My final shift for LMFF was for the Target Rocks Red Market, to be held on Saturday at Federation Square. A free community event running from 1pm til 4pm, the afternoon would feature a parade on the main stage at 1.30pm. While 1.30pm is a lovely time for a fashion parade, it means a very early start for the people working the parade – 7am in fact. After many late nights and long days this week, the 7am start was just another fashion week ‘perk’ so I got out of bed at 5.30am with gusto, ready for another long day of fashion fun.

It was still dark when I arrived at Federation Square but it wasn’t long before there were boxes to be moved, racks to be shifted and things to be set up. The sun soon came up. Volunteers arrived at 7.30am, models by 8.30am and as Assistant to the Head Dresser, there was never any shortage of things to be done.

As the models went through their rehearsal, it was evident they were just as tired and worn out as the volunteers. The only benefit of finishing the week with this particular event was the ease of working with Target clothes, rather than designer ones – no shoe taping, no complicated accessories or buttons, no need to worry about which way a garment goes on. E.A.S.Y.

While the garments and styling were going to be a breeze, the shortage of dressing volunteers was not – I would be dressing two models at the same time come 1.30pm. There was no dress rehearsal for the Target show, so I crossed my fingers and hoped the fashion would be with me.

LMFF provided catering for the volunteers and models mid morning (excellent catering this year, kudos to the LMFF team!) so we took a break and prepared for the mayhem to come. The only show all week to start on time, the team was ready to go on the knock of half past one. My models, Meg and Sonya, were both to be dressed in the Sailor theme. Other themes Target showcased were Hobo, Equestrian and Night. While the clothing was styled up a lot to create a show with lots of colour and energy, the models seemed to think they looked silly in sailor hats and pom-poms.

The music during the show made it impossible to hear names being called and I simply aimed to get both my girls changed and ready to go as quickly as could. The show went off without a hitch and after the finale the front of the stage was removed and cameras were bought in so the public watching could see the backstage area. My models then had to run off to the evening show, Independent Runway, at Central Pier, the last show for the week.

Packing up was a quick process, garments were simply boxed up instead of having to be sorted and rehung. We ate again and I finished my shift at 4pm. Another long day but another not over – I returned home to prepare for the evening parade, Independent Runway, getting glam for the final night of LMFF. Miss K picked me up and we ventured to the Westfield Festival Bar for a quiet drink before the show. The show started late, I didn’t expect anything less, and by 9.15pm it was all over for another year. (Read my review at www.onyamagazine.com)

48 hours of volunteering, 6 runway parades, 2 breakfast events, 2 outdoor shows, many articles and blog posts, dozen’s of coffee’s and muesli bars on the run, hundreds of emails and tweets, air kisses, thank you’s and more shoes taped than you could possibly imagine. It’s been an amazing week full of fun, fashion and fabulousness where Melbourne turned on brilliant weather and some of the best fashion in the world. Sad to see it all end, but looking forward to getting a good nights sleep and eating a meal with at least some nutritional content. It’s back to the real world for me on Monday, back to 9 to 5, office attire and business proposals but at least I will have something to do in my lunchbreak – there is lots of shopping to be done in Melbourne! Happy festival everyone!      

Image One: Pre dawn at Federation Square
Image Two: Models Meg and Chelsea in Sailor gear about to walk
Image Three: Head Dresser Virginia Morley and I in sailor hats after the show