day.
Good night!
P.S. in the upcoming days we’ll post the video of the show. Stay tuned.
Technorati Tags: fashion show, circus, Miranda, The devil wears Prada
23 November 2007 at 00:27
Andrea,
I was just messing aroung on the internet and found this website, I found it interesting because my maiden name was Signori and I live in Acushnet, Massachusetts (which is about 25 minutes from the Bourne Bridge(cape cod that is)!
Anyway, feel free to drop me an email. By the way I was born March 1972!
Hope to hear from you.
Donna (cdoubled23@comcast.net)
15 January 2009 at 23:35
The backstage of a modeling show can be hectic just before showtime as I’ve seen to one of these as a guest before, so I will agree with you there.