After my interesting start to LMFF 2010, I can’t say I was truly looking forward to Day 2. Would I get cool, superior jobs to undertake, or be relegated to the concrete floor taping shoes again? Only time would tell. I rolled up for the starting gun fitted out in a black highwaisted skirt and the volunteer tee with a long sleeve black tee underneath and black earrings. I technically hadn’t been told about the no uniform for assistants rule so I wasn’t keen to break it. Taking a deep breath, I entered day 2 as a Vogue Assistant Stylist.

Day 2 was all about Loreal Paris Runway 2, supported by Vogue and featuring designs by Gary Bigeni; Romance Was Born; Therese Rawsthorne; Friedrich Gray; Dion Lee; ELLERY; Ansdorf and ANT!PODiUM. Models were booked from 9am til 2pm, with 2 allocated every half hour. It was going to be a wild day. With less volunteers in our area than Day 1, it seemed we all had something to do. It might have started with taping shoes (Tony Bianco thigh highs!!) but it ended with the exchange of business cards and phone numbers. Let the mayhem ensue.

I rehung outfits, labelled shoes, dressed and undressed models, stood ready with safety pins, sockettes and the shoe horn. I taped shoes when they were needed, I removed tags from outfits, I filled in shoe sizes on spec sheets. I packed shoes, I repacked shoes and I checked lists against other lists. The Vogue girls remembered my name and that was enough for me.

Much more styling was involved in Day 2, there were accessories, belts and bags. Watching the Vogue girls work was amazing – Ilona might be only 24 but after 3 years at Vogue she clearly has an eye for what works and what doesn’t. With more experience, Meg and Grace ummed and ahhed over different outfits – things I thought looked amazing until I saw changes they made to make them just phenomenal. I could feel myself going broke before their very eyes. The designers have done a fantastic job and the shoes (by Tony Biance, Wittner and Betts among others) make me want to run out tomorrow and buy their entire collections. Highlight moment? Balenciaga shoes for the Dion Lee collection. Gorgeous in both black and tan (and apparently on sale for $700 at Miss Louise – why not get them in both colours?). You can’t tape Balenciaga. The models walked on a garbage bag catwalk (instead of bare concrete). Day 2’s glamour moment.

Head Dresser on Day 2 was Virgina, assisted by volunteer Claire, and again both girls were super friendly and encouraging. Virginia was generous with her advice and teachings while Claire, also a veteran volunteer, was a pleasure to work with. I should be working with the entire team again on Tuesday and I’m even looking forward to it!
There is a lot to take in when partaking in a fashion festival – those of you reading this with no fashion knowledge probably have no idea what or why we were taping shoes or that some designers make clothes that don’t even fit the models. You might assume that models don’t eat, that fashion is all glamour and fabulousness and those of us who work in it live charmed lives. I have news for you. Its long hours, hard work and far from glam. Models are as hungry as the rest of us and often spend hours sitting around waiting for a fitting call. Sometimes they are a bit of stereotype but for the most part the models are friendly and helpful. The might be gorgeous and spend most of the day walking around in their g string but they also have unusually large feet (or, usual, if you consider their height).

At the close of Day 2, I handed business cards to Meg, Ilona and Virgina, assuring them they could call me anytime in the next week if they should need my assistance. I’m disappointed my new business cards haven’t arrived from the UK yet (my title is ‘Fashionista’!) but hopefully I can have the opportunity to pass one over in the future. Next up is Tuesdays back of house shift for the Designer Award and Runway 2, followed by back of house on Thursday for Runway 5 and 6. Stay Tuned!!  

Image one: The garbage bag catwalk
Image two: Model callsheets
Image three: Balenciaga!!