Follow Stacey Gillies on Google+! August 2016 - Fashion Fairground l Personal stylist in Auckland helping to enhance your body shape Fashion Fairground l Personal stylist in Auckland helping to enhance your body shape: August 2016

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

A day in the life of a fashion stylist

I thought I'd share my experience of working behind the scenes as a stylist at New Zealand's biggest event in the fashion calendar - NZ Fashion Week (NZFW).  Over the course of the week, I spent three days backstage right among the hustle and bustle of event producers, designers, makeup artists, hairdressers and volunteers, who all play a key part in creating such a large scale and professional event.

To give you a little taster here is a day snapshot of what I got up too/a day in the life of a fashion stylist:

Thursday early morning, I collect garments from one of the labels showing later that afternoon.   It's pouring with rain but I make it across town. The garments were boxed up luckily and I had several boxes of different shoes.   I drop the items off at the Viaduct Events Centre - homebase of Fashion Week, then make a mad dash in a cab to catch the 9.30am runway show for Knufferman.  A glass of bubbles and a few sweet canapes later I rush back to base.

I was thrown straight into the backstage area of the second runway space 'The Tent'.   Here, I grab a model run sheet and make sure all the models know their place in line.  I look over the models to ensure there is nothing funny going on with their outfits, a shoe undone, or a loose thread, no bunching, no underwear under fitted dresses.   It's loud and the models are talking over each other you can feel the anxiety or is that excitement?!  Probably both!   Twenty minutes later, the show is over.

I spend time speaking with key people, getting an understanding of how the shows are put together, I tidy, I help where needed.

Early afternoon I prepare for one of the evening shows racking up the garments, working out the running order and fitting the models.   This took a lot longer than first anticipated as the models were slightly different sizes and we needed to make the garments suit the various body shapes as best possible.   Steaming and ironing the pieces, working out the accessories, and creating individual running orders per model to ensure everyone knew what they would be wearing and when.  When the time comes, racks are rolled into place, models dressed and the show commences.  One vital job is to ensure those models heading out twice on the runway get my help in changing into their next outfit - it's rush, rush, rush but they are pros, they know the drill.

After a day on my feet it's time for home to get ready to do it all again the next day.

Personal Stylist, New Zealand Fashion Week



Friday, August 26, 2016

NZ Fashion Week 2016 Backstage

I'm excited to be working backstage at NZ Fashion Week 2016 ensuring the models are ready for their shows.   I have met some very interesting people so far and have really got the feel for how much effort and organisation goes into each and every runway show.   With two more days to go I will share further insights into how backstage styling works!  Talk soon!